Trail Condition In Detail - Steeplechase

[gpzrider]

I know that there is trail work out here on Monday evenings, and I just wanted to mention that there were a couple of large trees down across the intermediate trail from the storm we had last week. I moved quite a few smaller trees/branches, but there were 2 that will require a chainsaw or multiple people to move.

[Matthew]

We will be trying to get them taken care of tonight. Trail work will start at 6. Thanks for the heads up.

[Matthew]

We removed 5 large trees from the intermediate trail last night and we got started on the expert bypass of the downhill course. The Dh was also weedwhacked and brush cleared. Hopefully with a little sun the trails should be in great condition for riding tonight and the rest of this week.

[Kosk]

The Dh was also weedwhacked and brush cleared.

I thought the DH was closed and we couldn't ride it, what's the dealio yo?

[Buck]

I know I suggested long ago that Jeff include it in the XC trails so that people could keep riding it, I don't know if that is what they are doing or not?

L8Rz
Buck

[Kosk]

I know I suggested long ago that Jeff include it in the XC trails so that people could keep riding it, I don't know if that is what they are doing or not?

So people can ride it as long as they ride back up instead of shuttling? Man, how does that make it any less of a liability? If that's the case, I think it's time for a road trip!

[Matthew]

The DH course is still 100% intact, we should be done weedwipping it this week sometime, but it has always been open for riding if your willing to get yourself back up the hill. I have been taking several passes on it every week this summer. I don't know if a shuttle will ever be offered again, but the trail will remain an expert level descent as part of our cross country system. The trail is extremely well made and we haven't had to put any maintenance other then tree trimming into it so the guys who built it should be proud.

[Kosk]

the guys who built it should be proud.

damn straight we're proud of it. I was for some reason under the impression that is was closed due to liability reasons? The log ride and drop are still intact? I guess we'll have to be heading down there for a little sessioning then!

[Buck]

The DH course is still 100% intact, we should be done weedwipping it this week sometime, but it has always been open for riding if your willing to get yourself back up the hill. I have been taking several passes on it every week this summer. I don't know if a shuttle will ever be offered again, but the trail will remain an expert level descent as part of our cross country system. The trail is extremely well made and we haven't had to put any maintenance other then tree trimming into it so the guys who built it should be proud.

HAHAHA sweet, I remember troppin the woods laying that out with the IMBA folk! :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :D

I was told by Kevin that he wouldn't be letting people ride it. That was the last that I had heard from him, so now your saying that if I show up on my big bike he'll be cool with it??? I don't know about that.

Should clarify this ASAP, I've had lots of people asking me about the DH and I have been saying its closed cuz that is what Kevin told me.

Thanks
Buck

[Matthew]

I am forwarding the conversation on to Jeff Robertson since he is the Man in Charge of the trails down there. I was with him last night when we mowed the dh and he even pulled a few weeds growing on top of the log ride. As far as I know as long as its being called an expert level cross country descent you can ride whatever bike you would like to down it. I will get back to you guys later today when Jeff gets back to me.

[gpzrider]

Just wondering if it was resolved whether or not we can ride the downhill course?

[Matthew]

As long as its ridden as an expert level cross country trail, then yes you can ride it. We haven't gotten all the way through it with the weed whacker yet though so the bottom might be a little overgrown still.

[gus man]

Can someone clue me in here. Why is so damn hard to insure a sober mtn. biker when vertually every skiier i've ever met has a sipping flask in thier inside coat pocket. Seams kinda fishy to me. I had this conversation with the people out at welch once. It became blatently obvious the they were to darn lasy and just didn't care about the mtn biking comunity. I say screw them and let's supoort the venues that support us. I. E city parks. It's just unfortunate that so many have giving so much effort for something that looks like a lameduck.

my 2 cents. piece out

Gus man.

[Kosk]

As long as its ridden as an expert level cross country trail, then yes you can ride it.

So are you saying that while wiggling your middle and index fingers on both hands, as well as nodding and winking?

Or are you profiling and discriminating against the gravity crowd?

I sure hope it's the former, otherwise, you won't see me helping out down there anymore....

[jeffr]

As Adam mentioned, the Owner will let us include the downhill course as part of the XC trail system as long as it is ridden as a XC trail using the "B" lines around the 2 large rock drops and not using the log ride. This trail is classified as an "expert trail". We would like to maintain the integrity of the course, if in the future it can be used for DH.
Jeff

[Matthew]

Gus- Part of the problem with the DH course was that not all of the riders were doing it alcohol free. That was the first big issue the owner had with it. So its funny that you made that comment about the skiers. As far as support goes, you guys at red wing do have a pretty good deal going with the city, but the owner at steeplechase has given us permission to build over 10 miles of singletrack on his property. To me thats pretty good support considering he won't make a dime off of it once insurance premiums come into play. I wish the DH course had worked out different, but some of it was the riders faults as well. I campaigned hard for it, maybe in the future.

Pete- I don't know how anything I said could be considered profiling or descriminating. I have always enjoyed and supported the DH/Freeride crowd.

[Buck]

I sat down and talked to the owner for like a hour about the DH course earlier this summer. I don't think anyone here really knows whats going on with it. I do, and am working to get things worked out and back open, I've just been uber busy the last month or so(travelling is fun!). But with school starting up now I'll be working closer to home! So lets keep it positive! This is all new ground for the owner, and the local riders both parties still have alot to learn!

Thanks!
Buck

[Matthew]

Steeplechase is in great fall riding condition. Lots of leafs down on the trail though. Lots of repair work has been going on and the trail is in very solid shape. Also there is a teeter totter and a short skills loop at the top of the hill.

[Dhallaway]

You can check the Steeplechase web site for trail conditions. Kevin plans to update the site as needed. http://www.skisteeplechase.com

[hendu]

Have there been any changes to the trail this year? I haven't been out to Stepplechase yet this year and was wondering if there have been additions? Is the advanced loop open? I've seen pictures of it, but I've never ridden it.

[Matthew]

Have there been any changes to the trail this year? I haven't been out to Stepplechase yet this year and was wondering if there have been additions? Is the advanced loop open? I've seen pictures of it, but I've never ridden it.

There has been about 1km of additional singletrack cut at the bottom of the current singletrack. The map in the trail guide section of this website is accurate except for this additional trail. The trail is marked however. Everything else is in pretty good shape. We need to do a little weed wacking but we are planning on getting out there for weekly trail work starting again this week. Also in the works is another single track addition that we will be flagging later this week. Check back on this posting for trail work days and times.

[3gmikey]

does steeplechase have lift service? What are the trails like? Are the trails there more geared toward freeriders or are they just good crosscountry trails. It would be great if they are set up to have a hucking good time! I am thinking about checking steeplechase out this thurday (7-19-07). Anyone interested in joining me?

[Matthew]

Steeplechase does not have lift survice and the trails are geared towards the cc end of things. However if you don't mind chugging up the one climb everything else is downhill. There is also the expert level Cross Country descent that would be worth checking out on your big bike. You will just have to deal with the climb back up.

[FarmerBEN]

any word on conditions today?

[Matthew]

Steeplechase is open today, but I was at 24 hrs of afton all weekend so I don't know what the conditions are like. we did get out there and removed a few trees in the middle of last week, but more might have come down during some of the later storms. Trails should be in good shape though.

[Matthew]

Also check out www.skisteeplechase.com (http://www.skisteeplechase.com) under the mountain biking link the conditions are usually listed.