Rope Mill will be closed on 10/29 during Dirty Duathlon

Tomorrow, 10/29, is the big event.  The trails at Rope Mill will be closed during the event, which should end at noon. 

Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon on Saturday, October 29th

Trails at Rope Mill will be closed during this event.  Details and registration information are available at Mountain Goat Adventures

Blankets Creek Races Big Successes for Racers and SORBA-Woodstock

Two races this year at Blankets Creek were huge hits with race participants and provided much needed funds for building and maintaining trails at one of the country’s most popular mountain biking trail systems. Both events were expertly directed by Lisa Randall and her company Mountain Goat Adventures LLC. Over $6,000 were raised for SORBA-Woodstock from sponsor donations and race participant fees. SORBA-Woodstock volunteers build and maintain trails in partnership with Cherokee County at Blankets Creek and the City of Woodstock at Olde Rope Mill Park.

The Dirty Duathlon, held on April 8^th, was a return of the event that started at Blankets Creek in 2008. Just over 260 participants were challenged this year by a 5 mile run and a 12 mile singletrack mountain bike course in a race whose title sponsor was Mike the Mechanic, a local Woodstock, GA business and avid mountain bike supporter. Other donors included Monte Hewett Homes, Bridge Mill Dentistry, Taylor Stukes, Northside Cherokee Hospital, Maximum Nutrition, REI and Peak Fitness Fusion. Product donors were Outspokin' Bicycles, Van Michael Salon, Mix1, Hammer Nutrition, Sixes Road Starbucks, Big Peach Running Company, Integra Chiropractic, Swiftwick and Jersey Mikes (Old Hwy 5).

The first ever Six Hour Race at Blankets Creek was held August 13^th. Solo, two, and three person teams competed over a 9.4 mile course that covered a portion of the Van Michael Trail, the entire Dwelling Loop, and part of the South Loop. The title sponsor for this event was Hunter Ramsey, Jr., an associate with Prudential Financial and the first President of SORBA-Woodstock when the chapter was formed in 2000. Product sponsors were OutSpokin' Bicycles, Van Michael Salon, Hammer Nutrition, Mix1, Chick-Fil-A Towne Lake, Cascadian Farm, Larabar, Kinesys, Tifosi and Swiftwick.

These two events showcased the outstanding mountain biking trail system at Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trails on Sixes Road in Canton, GA. These trails grew from a vision in the late 1990’s by some determined mountain bikers and became a model partnership between this group of volunteers in search of trails, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Agency. The dream grew into 17 miles of singletrack trails that draw visitors from all across the U.S. Blankets Creek was recently listed among the top ten trail systems in the country by www.Singletracks.com.

SORBA-Woodstock’s latest partnership with the City of Woodstock has created 6.5 miles of singletrack trails at Olde Rope Mill Park. By the end of 2012 this project will grow to 9 miles on the north and south banks of the Little River. The Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trails at Olde Rope Mill Park opened just over one year ago and will be the site of another race and fundraising event on October 29^th. The Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon will be another joint effort between Mountain Goat Adventures and SORBA-Woodstock, and once again a portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit SORBA-Woodstock for the construction of new trails and the continued maintenance of the Blankets Creek and Olde Rope Mill Park trails.

Bridge Building Party at Rope Mill on Sept. 10th at 9am

If you enjoy having new trails to ride, then come join us for a bridge building party to help build new trails at Rope Mill park in our effort to expand the Taylor Randahl Memorial Trail System.  Tools will be provided, but volunteers need to wear closed toe shoes, wear gloves, bring water, and bring an epi pen if you are allergic to bees.  Lunch will be provided for volunteers.  The bridge building party will begin at 9am and usually lasts until about 1pm. 

2011 Georgia State Games at Rope Mill on July 23rd and 24th

The 2011 Georgia State Games will hold its Trail Run Championships on Saturday, July 23rd, and its Mountain Bike Championships on Sunday, July 24th, at Rope Mill Park.  This event is being organized and conducted by the Georgia Games organization, and more information about these events can be found at www.georgiagames.org.  Rope Mill Park and Taylor Randahl Memorial Trails will be closed during the event on Saturday until 1pm and on Sunday until 3pm. 

 

Update on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 11:21AM by Malanda Murchison

Volunteers are still needed for Saturday and Sunday.  If you are able to help out, then email the Georgia Games at edmond.lucas@georgiagames.org as soon as possible.  Volunteers will receive a Georgia Games t-shirt. 

Volunteers needed for the 2011 Georgia State Games

The 2011 Georgia State Games is holding its Trail Run Championships on July 23rd and Mountain Biking Championships on July 24th at Rope Mill.  You can get more information about these events at the links below.

http://www.georgiagames.org

http://www.georgiagames.org/Trail.Run.htm

http://www.georgiagames.org/mountain_biking.htm

Taylor Randahl Memorial Trails at Rope Mill Park will be closed on Saturday, July 23, from 7am-1pm, and on Sunday, July 24, from 7am-3pm.  The Georgia Games organization needs local volunteers from SORBA Woodstock, who are familiar with the trail systems, to volunteer as course marshals, manning water stations, directing traffic, and finish line attendants.  If you are interested in volunteering one or both days, then please email events@sorbawoodstock.org as soon as possible. 

Update on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 10:00AM by Malanda Murchison

There is still time to volunteer, but email events@sorbawoodstock.org   ASAP because volunteers will need to complete a waiver and return it prior to the event. 

Rope Mill Park bridge install delayed!

The trails and park at Rope Mill will be closed next Thursday, 3/10, while the pedestrian bridge is being installed over Little River. 

Update on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 9:46PM by Jay Wilkes

Bridge install has been delayed to an later time due to weather. Details to follow as soon as we get them.

The downhill trail at Blankets is not opened yet. Please stay off closed trails.

Our volunteers have been putting in numerous hours during the freezing winter weather to build a new downhill run at Blankets Creek, but the construction is not completed yet.  There are signs stating that it is closed and there is orange tape across the entrance and exit.  There are sections that are not completed and sections still under construction, and if people continue to ride this unfinished trail, then the opening could be delayed or worst case scenario prevent the trail from being opened.  Please respect the signs posted and give our volunteers who are still working on the project some respect and wait until it is opened so that it can be enjoyed for years to come for everyone.  We are hoping for a few more weeks, but it depends on the construction progress.  We will make a big announcement when it is opened and ready to ride, but until that date, please do not ride a closed and unfinished trail. 

On another note, we have had reports of motorcycles and motorized scooters on the Taylor Randahl Trails at Rope Mill.  This is not allowed, and the police department is aware of this issue.  Motorized vehicles are not allowed on trails that are designated for mountain biking, so if you see one, then please try to get a tag number and a description of the person and call 911 to report it.   

Trail Building Party, Saturday Oct. 9th at 9am

We need your help to get the remaining work on the new trail at Rope Mill completed by the grand opening festival. Come out this Saturday, Oct. 9th from 9am to 1pm and be a part of building this incredible new trail system at Olde Rope Mill Park in Woodstock.  Lunch will be provided for volunteers. Meet in the parking lot at Rope Mill at 9am. Wear closed toe shoes and long pants. Bring plenty of water and gloves. Directions to Rope Mill can be found below. Hope to see you there.   

Directions to Olde Rope Mill Park:

From I-575 Going North
Take Exit 8 (Towne Lake Parkway Exit)
Turn right off Interstate onto Towne Lake Parkway
At first light make a left onto Woodstock Parkway
At next light – make a left onto Ridgewalk Parkway
Make first right (just before bridge) onto Old Rope Mill Road
This road dead ends into the park.

From I-575 Going South
Take Exit 8 (Towne Lake Parkway Exit)
Turn left onto Towne Lake Parkway
At second light – make a left onto Woodstock Parkway
At next light – make a left onto Ridgewalk Parkway
Make first right (just before bridge) onto Old Rope Mill Road
This road dead ends into the park.