Manitou Open...

[NewTicker]

The last post on this trail was that it was open but it was attached to a "title" as if the trail was closed...
Anyone been out there lately?

[sensorysonic]

I think the trail is open. Basically, if the entrance on the west side of the park, on Briarwood Avenue, is open, then the trail is open. The trail is closed if you see a rope or chain across this entrance. Also, look for closed signs. If you see a trail closed sign, that means all the trails, including the mountain bike trail, are closed. If a chain or rope is across the west entrance, then the trail is closed, even if there is no sign up. Also, the trail doesn't have trail patrols checking things, as its a rural trail. So only ride the trail if it is frozen. Don't ride the trail in freeze-thaw conditions. Just use basic good judgement.

[newp]

Did I miss something, I thought there was construction, and that the trail was closed. I race the D23 Harescrables and heard the Monticello's last race was last year (2006) and that the mtb trail will be closed. If anybody could answer this ? that would be great.

Thanks

[ryno lite]

I think someone got it confused with the motocross race. They no longer allow the motocross race out there, but the mtn bike trail is still open. The only time they have closed the mtn bike trail was during deer hunting season.

[newp]

Cool, I can make the trip to ride it this summer on the way to the cabin.:)

[ryno lite]

Keep an eye open here for trail conditions. The past few summers, Manitou has been a total jungle. Hopefully this year there is enough resources to keep Manitou all trimmed up and rideable. The past few years, it's really only been good enough to ride in the early spring and fall.

[sensorysonic]

There will be a Hare Scramble at Camp Manitou on the weekend of May 6 of 2007. The mountain bike trail will be closed this weekend, as it is every year, for this weekend. There has been a hare scramble every season, but the last three seasons, the hare scramble system does not go on the mountain bike trail, except for some duo-use sections, such as the north section of trail, the section that starts after crossing the field. That section is used, then repaired by the race sponser. The hare scramble trail does cross sections of the mountain bike trail, and thus repairs are needed each year. I'm the one who will be doing these repairs, usually the weekend after the race. I usually have the trail repaired properly a weekend or so after the race. Yes, our goal this year, is to properly clear the trail, keep it cleared throughout the summer. Though, this has been our goal the last few seasons, and we haven't really accomplished this goal. Hopefully, this year, the trail will be rideable throughout the summer, instead of being a spring and fall trail. The trail quickly becomes overgrown, as Ryan mentioned, in the summer when the rains hit. I'm excited about this season at Camp Manitou, and am hoping we are able to make this trail a great spring, summer and fall riding destination in the extended metro west!!

[ryno lite]

I thought that race was done a couple of years ago. When did they decide to have that race again?

[sensorysonic]

Its been a hare scramble the last 3 seasons. Basically, the land manager said they could have a hare scramble each season, if they had their own trail system, and didn't ride the mountain bike trail. For one weekend, they have a hare scramble each season. The section through the pines on the north side is the only way between both fields, that narrow stretch of pines, and once through that section, they go off on their own trailsystem. I fix the intersections they cross, later on in the trail. I haven't talked about this race, because people get worked up about it wrecking the mountain bike trail. The race doesn't wreck the mountain bike trail anymore. The trail was just fine last fall, and we had a half dozen MORC board members/dirt bosses ride the trail fall 2006, so the one weekend they have the hare scramble race is not wrecking the trail. So, for the most part, its been a good compromise, and a good quick way, once a year, for the camp to make a good amount of money.