No Afton??

[Little D]

I just checked the 2006 MNSCS Schedule and Afton isn't included on the schedule.

Anyone know what's up here?

[Magic]

There is a problem between Afton management and the people who run the state series. So as it stands, there will be no more state races at Afton this year.

[Little D]

Thanks for the info.

Bummer for both parties and us. Afton is a favorite of mine.

[Wolfchimp]

Is 24hrs of Afton going to still happen?

[mara]

Is 24hrs of Afton going to still happen?

I've heard there will be a 2006 24 Hours of Afton.

[Magic]

Is 24hrs of Afton going to still happen?

As far as I know this event will still be at Afton.

[RedSquirrel]

Troy, will we still have Afton as a MTN b trail? My favorite & getting better.

I'm eager to ride & do trail work with kiddo's again. DH, SL and XC.

Whew on the 24 hour prospect.

[Magic]

All MTB trails at Afton are subject to be gone for good. Larry and I have to schedule a meeting this spring with Afton management, from there we will know more about the coming year at Afton. This is something that just came up at the end of the year. We will try very hard to keep this a place to ride in the east metro. I'll post up more info as it becomes available.

[Little D]

huh? Did they drop a bomb on you at the end of the year? Is there anything any of us can do to keep Afton around?

Dude, you're freaking me out. Afton was going to be my training ground this year. I was going to buy a pass for the summer...

[bigwheel]

Dude, you're freaking me out. Afton was going to be my training ground this year. I was going to buy a pass for the summer...

It will especially suck for the volunteers who put in a lot of labor building the trail.

[Little D]

you are absolutely correct Bob. They did a lot of work there last year and it really showed.

Sorry Magic, Roger, etc I was being selfish

[Buck]

What the hells is with all the pouting? Ain't lost it yet. Keep yer heads up and keep on chargin' till there ain't no where to charge.

Troy you need any help you know where to find me.

L8R
Buck

[Tower]

Yep, there is a potential Afton could close down MTB trail access.

Okay, now remain calm... No need to circle the wagons just yet...

We have yet to define Afton's future vision regarding MTB trails. We hope to gain a meeting with Afton Managment before the Spring thaw.

If you have CONSTRUCTIVE feedback you can always goto www.aftonalps.com (http://www.aftonalps.com) . I know they read and reply to feedback...

The folks at Afton have been nothing but supportive to MTB trail access over the years. Please be kind, this is a "management" thing that we hope to define sometime soon...

The sky was the limit at Afton and we hope this dream will continue in the future...

On the flipside, I've found with trail initiatives allot of people talk the talk, but who is out there in the trenches making the difference? Whether Afton or your local trail, just get involved if you care...

[Primo Tiki]

Is 24hrs of Afton going to still happen?

The 2006 24hrs of Afton is actually going to be the 24hrs of my backyard. I hope everyone enjoys it.

[dejorn]

The owners of Afton Alps, also own Mt. Kato. Does that mean the trails at Mt. Kato are also in jeopordy?

I can't say however, that I am too surprised. I have ridden Afton for years and it doesn't get the amount of ridders needed to keep the trails open. People need to think about this from Afton's point of view. Afton has to pay extra premiums on insurance and maintain the trails to keep them open for a handful of riders that show up on the weekends. If we really want to do something, we need get out and ride at Afton. Although, it may be too late at this point. We all know that Afton is the best place to train, but most people chose to ride the more "groomed" trails.

Well I hope we have a chance to show Afton's managment that we support the trails with our patronage.

[FarmerBEN]

Just curious what does (or did) it cost to ride afton? It may be an issue of riding free trails over pay-n-rides. I can hardly fault people for trying to save a buck

[Magic]

Just curious what does (or did) it cost to ride afton? It may be an issue of riding free trails over pay-n-rides. I can hardly fault people for trying to save a buck

The cost to ride at Afton is 7.00 bucks. If people have a problem with paying to ride, that is there issue. What you get for your cost is a nice place to change, nice new bathrroms and a grill and bar for drinks and food. What other trail heads have this to offer?

For most that race the state series, you should be out hear at Afton training. If you can handle Afton, the rest of the venues that you race at will be cake. We haven't lost Afton yet, so lets keep that in mind.

[berrywise]

My problem with riding at Afton is I always stop in at the bar first and pretty soon I'm one to many gin and tonics to ride :crazy2:

Is there anyone we should be addressing specifically if we leave them feedback through their site? Would we be better to wait and get some more info on where they are coming from before writing them?

[Magic]

Is there anyone we should be addressing specifically if we leave them feedback through their site? Would we be better to wait and get some more info on where they are coming from before writing them?

Send them to John Reents attention. Just dropping a note to say that you would like to see Afton stay open to MTBer's would do. Keep it all positive, please. Thanks.

[RedSquirrel]

For most that race the state series, you should be out hear at Afton training. If you can handle Afton, the rest of the venues that you race at will be cake. We haven't lost Afton yet, so lets keep that in mind.

Agree! I rode Afton no less than 7 times on various early mornings prior to Afton race. That and other training gave me sum tin special which lasted all year.
:banana:

[RedSquirrel]

Send them to John Reents attention. Just dropping a note to say that you would like to see Afton stay open to MTBer's would do. Keep it all positive, please. Thanks.

John is very cool. He always supported trail work, races and mtn bike efforts. Thanks for the tip.

[berrywise]

Johns response to me:

Thanks for your support of the Mt Bike trails at Afton. We will have more info about the status of the trails in the Spring. Check back late March or early April.

Happy New Year!
John

He sounds like a good guy so hopefully an agreement can be made so that the trails at Afton are not lost. Keep us posted Troy.

[fasterfoster]

Johns response to me:



He sounds like a good guy so hopefully an agreement can be made so that the trails at Afton are not lost. Keep us posted Troy.
I received exactly the same response!

[transplant]

I received exactly the same response!

I hope I receive the same one, too. That means at least someone is reading the emails. Remember to keep them polite and non-confrontational. Kill with kindness.

[berrywise]

I hope I receive the same one, too. That means at least someone is reading the emails. Remember to keep them polite and non-confrontational. Kill with kindness.
Maybe I should have left out the part where I said I know where he lives.....Just kidding! Mine was very kind and just giving support for the trails.

[Magic]

Thanks to all that sent a little something off to John at Afton. We will keep all the MORCers updated on the issue at hand. Keep sending the e-mails, it will only show that there is interest in keeping this place open. Thanks again.:banana:

[Little D]

So, it seems a little interesting to me that they're considering closing. The golf course keeps the club house open and you guys are doing an awesome and free job on the trailwork. Do they have to carry extra insurance that's not being covered?

I got the same reply too.

[transplant]

Maybe I should have left out the part where I said I know where he lives.....Just kidding! Mine was very kind and just giving support for the trails.

"And I know where your kids sleep!" is pretty effective, too. I figured pretty much everyone here would be rational in their approach.

[RedSquirrel]

Afton is back on the 2006 mnscs race list for the Avalanche. The manager sent me an e-mail with the fact but I was reluctant to share until official. Seems official to me! Troy, Larry, thanks for your efforts.

[biking_stickman]

Very good news. Racing would not be the same without Afton.

[Mo-Tay]

Wow...I just read this thread for the first time. I love Afton and would be REALLY bummed if it ceased to exist. Troy and Larry, I have met you both and really appreciate the work you guys do. I will be watching this thread for further updates.

Also, I will be sure to grab my gloves, a can of snoose, and a Gatorade and come help with some trail work this spring. Afton is a great place and I would hate to see it go.

It is spring yet?

[LMARX]

Thanks to those who got Afton back on the schedule! (I'm thinkin Troy, Larry, John) Keep us posted on trail work this spring. Sundays worked good for me last year and it gave me an excuse to skip church. I would agree with one of the previous posts... "have a plan."

[Tower]

What do you mean by "have a plan?" Please explain.

There are details to work through with Afton management prior to myself and the Magician volunteering our time in support of Aftons MTB trails.

Breaking your back all summer for only short term commitments is not something I'll volunteer my time towards. As many of you know it takes allot of energy to buff out singletrack, but not much energy to destroy it. If we can not create sustainable long term trails I'll be volunteering my time elsewhere and someone else can "have a plan"...

Note- This is not intended to reflect negatively towards the support we have recieved from Afton Management. They have been VERY SUPPORTIVE to those of us that have volunteered our time at the Alps.

Over?

[LMARX]

Sorry, didn’t mean to get you all amped. I know you’re a big “24” fan and put a lot of time into Afton last year. The reality is that we’re only going to get short term commitments so we might as well get the most out of it. I’m no trail boss, but I learned last year that getting the organics off the trail and re-working eroding trail sections are priorities. If we can get that done before the help starts to fade, we could then work on single track. I’m not talking miles of it, but a few well placed trails that the week-end mountain biker (non-racer) could enjoy and some technical sections to add to the 24. “The Plan” would be to get these sections mapped, flagged, prioritized and then work until the help runs out. The idea would be to improve Afton from year-to-year instead of trying get it done in one summer and burning out.

I can’t commit long term. I’ll be helping out there this spring, but I also want to work on trails closer to home and race and stay married. Afton is 70 miles round trip for me.

[Tower]

Thanks for the feedback...

Sure sounds like you've got some ideas. A decision on trail use at Afton has not been made to my knowledge. A series race my be on the schedule, but that does not mean they will allow trail access for riding. Until that is clarified we are still in the dark on general trail riding.

If Afton decides to work with us on the trails and you have a vision for some trail improvements, go for it... That's what I attempted to do with the initiative last year.

Trail initiatives require a commitment of ownership to run with the trail improvement whether 5 people show up or nobody else shows up. We all have ideas and suggestions, but facilitating those into useful results is a whole different ball game...

If you've got a vision, it makes sense, and your willing to own the initiative, I'll be there to help make it happen... That is assuming everything pans out with Afton Management and we come to some sort of agreement about their trails...

You want to see me amped, you should have been at Afton when I realized they removed the water pipe log crossing that we spent the better part of 30 manhours building... That was amped...

[RedSquirrel]

Hey all,

Good news, Afton will open this year for riding! The manager just replied with the news. Afton is a few weeks of work away from opening. Yeeess.

Thank you Larry and Troy for your efforts and keep us posted on trail days. John mentioned he's got plenty of work to do and would appreciate help. I'll be dragging the kids out there for a few sessions no doubt. Anyone else interested in supporting?

I'll be buying a pass and hit-n-ner hard again. It's hard to duplicate the Afton dirt intervals, anywhere.

WaHOO!!

Heath

[Buck]

That is outstanding news!!!!

Troy...DH in da Future still???


L8Rz
Buck

[superfastaction]

First off - for anyone who hasn't ridden Afton, RIDE IT! The $7 is peanuts for what you get, and we've been dropping $5 for years just to park at the Murphy trailhead. Not only is the trail challenging and FUN, but it's freakin' gorgeous out there in the summer. RIDE IT! RIDE IT!!!

Some of my friends and I who had never raced before signed up for the 24 hour race last summer w/ a mere two weeks to train. :shocked: The first day we went to check out the trail we parked at the bottom (like you do when you go snowboarding) but the lodges were closed. Not knowing what to do, and not knowing who to pay (or seeing any signs, etc) we hit the trails. At the top we even stopped in and had a beer, chatted with folks, but no one asked us to pay and we had completely spaced it.

Back down at the bottom we were approached by a guy who in no way gave us the benefit of the doubt. We told him what was up and said 'no worries... great trails! who do we pay?' but he was still, uh, not so nice. Made us feel like he didn't care if we were there or not. :eyeroll:

So... back up at the top lodge we asked for him (still no signs or anything instructing mtb-ers to pay, or folks asking them to) and paid for the bracelets ten minutes later when he showed up. One small hitch... my friend was somewhere behind me with no cash and the bloke didn't want to sell me his bracelet, even tho there was no waiver to sign, etc. The whole experience was a lesson in both bad public relations and how not to run a business. If we hadn't been racing there was NO WAY we would have gone back!!

All this is to point out that it takes 2 to tango. Just like everyone else I'm VERY glad they are going to keep the trails open, but they really need to get their act together if they want folks to use it!!! We're not going to drive for 45 minutes and drop another seven bucks to get treated like we shouldn't be there. A little PR could pack that place on the weekends. It doth rock!!! ;)

[Magic]

Trevor, your run in out at Afton was with one of the maintenance workers. They are never polite. They have no regard for the work we do on the trails.

As for the not knowing where to pay. You passed the sign telling you where this is done at. So we do have signage, you just have to slow down a little.

All the people in the Golf shop (where you pay) are great people. Some of the nicest folks to work with.

Thanks for the props of getting people to ride out there. I've said it a million times, that Afton is a great place to ride and train. But people have to find this out for themselves.

Thanks for the interest in riding Afton.

[RedSquirrel]

Troy, I pm'ed u. OPEN OPEN OPEN (in a few weeks with trail work)

Trevor, my first time there I was scoping out golfers etc. and drove right past the sign too. Then asked someone and drove back up to top. I've never had a bad experience or run in with maint guys. Everyone was so cool. A waiver is required even if they forgot that day.

The land is big out there. The trails are bar none the toughest hill climbing in the metro...who cares if it don't flow as well (yet) it's natural baby. It can be tricky to route find but that's cause you may be so anerobic you can't see straight. Love it! It has a place in my training plan.

[superfastaction]

Yeah, there was a sign off the side of the road that we had passed by since we were headed to the bottom of the hill, but once we got down there... nuthin'.

I say all this with all the best intentions! The course last year was fantastic! The 24 race was killer!! The new Afton website offers more information than we saw last summer, so that's a step in the right direction. I'd just like to see more folks ride there, and if more signage/guidance can help keep the trails open, then I think it's a worthy topic here.