Afton Alps 2008

[Tower]

FYI... We'll be kicking off trailwork plans on April 26th. The main emphasis from the volunteer team this year will be.
1- Getting existing trails in ridable shape. Reroutes may be required due to ski hill construction activities.
2- Support the 24 Hour race prep and MNSCS race prep.
3- We've got an ongoing idea circling to extend the bridge loop all the way down to Shady Lane... Maybe we'll actually do it this year...

Also would like to thank Afton Alps for their support/ sponsorship of Team LCR for the 08 season...

[Tower]

FYI... We'll be kicking off trailwork plans on April 26th. The main emphasis from the volunteer team this year will be.
1- Getting existing trails in ridable shape. Reroutes may be required due to ski hill construction activities.
2- Support the 24 Hour race prep and MNSCS race prep.
3- We've got an ongoing idea circling to extend the bridge loop all the way down to Shady Lane... Maybe we'll actually do it this year...

Also would like to thank Afton Alps for their support/ sponsorship of Team LCR for the 08 season...

Just a reminder... Anybody interested in improving the trails at Afton Alps, this is your chance to make a difference...

[Pandl]

Wow, as usual, a lot going on one day. That is also the day Salem Hills is doing trail work for Eric's Spring Cup. And also Hillside Park trail work is that day too. Decisions decisions.

[Tower]

This is more of a planning and assessment get together... No dirt to be moved. I'm sure there'll still be allot of snow on the slopes...

So, to those that highlight the 24 Hours of Afton on the calendar and want to see some improvements, this is your opportunity to get involved.

[Tower]

Reminder... Allot of dirt moving and what not this coming weekend, East metro people that enjoy pain and suffering here is your change to make a difference... No dirt moving, but bike riding will be involved, meet at the Afton Alps Clubhouse 9AM...

Magic, you going to appear???

FYI... We'll be kicking off trailwork plans on April 26th. The main emphasis from the volunteer team this year will be.
1- Getting existing trails in ridable shape. Reroutes may be required due to ski hill construction activities.
2- Support the 24 Hour race prep and MNSCS race prep.
3- We've got an ongoing idea circling to extend the bridge loop all the way down to Shady Lane... Maybe we'll actually do it this year...

Also would like to thank Afton Alps for their support/ sponsorship of Team LCR for the 08 season...

[Wolfchimp]

I'll be there.

[Tower]

I'll be there.

10-4, bring bike of choice for some circling...

LCR West will be at Hillside with RZ getting it done, LCR East at Afton...

Still haven't heard from the Magician... But then again, she isn't "Magic" because of card tricks...

Again, this is just a planning/ goal setting meeting... Anybody looking to make a difference at Afton, this is your opportunity...

Meet at Clubhouse -9AM, ride/ review current condition of trails -10AM... Talk smack -continuously

[Tower]

LCR is planning our 3rd annual Trail work day at Afton Alps... Sat May 10th

All people invited to partake... Meeting at the Afton Alps Clubhouse 9AM.

Bring rakes, pruners, work gloves.

-Plan-
9AM til 12:30 -Trail work
12:30 til 1:30 -Lunch courtesy of Afton Alps
1:30 til whenever ride your bike

[Wolfchimp]

We encourage anyone who is interested in the trails at Afton to come out and help. We'll be riding afterwards. Come throw some dirt, get a free lunch and ride for free afterwards!!!

[Nickel]

Does this mean Afton is open for riding, in general?

[Magic]

I'll make a call in the morning and find out the status of Afton. I think there is still some snow left on the hills and our trails. But I will post something up or Larry will when he reads this.

[Tower]

Trails are still closed. Probably wont open for another 2 weeks. Too much snow still on slopes.

FYI... There has been no trail maintenance since the 24 Hour race, so the trails may be in poor shape for a while...

May 10th we'll attempt to fix what we can.

[Tower]

LCR to be working Afton Saturday...

If your interested in making improvements at Afton this is your chance... Just bring an LCR decoding book because we speak a different language and drag knuckles...

[Tower]

LCR cleared and fixed about half the 24 Hour trail on Saturday.

There is still some man made glacial snow piles on the Whistler Climb and Christina's Run. We'll update when trails are clear and dry.

FYI... There will be some significant re-routes of trail on the open slopes. Afton placed those erosion control grass mats on the open slopes and apparently we need to route around them. Not sure how it will all flow in the end, but expect change and probably less trail. The good news is none of the technical trail should be impacted by the reroutes.

[strk9]

when is your next trail work session i will try to come out and make it (do i need tools?)

[Tower]

Afton will be offically open to riding on Saturday.

Overall the technical trails are in decent shape. There are reroutes in sections that traverse the open slopes. Afton maintenance put down grass mats for erosion control in areas of connector trails.

Signs should be posted along with poles and tape for reroutes.

There is some mud in low lying areas from snow melt, ride it.

Follow the 24 Hour loop for the path of most resistance (LCR style).

The Afton Avalanche course will be set within the next two weeks. The course will be similar to last years race... My vote goes for Manhandler/ Whistler for Expert/ Comp again, more pain fast guys.

Feedback on trails, post up.

[Nickel]

Thank you for all of your hard work!!

[Vert]

Thanks for all the work. Looking forward to the pain...

[jitterjepp]

LCR cleared and fixed about half the 24 Hour trail on Saturday.

There is still some man made glacial snow piles on the Whistler Climb and Christina's Run. We'll update when trails are clear and dry.

FYI... There will be some significant re-routes of trail on the open slopes. Afton placed those erosion control grass mats on the open slopes and apparently we need to route around them. Not sure how it will all flow in the end, but expect change and probably less trail. The good news is none of the technical trail should be impacted by the reroutes.Thats crazy there is still snow there. I'm starting to feel like I'm living at 7,000 ft. Rain, rain, still snow, rain, cold.... yuk!

I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing what my winter laziness did to me. You guys always have a great course out there.:)

[tkb608]

Got out to Afton yesterday and it was great. The loop is somewhat abbreviated but Manhandler and Shady are open, so let the climbing begin. I ran into one of the regular trail crew out there and spoke to him briefly, but he pulled away from me too quick for me to say thanks for all the work. So, "Thanks for all the work Afton trail workers". I grabed a pic of the snow at the top of manhandler. This is the only place that the trail actualy crosses snow, though there are several places to see large amounts of snow.

2458

[DareDevilDarin]

afton was great riding Saturday,, and bumbed I didn't get on the left over snow earlier but did have a nice dirt to snow run with just front 4dsnowbike kit down the bowl,, really like the rugged and some what natural tail conditions that occur there,,
took a first time single tracker a 14 year old dude Kody man that rips on the dirt bikes and he just loved the Afton down hill!! will post his video of the his down hill bowl run asap,, he strait lined the bowl on my rocky mountain and didn't think he really need breaks!! lots of fun riding out there!! trails were put in to shape perfectly!!

[Tower]

Nice Pic... Thanks to all to stay the line and ride the snirt!!!

The Slalom section down by the Meadows Chalet (24 Hour chalet) is completly rerouted. Afton Maintenance layed grass matting and want to keep bikes off. So they are running us on the low lying (wet/ mud) road til who knows when... Also reroute exists after Whistler climb, prior to Hideaway section and DH. Oh yeah, Valley View DH singletrack is also closed due to the climb out is grass mat.

Somewhat confusing, but that is part of the game.


Got out to Afton yesterday and it was great. The loop is somewhat abbreviated but Manhandler and Shady are open, so let the climbing begin. I ran into one of the regular trail crew out there and spoke to him briefly, but he pulled away from me too quick for me to say thanks for all the work. So, "Thanks for all the work Afton trail workers". I grabed a pic of the snow at the top of manhandler. This is the only place that the trail actualy crosses snow, though there are several places to see large amounts of snow.

2458

[Vert]

The trails that were open were in great shape. Nice job by all involved. The snow on Manhandler gave me flashbacks to early summer riding in Colorado.

Will the race course for MNSCS#2 pretty much follow the current reroutes?

[tkb608]

Trail is in awesome shape. Still some snow out there, though none on the course.
2474

[Tower]

Had my years mixed up on course routes... Shady Lane and Cliffs Edge are IN for Expert/ Comp...

Changes from previous year's include-
-no Valley View Singletrack or climb out,
-routing changes (now grass switchbacks up) at the exit of Porter's Pile/ Doug's Line due to grass mats
-Hideaway Singletrack closed due to grass mats, trail dumps you out on doubletrack DH and connects up with either the Switchback trail (Sport/ Expert/ Comp), or straight down the double track...
-Meadows Chalet reroutes- dumps you on the parking lot and gravel road to bypass grass mats. Mud is your friend, but mud and a potholed maintenance road is a drag... Afton was going to bring in some gravel fill to mask the swamp...

Blah blah blah, trail is good and a grind fest go ride...

[samo]

Had my years mixed up on course routes... Shady Lane and Cliffs Edge are IN for Expert/ Comp...

Changes from previous year's include-
-no Valley View Singletrack or climb out,
-routing changes (now grass switchbacks up) at the exit of Porter's Pile/ Doug's Line due to grass mats
-Hideaway Singletrack closed due to grass mats, trail dumps you out on doubletrack DH and connects up with either the Switchback trail (Sport/ Expert/ Comp), or straight down the double track...
-Meadows Chalet reroutes- dumps you on the parking lot and gravel road to bypass grass mats. Mud is your friend, but mud and a potholed maintenance road is a drag... Afton was going to bring in some gravel fill to mask the swamp...

Blah blah blah, trail is good and a grind fest go ride...
so shady lane & cliff's edge are back in,contrary to what mnscs has posted?

[Tower]

Yeah, I lied... Don't blame Dana, I must have been VO2 maxed when I gave her the info... Not sure why I was thinking of letting the fast guys off easy...

so shady lane & cliff's edge are back in,contrary to what mnscs has posted?

[tkb608]

Can you believe it? Condition were excellent today. The rain seemed to help a lot more then it hurt. If your worried about conditions for the race, don't be. Even if it rains more it will be in good shape.

2520

[Tower]

Thanks to John Reents of Afton Alps, MNSCS race promoters (Adam/ Greg), and my LCR sisters (J240, TFisher, Pres, Porteay, Magic, Koz, Wonder Twins) for supporting the trails for race day yesterday...

Trails were in decent shape, not too bad when the worst riding is the non-trail rerouted sections...

Hope all who showed for the MNSCS race enjoyed and those that didn't regret not showing...

Mud can be your friend as long as you don't mind cupped trails... Up next, 2 months of deberming until the 24...

[tkb608]

No pic today as I didn't see any snow today. Trail a little grooved here and there and a few eye pokers. But all in all still good conditions out there. While I didn't see any snow I did flush an American Woodcock. I only know that's what it was cause I spent some time looking it up when I got home. Freaky looking bird. I almost hit a tree staring at it. But I realized I've heard it's call many times out there but didn't know what it was. Kind of a buzz sound.
Learn somthing new every day out at the trails of Afton.