Southwestway Trail Conditions - 2016

[Dave G.]

2016 is here! Information on trail conditions can be posted here.


Currently trails are frozen. Watch out for freeze-thaw conditions where frozen trails get sloppy as the temps go above freezing, or trails get exposed to sun.


Dave

[craigebaker]

Is there nothing that can be done to keep horses and runners from turning the trails into a horsed/rutted out mess? Why must mountain bikers be the only good stewards?

[indyshred]

There was still evidence of that hay burner tearing up the flow trail waaaaayy back. They cause lasting damage! Irks me to no end.

[Dave G.]

Is there nothing that can be done to keep horses and runners from turning the trails into a horsed/rutted out mess? Why must mountain bikers be the only good stewards?

Just like with mountain bikers, most equestrians are conscious of the SWW trail conditions. It's the very tiny minority that ride when the trails are soft. Trails get rutted and damaged every year, there is no avoiding it. The trails do rebound for the most part. All we can do is make certain the trails don't hold water.


"Why must mountain bikers be the only good stewards?"

The potential is for mountain bikers to pay a political price for being bad trail stewards, where hikers/trail runners and equestrians don't. The enemies of mountain biking would love to point out how we aren't living up to our end of the deal to not use soft trails, and will conveniently overlook muddy foot and horse prints. And they have most of the public convinced mountain bikers are rude X-Games types. As long as we set the good example, eventually others will follow.

Sorry, not trying to take this thread off topic. Rant off.

Dave

<moderated for font size Paul Arlinghaus>

[craigebaker]

How yellow is SWW today?

[Sh3lby]

Did the majority of the rain miss the south side today? Is the trail really green?

[getsometrail]

I doubt it, I live on the southeast side and we got dumped on a couple of times.  Probably tomorrow afternoon before anything is dry enough to ride.

Of course there was this post from the Fort Harrison thread.

http://www.hmba.org/smf/index.php?topic=14331.0

[Sh3lby]

Thanks

[getsometrail]

I just rode every trail in the park and it's all green! 

[Kirk Hilton]

  Hey racer boys/girls, it is not a good idea after work to try to get some hot laps in at SWW park.  It is too busy after work.  Early morning or afternoon are best times to do hot laps.  Too many joggers or other users (families)  on the trails. 

Please do not disrespect other people using the park.

[holzhaus]

Trails in use for running race this morning. Available to ride after 11. Conditions should be yellow on the hill trails.

[holzhaus]

DINO mountain bike series race happening tomorrow - 10 am start (Expert & Sport), noon start (Base, Clydesdale, Fatbike, Intro, Junior).
The trails are 95+% solid already. We drained a bunch of puddles, which helped immensely. With no rain overnight it should be very good for the race. Maybe two muddy spots that will remain.

[jfish]

trail is green, no mud spots.

[Dave G.]

Just updated to YELLOW.

[craigebaker]

Has anyone been over to the park? I plan to ride on Saturday. The trails were in very good shape last Saturday, so I assume they would be at least yellow.