Welch Village

[Ubergiant]

Are there any plans to build trails at Welch Village?
I spent all winter on the charlifts eyeing sweet lines for single track.
I think it would be a great place since it takes about as long to get there as it does for afton.
Didn't they used to have trails there? I swear I found an article about a NORBA race in 97.

[RedSquirrel]

mnscs.com held a series race there last year. I think it's part of the mn state series every year. The course is a fine course. I don't think it's maintained for everyday use anymore....last year it wasn't.

[FarmerBEN]

I two have been drooling over the potential for trails there, but at the current time I don't know how feisible trails would be. The current level of involvement in the Goodhue county area is enough to sustain and maintain memorial but not much more. Creating an additional trail to tend to without increasing local participation would probably be bad for both trails and worse off really piss gus off. This coupled with hill management that has been receptive to the idea thus far doesn't look good for the short term, but I like to think that in a few years we can maybe work something out with them. Until then I hope to heavily promote the sport and create a larger local ridership.

Let me know next year if you are heading to welch I bought a season pass this spring, so I will always be looking for an excuse.

[Matthew]

Yes there already is a pretty good network of singletrack at welch. They held a Norba NCS race for a few years in the mid 90's and there are even some pictures of Tinker racing there during it's heyday. It's buitiful riding and the singletrack always rates highly on my fun scale. Unfortunately the management there doesn't allow riding any other time except for specific events like the mnscs race. It's even difficult to get them to let the racers preride the course. The reason for this is simply that there are not going to be enough riders there during a week night to justify the expense of a first aid person being on duty and on the weekends they rent the chalet out for wedding receptions. Which make a lot more money than bikers. It's unfortunate because I would love to be able to ride there a few other times during the summer, but I don't see it happening any time soon. Come out for the race though and experience the great and otherwise off limits single track.

[hockeynut]

The current level of involvement in the Goodhue county area is enough to sustain and maintain memorial but not much more. Creating an additional trail to tend to without increasing local participation would probably be bad for both trails and worse off really piss gus off.

I don't know about pissing Gus off by pulling away trail workers. I know that I'd help if I could at Welch, but Memorial is where my first trail work priority would be. I think that would go without saying for the other core group of trail workers at Memorial (which probably numbers between 4-5).

Until then I hope to heavily promote the sport and create a larger local ridership.

How is that bike club looking Ben? I've heard some rumblings from a couple of people now about something starting up, but no real details. In a few years, if something can build ridership in the area, then approaching Welch, or Mt. Frontenac or the DNR or whoever about new trails would be more possible.

I think I'm going to put together some sort of flyer thing to put in the bike shop, both talking about the trails, and putting up the dates for trailwork. Couldn't hurt.

Isaac

P.S. How do Tuesday nights look for you Ben? Weekly trailwork until the race! Also, it sounds like Thursdays will be the group ride day. Don't know an official time yet, probably around 7 once it's light enough for biking until 8:30-9 as that's when the shop closes. Until then though probably 5-5:30 maybe 6.

[TrailPatrol]

The reason for this is simply that there are not going to be enough riders there during a week night to justify the expense of a first aid person being on duty

Somebody told me Welch had changed owners since back in the 1990s when the three NORBA NCS races ('97, '98, '99) were held there. Does anyone know? We had a bunch of NMBP patrollers from both MN and WI there all three years and let the owners know we would be willing to keep a volunteer patrol going if they were interested.

Never heard a word since.:confused:

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[FarmerBEN]

most evenings are pretty well shot, I am hoping to get out this saturday to help (weather allowing), I haven't made any progress on our beginner group ride program, but I haven't had much time or energy to do it. I've been meaning to mention it to jake or eric, but haven't gotten around to it. I would definately love to get something going, and if we could get either the Y or community ed to help promote it that would be a plus. We should all get together sometime just to discuss some goals and such, I think we have a good group to build on, we just need to get some exposure.


and as for the weddings I thought of that, wouldn't it be possible to base the cycling out of the east side by Madd Jax there?

[finn0086]

To clear the confusion in the room. The Welch Village trail is closed to the general public due to financial constraints on the side of the ownership. The MNSCS Series has one race that cuts the trail for that one day. The rental of the area for that day is one of the highest numbers in the series but the course is worth it.

The ownership has not changed has since its inception. One brother purchased the other brothers half out in the early 90's.

For the last three years, preride has been available on the day before the race only. The gates have been open from 9am to 3pm. This is to give the area time to get ready for weddings. Smelly MTB'ers would not be a good thing during a wedding.

Course cutting days (all day long)
Monday, July 17th, 2006
Monday, July 24th, 2006
Monday, July 31st, 2006
Monday, August 7th, 2006

If you want more info on this event. You can contact me at finn0086@umn.edu

[FarmerBEN]

Just curious, what in terms of dollars are we talking financial constraints. Is that a legitimate excuse or just a cop-out? My thinking is that if those figures aren't astronomical why can't we pre-sell a few season passes and some trail passes so that a good chunk of those costs are covered. my other thought, was if we work with trail patrol to get volunteers, could we talk them into opening for riders one day/evening a week, I think that a welch ride friday evening, steeplechase on saturday, and memorial on sunday sounds like a weekend worth the trip to Goodhue county. If they opened madd Jax on the east and worked out there the bikers wouldn't even interfere with any wedding preperations, and they might even make some money on beer and food too. Just my ramblings on the topic, do you have any connections we could maybe work with???

[gus man]

Ben I spoke with the land manager there several years ago. The cop-out excuse that I got was that noone would come down to Welch from the cities. What a nimrod to give out tha answer. If he only knew that people travel even farther to ride. IE Red Wing, Winona, and know Steeple Chase.

I would love to see welch open for biking. Even with all that I have going on here in Memorial park, I still like to ride other places.

THIS IS NOT MEANT AS A SHOT ON SCOTT, but with the attitude from Welch I don't see why we support them anymore by hosting an MNSCS event there. I knowIU'll take a hit for that one but oh well.

Gus

[Matthew]

I have said the same thing for 2 years now. We should host the mnscs races at places that support mountain biking and the mountain bike community. Also the course at welch is fun, but it isn't what it used to be, partially from lack of rubber on it and partially from newly cleared land at the top. Also who cuts the trail before the race each year. That seems like a ton of work to invest in a place you can only ride one day a year. I like welch and I think it would be a buitiful place to ride, but I will continue to suggest its removal from the series until it shows a stronger support/interest in our sport.

[FarmerBEN]

wouldn't riding it semi-regularly keep the trail in better shape and reduce the need for so many days, I also notice that they have four cutting days and two riding days, I am no math whiz but that doesn't seem to add up.

[FarmerBEN]

doesn't steeplechase host weddings too? how do they balance the weddings with the bikers, they are less spread out than welch. I know it is still early, but do you think steeplechase has been successful enough to make other ski hills want to follow their lead? I think being that it has an existing trail system welch should be a top priority for area riders.

[pokey]

I would assume that the ownership of Welch sees this pretty cut and dry. Mountain bikers on their hill means liability with little financial gain. If you pay to ride there, their liability goes up even more.
America is the land of litagation and a lack of personal responsability.

[FarmerBEN]

I would assume that the ownership of Welch sees this pretty cut and dry. Mountain bikers on their hill means liability with little financial gain. If you pay to ride there, their liability goes up even more.
America is the land of litagation and a lack of personal responsability.


just curious is there any liability protection for private land owners that allow recreational vehicles on their property without profit? I have heard that there is in wisconsin, but I haven't heard anything about MN. and does anyone know a ballpark figure of the increase in premium?

[martini]

Y'know its curious, I go through the same thing here to. We cut trail for a one day(all freakin day) event that probably doesn't draw as many riders as the MNSCS there at Welch. Our course location(Sugar Creek Bible Camp) is a private camp for the summer, and they don't want other users out there(BUMMER). Of course I understand though. The reason we keep going back is simply because the trail we've cut in is really that good. It's routinly called the best course in the WEMS cadre of events. There are times that I really don't feel like its worth all this time to get the course ready, to only ride it for one day(well the racers at least, I get to ride it each day I'm working). But hearing all the positives...makes it worth it.

I remember having a SS derby event one year at Welch and the promoters/NCSfolk thinking we were all insane for riding the course backwards. It really is a fun trail. Or was then. sounds like it just needs more use.