Yellow Tape

[Paramount]

According to the directions for a seven mile loop at Battle Creek, the ride starts with a climb out of the parking lot. It has a yellow tape barrier on it. Anybody know why?

[Magic]

Your suppose to ride to the south out from the parking lot. Then the trail hooks up into the woods.

[syntaxjunkie]

More specifically, the yellow tape is there because the old climb out of the parking lot was causing erosion problems on the hillside. A good deal of the work that's been done by MORC at Battle Creek has involved re-routing trail sections that weren't sustainable because they created high-speed gulleys for rainwater to carry away whole sections of hillside. While most of the more serious problems have been addressed, the soil around Battle Creek seems prone to erosion. You'll see that sections up around the old ski jump platform and the trail leading down towards 61 that are getting a bit sketchy.

More than you wanted to know, perhaps. But Battle Creek is a pretty good example of why sustainable trails are important. I'll put away my soapbox now and let you get back to your ride. :)

[Paramount]

Thanks guys. I have been using the trail to the south. I was just curious because in the trail description it says to use that trail.