New Trails in Duluth?

[berrywise]

What's the scoop on this (other than what the story says)? Anyone here involved?

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=55035

username: webmaster@duluthnewstribune.com
pass: registrationsucks

[Lezgo Cycling]

sweeeeeet this will be cool to go check out

[Buck]

Hellll yeah! that is great news, I know the dudes that did a lot of the building it sounds like. About time d-town got some new XC stuff! yeeehaaaa

weRd
Buck

[Kingbozo]

That sounds really cool

[LOKI]

Hey I worked on the trails with the crew. It is certainly a really, really nice system. It has lots of choice as to loops, it is super pretty and really technical in spots. I think one thing that a lot of people dont realize though is that it is in proximity to link other known and unknown chunks of trails in the west end. So the idea of a traverse trail, the length of Duluth as we know it is now an idea that has merit. We do this already, ride from Lester to Jay Cooke, once a year....god only knows how long that is but it takes 6 or eight hours depending on what bars you stop at... but virutally zero of the trails are legal. Now with Piedmont, Spirit and possibly a push to start for some Magney singletrack we are on our way to a bigger picture dream and that is to be the best place for long ride epic singletrack in MN if not the midwest.
So come and join us.
Hansi

[Lezgo Cycling]

well thanks for you help in building more trails hansi....cant wait to ride :banana:

[toasthaiku]

Check the Duluth cycling message boards at http://cycling.upnorthmn.net/index.php for all the backstory. Not sure if you have to be a member to read posts.

Much of the credit goes to Duluth Chiropractor Adam Sundberg. I'm not sure if he started it, but he definitely was the guiding force behind the project. Adam was especially skilled at negotiating the user groups, governments, and extremely passionate individuals who had a say in this project.

There's much work yet to do. Rock removal alone will be neverending but the trails should match the hype. Here's a description from an early cycling.upnorthmn post:
"We were able to fit in some nice twisty singletrack through heavily wooded areas and then a section where you can open it up over some Duluth style slickrock. The other section we added was right by Haines Road. This section is definately the most burly of the whole system. Two huge rock bluffs, one of which is almost impossible to climb except for maybe 3 riders in town. It will be one of those sections where you have to work on it time and time again before you finally get it, if ever. After that I work back through some forests and a really nice gradual descent where it will be big ring spinning for while, the head back North along a very pretty creek. I really like picking lines in the fall because I'm able to direct the trail to be amongst trees with good color and pines as much as possible."

Think Duluth's worth a road trip next year?

[LOKI]

Hear Hear on Adam Sundberg, he was indeed and certainly is the person that got this rolling. Some of his side kicks though were just as stout on the execution. IE people like Dave Stenjhem, Kate Kelley, Ryan and Sherri Nelson, Chris White of the Ski Hut, COGGS etc. There was really a true and general uprising from the knowledge that several key sections of trail were going to be lost to developement. Certainly there has been a quiet murmur in the background as to what the f*&k was going on in our very own community that was limiting us from building new and numerous trails in a place that has a huge amount of greenspace to do so. We have been routinely failed by the infrastructure that was in place to create these trails, either by personalities involved or by lack of initiative. Adam struck a hard nerve with this attack and got this trail done in an amazing amount of time, all official, all volunteer and also in the face of people trying to defeat it. Now it is the hope of myself and many of the MTB communtiy here in Duluth that this momentum can be extended to other sections of trail, to perhaps a new social and activist group of people getting together and creating the world that we want to ride in, not the world that we wish we could ride in.
So that said, I really feel that Adam has taken the first huge step get that going. It is also interesting to note that here in Duluth, our MTB community has often been led by very talented and fast racers. I think that has been good and has been bad for the majority of our riders. Good because racers are very passionate, bad because they tend to be loop oriented and can stand to multi lap a single peice of trail for days at high speeds. Adam in my opinion represents more of the backcountry, long ride, free ride cyclist. We want more terrain, more types of terrain, longer rides and more adventure etc. With that said, you can see how our bigger system could evolve, then we will win for not only the average and typical MTB rider but will also create huge training rides for the racers....

[LOKI]

Hey sorry to be so crazy about these posts, but you guys should know what is going on up here.
A person that I forgot to mention is Andy Holak. Andy runs DATA http://datadirt.wordpress.com/
Andy is also a St.Louis County employee, hard core trail runner and huge trail advocate. He also owns a company that produces trails here in the northland. Without Andy none of this would have come to pass. A perfect storm of people who want more trails......

[samh]

The majority of the trail work on the Piedmont trails was by COGGs folks with Adam leading most of the charge. Andy Holak is the St. Louis County connection (who also happens to be an ultramarathoner, hiker, mountain biker and all around swell guy).

The majority of communication online surrounding this project has been through the COGGs forums which are only visible to members (involving personal confirmation from the site's host).

I'll post a link to this thread on the Cycling Up North forum (COGGs) in case those guys want to communicate anything here.

[Whitey]

Here is the map....

[ppgc]

Awesome news! Can't wait to head up there next spring!

[Whitey]

2002
here is another view

[TML]

Wow. This sounds absolutely awesome.

Congrats to all those involved that pursued and persisted their way to a great outcome. I to, wish the Duluth area the very best with keeping this momentum going.

Can't wait to ride it. Nice work everyone!

[martini]

Whitey, do you have the .gpx files so we can go in and see the map 'bigger'? Can't see much with the small size. I'm really curious to see what you've got up there. May make the trip back to dulut' easier to make in the next year or so.

[Kingbozo]

I will be checking this out for sure in 08.

[Rooster]

I love going to Duluth and now I will have a real reason to go there! Wonder if theres any drops or jumps

[toasthaiku]

Wonder if theres any drops or jumps

Plenty. They range in height from from 1' to "parachute required." Several jumps have bypasses in case someone approaches from downhill or doesn't want reconstructive surgery.

[bakkeb]

This sounds awesome. I've always wanted to go up to D'lute to go riding and it looks like it could be worth it next year. If the Spirit mtn. thing shapes up...that could be a legen....wait for it.....dary weekend.:etard:

[LOKI]

I am not really a drops or jumps guy but I do have to say that there are some hits on this trail that made me think about getting a new bike. There was this one that was literally a diving board rock, shooting straight out to a really sweet transition and landing. Made me wish I was on skis. I think that the trail really has it all. Thanks for the map Whitey.

[DMonkey]

Right on! I can't wait for a trip up there now - Very cool!

Thank you & Congrats to all involved!

[mpope]

Watch out for the bowhunters.

[nigel]

Article from Duluth.com

http://www.duluth.com/articles/?page=view_article&id=55035&property_id=36

[timmy]

Wow, this great!! I can't wait for this white cr*p to melt, so I can get up there.:banghead:

[At the Gates 2121]

Hey I worked on the trails with the crew. It is certainly a really, really nice system. It has lots of choice as to loops, it is super pretty and really technical in spots. I think one thing that a lot of people dont realize though is that it is in proximity to link other known and unknown chunks of trails in the west end. So the idea of a traverse trail, the length of Duluth as we know it is now an idea that has merit. We do this already, ride from Lester to Jay Cooke, once a year....god only knows how long that is but it takes 6 or eight hours depending on what bars you stop at... but virutally zero of the trails are legal. Now with Piedmont, Spirit and possibly a push to start for some Magney singletrack we are on our way to a bigger picture dream and that is to be the best place for long ride epic singletrack in MN if not the midwest.
So come and join us.
Hansi


So what is the time frame for opening this trail? may june, july?? or is it ready already??

[Lezgo Cycling]

Wow, this great!! I can't wait for this white cr*p to melt, so I can get up there.:banghead:


the last couple days have me really wanting spring to show now....cant wai to get out and ride on the dirt again. :banana:

[bakkeb]

That article really made me want to mtn.bike. Damn snow!:banghead: I guess I'll keep snowriding for now, but that trail sounds like it will be a blast. Can't wait to hit it this summer...I smell a road trip.:etard:

[At the Gates 2121]

That article really made me want to mtn.bike. Damn snow!:banghead: I guess I'll keep snowriding for now, but that trail sounds like it will be a blast. Can't wait to hit it this summer...I smell a road trip.:etard:


I have a premonition that I will be visiting uncle louies a lot next summer on the weekendend then the 2 trails :banana:

[ryno lite]

Finally got to read the article. Sounds great! Can't wait to check it out! Winter can only last so long! Although we are talking Duluth, so maybe we have to wait another few weeks!

[toasthaiku]

So what is the time frame for opening this trail? may june, july?? or is it ready already??

It's open. Not sure if it's ridable now with the snow, but come up when things dry out.

And there will be PLENTY of opportunities for trail work :).

[At the Gates 2121]

It's open. Not sure if it's ridable now with the snow, but come up when things dry out.

And there will be PLENTY of opportunities for trail work :).

SWEEEEEEET

[29 & Single]

This would be great to have an organized trail in Duluth.

[col200]

This is totally sweet! I used to ride around the Piedmont xc ski trails & ATV trails about 3 years ago. The ATV trails (that go along the hill face and down towards the lake) were pretty extreme and awesome. Can't wait to hit this trail. We should try to arrange a MORC Piedmont/Hartley/Fitgers:D ride up there when trails are ridable.

[Whitey]

Thinking about a tour of duluth this summer...under the radar type,starting near spirit and finishing at lester if there is any interest.Ride Spirit, the power lines,Piedmont,Hartley and head on down to the hubcap trail in lester if anyone is interested.

[toasthaiku]

I'm interested.

If you want to get totally psycho, the ride could start at Mission Creek Parkway and connect with the grant in aid trail above Munger Trail to Spirit.

[Rooster]

Now i just need a car with really good gas millage so i can drive up there every weekend.

[fatbaldpop1]

Is this Piedmont area trail officially open? if so, how to access???

this should be pretty sweet!

[col200]

I'm coming up this weekend. Does anyone know if this trail is ready to ride?

[babuhr]

It was pretty good when I rode it the other day. Some sections have been closed though. This site is a good one for keeping up on the local happenings up here...
http://cycling.upnorthmn.net/

Adam Sundberg is the guy with the most up to date status of the new Piedmont trails.

[samh]

The Piedmont trails are open. They're new and still bumpy but they are ready for riders. Access them via a gravel parking lot at the intersection of Hutchinson Rd. and Adirondack St. (take Piedmont to Hutchinson).

Here is a GPS'ed route of the trail system.
http://samh.net/linked/duluth_piedmont.jpg

[fatbaldpop1]

I rode them 2x this week. There are a few pretty cool surprises...probably 6 or 7 spots where I couldn't make it on single speed (a couple that I couldn't make b/c I was chicken as well). There are also a couple of views that the people who do the credit card commercials would call "priceless" and they would be correct. These trails are a GREAT addition....and a lot of work obviously went into them. THANKS>

[At the Gates 2121]

I rode them 2x this week. There are a few pretty cool surprises...probably 6 or 7 spots where I couldn't make it on single speed (a couple that I couldn't make b/c I was chicken as well). There are also a couple of views that the people who do the credit card commercials would call "priceless" and they would be correct. These trails are a GREAT addition....and a lot of work obviously went into them. THANKS>

I want to ride this over the 4th weekend will be up there tonight

[c'dale600dsc]

It's the new trail #6 on the trail map. Designated black diamond. Indeed it is had my front tire flat again. This is the second time that it happened while riding Piedmont. Nevertheless it was fun. Thank you for those who spent their morning today cutting that new trail

JD

[Rooster]

I might head up there to check this trail out, Is there any drops or anything big worthy of a 6 inch bike ? Or not so much ?

[c'dale600dsc]

Nothing like Porcupine Rim but there are a lot of very short slick rock like route.
The new trail would be to the right after the first bridge. It is marked by the orange ribbon (as of yesterday). It is #6 trail, which is to the right of #5. It is a gradual climb at at certain point it will split. Taking the right will be rocks and you climb up. That actually loops and you go back to the same spot where it forks. So if you take the left you'll end up in the same rock and youll be going down. The rock is ~3ft down, on the extreme left of that spot the 60 degrees angle drops to between tree trunk, the middle and right of the rock ~2 to 3 ft of sharp drop. There are other drops along the whole of the piedmont loop but less than the above. Pleanty of baby heads though.
Have fun

[Rooster]

Porcupine Rim ???

[c'dale600dsc]

Porcupine Rim ???
_______________________________________________
I would say Moab's Porc rim would be the test for most 6 inches (Nomads or Enduros etc). For the trails here the drops are not really the big 2 to feet (or more). It is good enough for any trail bike but is really beyond cross country trails.
Talking to Adam however yesterday, he confirmed the rumor of extending the trail beyond haines road and that could be another year and another post. From what he mentioned, another loop will be added there. He (and his group) have scouted the area and the terrain (as I understood) is rocky (assuming solid rocks). And then eventally connecting via the power line trail to Spirit Mountain (Correct me if I'm wrong Adam:confused:)

JD

[Pain Cave Spelunker]

I might head up there to check this trail out, Is there any drops or anything big worthy of a 6 inch bike? Or not so much ?

No big drops really but the trail is really rocky at certain sections and would punish the rigid guys. I brought my hard tail up last weekend and wished I would have brought my FS. Some of the short downhills are really steep face breakers if you went over the bars. I recommend this trail to anyone passing threw Duluth. It was a blast. Reminded me of a north shore version of slick rock at certain sections. The views are truly epic. Bring a trial map with you and hit up every loop. Look for the power lines. The trail starts underneath them. You can park at the trail head.


Talking to Adam however yesterday, he confirmed the rumor of extending the trail beyond haines road and that could be another year and another post. From what he mentioned, another loop will be added there. He (and his group) have scouted the area and the terrain (as I understood) is rocky (assuming solid rocks). And then eventally connecting via the power line trail to Spirit Mountain (Correct me if I'm wrong Adam:confused:)


Cant wait to see what you guys do with this trail as it matures. The spot is ideal. I look forward to riding it again come sept.

[29 & Single]

Are these trails marked now? I have read #5, #6. I was up there a month ago and rode Piedmont but was very unsure of the flow of the trail.

[DODZEE]

You can print a trail map from coggs.com

that same map is posted at 3 intersections on the trail. coggs signs on each trail are numbered according to that map as well.

[Rooster]

Riding it tomorrow

[Pain Cave Spelunker]

Riding it tomorrow

What'd ya think?

[c'dale600dsc]

Rode the new loop today #6.

[col200]

Ran into Brian (Rooster) on Saturday before I rode it. Luckily, he gave me his map...I totally forgot mine:banghead:
I thought it was really good. It was about as rough going as Hartley but with some nice rocks infused. Some of those switchbacks in 5b are brutal! =) I think it's gonna become a really sweet trail with in the next few years. I'm probably spoiled from Leb. and Murphy, but the trail didn't seem well marked and the map seemed different from what the trail actually looks like. But, I rode Hartley today and that makes this new Piedmont trail look really organized ;) (how many 3-way intersections does Hartley need anyways?). Anyway, glad I made the trip this weekend and I'm looking foreward to what becomes of this trail in the future.
Good job and Thanks to those who build it.

[Rooster]

Fun trail, now it just needs some drops ,steep decents, and some jumps. Great views though!

[Kent Karjala]

My wife and I rode the new Piedmont Trails on Sunday and were both very impressed with all the new loops. A huge thank you to all who helped plan and build these trails, you have a nice thing going and we will look forward to riding there again.

keep up the great work!:metal:
KK