Anyone check any trails lately?

[berrywise]

I like to use the dog park near my house as a bit of a guide since most of the trails there are pretty similar to mountain bike trails and include areas in the woods and in the sun. The dog park trails were easily rideable as of today. Maybe tomorrow I can get over to Battle or Salem to hike the trails a bit to see.

[bigwheel]

My wife was hiking at Lebanon Hills, around Jenson lake (near Pilot Knob Rd) this evening. She said that there were long sections of ice, and lots of deep muck.

[RichZilla]

Hillside is getting near to opening...

Checking daily.

[Stonehenge]

I have been told a decent gage for frost out of the ground is to watch the lakes. Ice out is near the same time as frost out.
I know from trail work at Hillside that some Ice/frost can be stubborn and hide under a nice leave insulated cover in the shaded areas for a while longer.

I hope to ride after trail work days at end of this month... after all it has been tradition....trail work then ride early in the season....

Wooo Hooo....
----------------------------------------------------------
If you can smell the earth then you know its ready to ride.

[gopherhockey]

I *still* see lots of snow in the woods. I doubt Leb is anywhere near ready. I'm not going to get excited until its been a week after the last bit of snow is gone.

Everyone should trust their trail stewards to keep a close watch. Its up to them and the land managers to decide, not the individual. (just a friendly reminder to the choir... )

[ryno lite]

One thing to remember is that some trails may dry quicker than other trails. Just because one trail in the metro is dry and opened, doesn't mean all the other metro trails are open and ready to go. Check the forums for updates. We want to ride as bad as the next person, so we will open the trails as soon as we can and we always post trail openings immediately on this site.

[Slimpee]

I'll be heading to Theo sometime before the end of the weekend to check it (very possibly tomorrow).

I suspect that Theo probably still has snow/ice in the woods and therefore won't be ready for a while yet but has anyone looked?

[bigwheel]

Echoing what Ryan and John already said.

We are all excited to get out on the trails. But please wait for the go-ahead from the parks and trail stewards. There will be an announcement here within hours of the time that the trails open.

Just because you don't see snow on the trail, and the surface seems dry doesn't mean that the trail is ready to be ridden.

Thanks.

[Trevize1138]

I'll be heading to Theo sometime before the end of the weekend to check it (very possibly tomorrow).

I suspect that Theo probably still has snow/ice in the woods and therefore won't be ready for a while yet but has anyone looked?

I'd love to get your 2nd opinion, Justin. I just got back from walking the south loop of Theo over my lunch break and things look very promising there. Had I more time I would have checked out the trail just past the berm in Section 5 (White Pine Flier) that's got a lot of clay and tends to be a big problem area. Usually, if that little section's rideable the rest of the trail's good, too.

Of course, we need to inspect the whole length of it, but I was pretty darn surprised at the condition today! The weather's certainly in our favor through the weekend.

[gopherhockey]

Leb typically opens a week after Theo, so we'll keep an eye out for your progress.

Realizing other trails do it differently, just another reminder that we are keeping a close eye at Leb, so please.. nobody needs to be hiking out there. Closed means closed, and hikers can do as much damage as bikers. A dozen MORC members with good intentions on keeping an eye on the trail is not necessary, even if you are curious. :p Parks patrol does not grant exceptions for morc members and have been annoyed in the past when people thow that name out like it gives them exemptions from the rules.

If you are interested in how we monitor for opening, feel free to contact one of the dirt bosses and we can invite you along when we review things.

[strk9]

hiked minnisota river bottoms trails pretty dry some wet spots still
there were alot of people all over the place walking around. there were a few trees down in the trail..

[manual63]

After today, Salem will be good to go. There were 2 really small muddy spots that should be tacky by the end of today with this sun and wind.

So I am going to post that it will open tomorrow if the weather is nice.

It is now signed too.

[kabbie_cache]

After today, Salem will be good to go. There were 2 really small muddy spots that should be tacky by the end of today with this sun and wind.

So I am going to post that it will open tomorrow if the weather is nice.

It is now signed too.

Is this for real ?

[manual63]

I'd love to get your 2nd opinion, Justin. I just got back from walking the south loop of Theo over my lunch break and things look very promising there. Had I more time I would have checked out the trail just past the berm in Section 5 (White Pine Flier) that's got a lot of clay and tends to be a big problem area. Usually, if that little section's rideable the rest of the trail's good, too.

Of course, we need to inspect the whole length of it, but I was pretty darn surprised at the condition today! The weather's certainly in our favor through the weekend.

Chris.......Nicole and Justin have been assigned by mara and I to check on the trail and determine when it's dry. Please let them do their job!

Thank you!

[Trevize1138]

Leb typically opens a week after Theo, so we'll keep an eye out for your progress.

Realizing other trails do it differently, just another reminder that we are keeping a close eye at Leb, so please.. nobody needs to be hiking out there. Closed means closed, and hikers can do as much damage as bikers. A dozen MORC members with good intentions on keeping an eye on the trail is not necessary, even if you are curious. :p Parks patrol does not grant exceptions for morc members and have been annoyed in the past when people thow that name out like it gives them exemptions from the rules.

If you are interested in how we monitor for opening, feel free to contact one of the dirt bosses and we can invite you along when we review things.

I walked the trail first and thought about it second. :cool: Sorry 'bout that! It's always a struggle for me to restrain my own enthusiasm this time of year.

[Shorty]

...just another reminder that we are keeping a close eye at Leb, so please.. nobody needs to be hiking out there. Closed means closed...

Ditto on Murphy.

Three Rivers is monitoring the trail, as well as increasing their patrol presence.

[manual63]

Is this for real ?

Yep!

http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?p=278786#post278786