Afton conditions?

[racerx321]

I just called Afton tonight, and they are apparently open for the season:banana: . Not sure my legs are quite ready for those climbs yet, though! Has anyone scoped out Afton so far this year?

[RedSquirrel]

I rode Afton this morning 7:00am-8:20am. Still the same except for bridge creek. It rocks, yeah baby :scream: I did the 24 hour course & one extra Cliff Down & up back to Crown.

Wet & soggy at base only, leaves & sticks in woods cover holes and rocks, basically dry slopes, dark solid dirt on slopes and in woods, some sand...the ussual mix. Solid enough, no slips. Only occasional surprises under the leaves... I picked up mud at base & it stuck to tires all day. Well marked like last year, but still a web if your not used to Afton. I saw snow on the ski runs in spots, but not on course. Good times.

Bridge Creek has the same up hills but now has a tiled rocky section and a new exit, very nice.

Saw deer, heard woodpeckers & crows, but where are the Turkey's!!

They are workin on bathrooms, will be nice but no shower when done. Port a potty outside for now.

Mtn biking now open 7 days a week!! I bought a pass.

Later,

Heath

[Little D]

AWESOME!


How much was the pass for the year?

[RedSquirrel]

Yeah, I bought that pass. $95 plus tax. I think $101 or so. $7 per visit. I hope to ride there alot this year. Later, Heath

[stoneage]

Bridge Creek has the same up hills but now has a tiled rocky section and a new exit, very nice.
Courtesy of the MORC trail building school, last fall. Join MORC and come out and help build this stuff.

[transplant]

Well, will Afton be open to riding this weekend? I don't know how it drains or handles rain compared to, say, Lebanon Hills. Anyone? Anyone?

[waitabit]

Well, will Afton be open to riding this weekend? I don't know how it drains or handles rain compared to, say, Lebanon Hills. Anyone? Anyone?Try calling them, I was wondering that myself, do they have a website?

[transplant]

I called them after work and they said they were open. I just don't want to rip up the trails, even if they say it's OK. Kind of a Catch-22 situation.

[waitabit]

Maybe Sunday, I dont know though, I guess its their land and we pay to use it but.............I dont know.

[transplant]

I'm hoping that by Sunday afternoon things will have dried out enough to try it. I can't wait to hit the Manhandler on my first dirt ride of the year.:sick:

[RedSquirrel]

Afton is not Leb. This am the rain missed Afton, well at least until 12:30pm. So I rode 3.75 hours. The course was tacky until Noon. Then mud on top. Most is so steep it sheds rain. Yes, there are some v shaped steep corners. If you don't like steep tech stay off the red course.

I did a short & long lap then a third with my Dad. I did a fourth lonesome lap with his altimiter on... I'll post a altitude graph soon. You will see it's way different than Leb. The trails are not raked flat, yet. I hear trail work is coming.. Go volunteer.

[The Goat Killer]

Rode the Alps today. :banana:

The trails are in fair condition, not good.:hit: Besides that, it's the best off-road hill workout close to the Twin Cities. Period! Manhandler made me into a granny. :crazy: Trails were a little soft and slooooow with wet spots only at the base of the Meadows. Some new expert trails - within the last two years I guess.:) Nice rock garden across the bridge. :crazy2: Trails need a better marking system as it's easy to get lost. Well, just chimb for home. :D

[RedSquirrel]

I'm going to Afton tomorrow 10/8 (I'll call first, then go). They have never closed on me before, even in the rain! The trail sheds water nice. I'm interested to see how it held up after our trail work and "magic's" work @ 24 hour. Thanks m-gic.

I suppose everyone had enough of Afton after 24 hour?? Any updates?

I'll post a conditions update tomorrow night.

[RedSquirrel]

Just called Afton. Of course they are open today. C-ya there.
Look I'm talking to myself, ha ha ha

[RedSquirrel]

Conditions 10/8/05:

Valley View woods, 2 trees are down, could not move'em, not ride-able
Whistler Manhandler, all good
Cliff, all good
Bridge Loop, all good
Shady Lane, some wash out but ride-able & good
All new single track in very good condition, under pipe, DLA ect ect
Down hill torward S-turns after maint. shack & whistler, the down hill with "air" good. Typical wash out before little "air" jump, but jump good.
Down hill after maint. shack & air @ "S-TURNS"....I've never seen the big "S-TURNS" so bad. I ripped through them on 2nd lap & almost did a superman, use cuation on the "S-TURNS"
Southern Switchbacks all good
Grand Canyon to top and all the way down to deer path, all good
Fall leaves and debris lingering. Some sink holes & rain disruption
Dat's all I gots, It's all goouuoood.

[Little D]

I reported the downed trees on Valley View to the counter lady and she dispatched a few workers to remove them.

[Tower]

Afton Management removed the Log Crossing at the entrance to the slalom section until Spring. Apparently it is a hazard for skiers and boarders in the Winter. Management guaranteed me that the people that removed the logs will build them back up in the Spring...

The key tree at the entrance of DLA was also removed. I guess now maybe people wont be so intimidated by the little drop...

Yep, we have some work to do on the eroded trails, and also the new trails I've mapped out... Hint- New Bridge Loop lead in trail... We should be having some trail sessions this Fall if anyone on this site is interested...

[RedSquirrel]

Glad the log crossing will be back, whew. I saw the DLA sign! I told the kids about a sign reflecting their work, they are pumped. Oh, by the way Duncan's mo-hwk is gone. :cryin:

Duncan has new wheels. I think he's ready for Afton now. He lead mom and Grandpa through worth yesterday, they couldn't keep up.

Yeah we are all up for more trail work soon.

[Tower]

The featured trail (24 Hour course) is in decent shape. The only week spots are the first switchback up Shady Lane and the very top of Shady just prior to the technical trail split. Washed out but ridable... If not repaired yet, it will be fixed at some point this weekend...

DLA had been clear cut at the base and the key tree that you had to maneuver around is gone :mad: . Not the same challange but still worth riding prior to heading up the Whistler Climb... Parts of the Revenge were clear cut but they left the trail intact, thankfully... The clear cutting was in order to allow the maintenance people to access the chairlift lines for safety purposes... Point taken for future trail development= stay away from the chair lifts...

Also, the log crossing is suppose to get put back in place in the Spring by the people that removed it... If it don't we'll build something bigger... Right Magic, Greg, and Bill...

Get out and Ride Afton in the next couple weeks before they start making snow...

The arrows and signage got out of control due to a running race they had on parts of the trails... Just follow the orange arrows/ red poles...

We'll be picking up new trail projects in the Spring for anybody that would like to get involved in moving dirt and building structures...

That is it til Spring...

[Buck]

HEEEEY TROOOYYYYY,

WHen are we hiking the area??? Are the leaves down yet so we can see possible lines?

L8R
Buck

[Little D]

So why are you so pissed off and need revenge?? :)

Thanks for all of the work you did out there. It's definately a destination trail for those of us that can handle it...

[Magic]

The valley is still full of leaves. I'm thinking the end of the month. Larry and I just walked some area where we want to put new trail in next spring and it is still tough to see in the woods. I'll keep you posted on our search and trail build.

[Buck]

The valley is still full of leaves. I'm thinking the end of the month. Larry and I just walked some area where we want to put new trail in next spring and it is still tough to see in the woods. I'll keep you posted on our search and trail build.

AIght sounds good...mmm....new trail...mmmm
L8R
Buck

[Tower]

If you've done 24's of the past and the one this year you'll understand the trail name...

If not, and you know a guy that goes by the name "the Goat" (not the goat killer) ask him the next time you see him and he'll explain. He named it.

The Goat consumes goat killers. Team Ricco for life & nobody builds like the Farm Team... Nobody.

Over?

[Tower]

Afton Management needs to fill in the Dug Out leading to section II of the Revenge. They will be filling it in with logs for the winter. Obviously without completely packing it in with snow it would pose a hazard to skiiers. In the spring we'll need to come up with some sort of retaining wall of sorts...

I've asked Afton to hold off as long as possible prior to adding the logs... Once the logs have filled in I suppose you'll just have to dismount, get around it and keep going... You never know though, maybe there'll be a line through it and over the pipe... Hey Magic, wouldn't that be interesting...

Yeah, I know I said I was done with this forum until Spring... Just figured this actually mattered...

[The Goat Killer]

If you've done 24's of the past and the one this year you'll understand the trail name...

If not, and you know a guy that goes by the name "the Goat" (not the goat killer) ask him the next time you see him and he'll explain. He named it.

The Goat consumes goat killers. Team Ricco for life & nobody builds like the Farm Team... Nobody.

Over?


:hit:

Next Year!

[RedSquirrel]

The trail had 90% signage:
-After Valley View single track, signs are need pointing riders back up instead of down to chalet the old way, confusing if not familiar. Afton will fix.
-Southbound Crossing hairpin turn blocked, hard to see turn around if your not familiar. Afton will fix.

Ridability:
-Start of 24 hour, the kiddie lift cable is accross trail, Afton on it today.
-Larry's revenge....the under waterpipe/valley avoidancve trail all ride-able.
-Big log roll over water pipe gone.
-Only southbound crossing hairpin (24hr course-flats hairpin at bottom) not rideable, otherwise complete trail totally ridable and in good condition.
-No real ruts to speak of anywhere...all ups good too
-All downhills good condition. Long down hill on skiers left with roller jump good (biggest down hill there)...sweeping S turns typical loose condition.
-Manhandler still waiting for you and rideable
-Some leaves and sticks on trail, typical Afton

Moisture:
-I didn't see any mud on trails anywhere. A previous post called out moisture at bottom. I didn't ride lower tubing/meadows area.

If you read all this you have an addiction.

[RedSquirrel]

I'm not going to detail conditions like this again cause you should have a good idea bout what to expect if you go.

Below is the 5/7 report with 5/15 revision in blue...



The trail had 90% signage: (marked up well I thought)
-After Valley View single track, signs are need pointing riders back up instead of down to chalet the old way, confusing if not familiar. Afton will fix. (MARKED-DONE)
-Southbound Crossing hairpin turn blocked, hard to see turn around if your not familiar. Afton will fix. (RIDE-ABLE-FIXED)

Ridability:
-Start of 24 hour, the kiddie lift cable is accross trail, Afton on it today. (CABLE LIFTED-FIXED)
-Larry's revenge....the under waterpipe/valley avoidancve trail all ride-able. (yep still ride-able)
-Big log roll over water pipe gone. (May return later in season)
-Only southbound crossing hairpin (24hr course-flats hairpin at bottom) not rideable, otherwise complete trail totally ridable and in good condition. (ride-able now)
-No real ruts to speak of anywhere...all ups good too (amouring & trail holding up very well!!!!)
-All downhills good condition. Long down hill on skiers left with roller jump good (biggest down hill there)...sweeping S turns typical loose condition. (not loose today as wetness makes sandy base solid)
-Manhandler still waiting for you and rideable
-Some leaves and sticks on trail, typical Afton

Moisture:
-I didn't see any mud on trails anywhere. A previous post called out moisture at bottom. I didn't ride lower tubing/meadows area. (mud on tires today) afton can handle it!!!!

If you read all this you have an addiction. i do

[tkb608]

I guess I have an adiction. Iread all of both your posts. I look forward to making the trek out to Afton. I enjoyed the detail in your post. I must say though the most important peice of info in your post, is that Afton is open at all. I had gotten the impression from previous posts that Afton might not be open to the public at all this year, just for races. Thanks you.