Legal hill trail @ BC?

[fisherbikefreak]

From the top of the hill, just south of the creek and paved path, there's a very steep section that leads to the creek. It is probably the steepest descent I have found in the metro area. I have done it twice, but I want to make sure that I am riding on a legit trail.

Is this a legal trail to ride?

Also, the switchbacks that lead up from the paved trail have branches and such laid accross in areas. Did the park put these there or are people trying to mess with us mtbers? Because the branches are located on the straight-aways I assume that the park put them there to keep bikers from furthering the erosion. However, I had to move the same such baracades from other sections of the trails that I know are legit.

Does anyone know who is barracading the BC trails?

[berrywise]

and guess that the hill you speak of is not recognized as a mountain bike trail. I didn't even know it was really still rideable. A while back it wasn't so overgrown and rutted out and was a fun little test to see who could hold a line and make it to the bottom. Now with more and more trail management out there I would think it would be frowned upon as more people trying it would only lead to more erosian of that area.

Didn't that used to be a ski hill? I thought that was what all the concrete blocks at the top were for.

-scott

[Brick]

From the top of the hill, just south of the creek and paved path, there's a very steep section that leads to the creek. It is probably the steepest descent I have found in the metro area. I have done it twice, but I want to make sure that I am riding on a legit trail.
The only "legal" decents down to the pave path that I'm aware of (that are on the map anyways) is the "pallet climb" and then the downhill slightly north of there w. the 90 deg turn on the downhill that puts you out by the "jesus saves" stake.


Also, the switchbacks that lead up from the paved trail have branches and such laid accross in areas. Did the park put these there or are people trying to mess with us mtbers? Because the branches are located on the straight-aways I assume that the park put them there to keep bikers from furthering the erosion. However, I had to move the same such baracades from other sections of the trails that I know are legit.
I would think that they were originally put there to keep people ON the switchbacks and discourage travel straight down the fall line. By whom, I have no idea. I didn't see them there a couple of weeks ago, but saw them on Sat AM alongside the switchbacks blocking access to the fall-line trail.

[ostertoaster85]

I'm pretty sure that the branches are being put there by someone who doesn't like bikers. I have had to clear branches out of the trail a couple of times already this summer. The way that they are placed I'm fairly sure that it is not a biker trying to make an obstacle, it's not natural, and it's on legit trails. The only option left is a hiker who doesn't like bikers.

The rumour I heard and mentioned earlier on the forums is that it is a crazy lady in a black cloak with a staff and burning incense. Again, this is just a rumour and I have never seen her. I heard about her from a less than reliable third hand source.

[Don Youngdahl]

The only "legal" decents down to the pave path that I'm aware of (that are on the map anyways) is the "pallet climb" and then the downhill slightly north of there w. the 90 deg turn on the downhill that puts you out by the "jesus saves" stake.


I would think that they were originally put there to keep people ON the switchbacks and discourage travel straight down the fall line. By whom, I have no idea. I didn't see them there a couple of weeks ago, but saw them on Sat AM alongside the switchbacks blocking access to the fall-line trail.
As the original Battle Creek Trail Steward and the person who laid out the "pallet climb" trail & installed the pallets, I can say Brick is correct on the legality of the trail, unless there have been recent changes. In the years since the trail was built, many well-meaning people have placed obstacles and branches on or perpendicular to the fall line to keep riders from bombing it.

They mean well, but this is counter-productive, because these obstacles block the flow of water during heavy rains, causing spillage onto low spots adjacent to some of the pallets, which results in mud that otherwise wouldn't be there. If handy obstacle material is present and readily available, people who don't like us can move it onto the trail. Or perhaps heavy rains washed it there.

If you encounter this stuff I've just discussed and want to do your bit for sustainable trails, take this obstacle material and throw or drag it as far from the trail as you have the energy for.

Don Youngdahl

[Brick]

If you encounter this stuff I've just discussed and want to do your bit for sustainable trails, take this obstacle material and throw or drag it as far from the trail as you have the energy for.

Don Youngdahl
.....guess I'll be packing a set of work gloves on my next ride. :cool:

[fisherbikefreak]

Alright, I will continue to pull this junk out of the way -- waaaay out of the way.

Thanks Don

[halls]

Well i'am going to sneak out for a looooooooooong lunch today at battle creek. I'll keep my eyes peeled for obstacles and the lady in the black cloak? i've seen that steep descent. wow! i don't know if i can walk down it!
:banana:

[syntaxjunkie]

i'd heard at the earth day cleanup that someone had stacked all of the blocking material from the pallet climb at the bottom of the hill. the theory was that snowboarders had used it as a jump over the winter. disappointing but predictable.

i usually take the other route down to the path and then take the road to the big switchback climb, missing the pallet hill altogether, so my uses of it are few and far between. is land management considering closing off one of these access points to the asphalt path at some point, or is the long-term plan to have both open?

[fisherbikefreak]

Yeah it's a steep one! A ladder would be a useful tool descending on foot. Too bad it's not legal. I had a good idea that it wasn't, but still had to try it. Now I will tell everyone to STAY OFF!

[berrywise]

Well i'am going to sneak out for a looooooooooong lunch today at battle creek. I'll keep my eyes peeled for obstacles and the lady in the black cloak? i've seen that steep descent. wow! i don't know if i can walk down it!
:banana:
Bill,

Picture this. Andy Krone riding down that and then losing control of his bike about half way down and just exploding all over the hill in a huge pile of dust. It was classic.

Are you attending the morc board meeting tonight? Andy mentioned it to me.

[halls]

Well lunch was great!! On the north entrance to the Goddess trail a tree is down, i would guess from the storm a couple of days ago. i checked out the steep descent whoa! No doubt a downhiller's delight.

[halls]

I wish i could have seen that.I checked it out today. holy sh..........ucks. how do you get about even going down. Drop the seat, get disc brakes? I'am hoping to get to the meeting but my truck lost it's brakes so i gotta get it in somewhere after work.
Did you do that hairpin on the bluffs the other day? i think it needs some work. that plastic grate almost got hung up in my spokes. but all in all a great loooooooooooong lunch!
If i'am not there tonight , i think a few barely pops are order say next weekend or memorial weekend?Maybe we can Tim out of the house!

[fisherbikefreak]

I wish i could have seen that.I checked it out today. holy sh..........ucks. how do you get about even going down. Drop the seat, get disc brakes? I'am hoping to get to the meeting but my truck lost it's brakes so i gotta get it in somewhere after work.
Did you do that hairpin on the bluffs the other day? i think it needs some work. that plastic grate almost got hung up in my spokes. but all in all a great loooooooooooong lunch!
If i'am not there tonight , i think a few barely pops are order say next weekend or memorial weekend?Maybe we can Tim out of the house!

Very Carefully!

V-brakes and seat at normal position. Just get down low over the rear wheel and brake as needed to keep you upright and behind the handlebars. Of course, you have to let go of the brakes when you drop off the roots.

I try to do it as slow as possible. Slow is a difficult thing to accomplish at that grade!

:crazy2: -My face as I downed it!

:hit: -My face after I downed it! Yes, I did biff it on my second run.

[halls]

Thanks for the info. The trails looked good today and for the most part you can stay out of the wind!