Creek Crossings

[dgaddis1]

Are there any trails in the area that have creek crossings where you actually ride through the creek?

[seenvic]

Modoc has some. And I bet you can't ride some of them! The first one is a bear going out - huge (for me) drop about 10' before the creek and a steepie on the other side. If I could ride the drop, I could make the steepie. Gotta work on my drop skills - I got none presently.

The second one is a rider everytime for me.

And the third one is a rider most of the time.

Wine Creek has a good one that Glen from the USFS found when a bridge got washed out. Instead of replacing the bridge, Glen rerouted the trail thru a rocky creek crossing. Wine Creek has another one up near 283 that is a good one to ride. When I saw this new one, I knew ole Glen "got it" in regards to what riders (this rider anyway) wants.

Baker Creek has one that is a pretty easy one.

LCHT has at least one I can think of, but it is in a section that sees mostly horse traffic and little bike traffic.

[seenvic]

D- you gotta get out onto some of the other trails. Don't let the FATS suck you in every ride. We have some great old school style trails that allow bikes. They are different than FATS. Not as groomed, more primitive feeling. They are old hiking trails that the USFS opened to bikes in the late 80's. For the most part they have good flow with the exception of some of the bridges have that "hiking trail" 90 degree turn at the approach to the bridge.

Take a look at the trails page and have at it. You won't be disappointed.

But I will close with this....I'd make sure the trail you pick is not completely overgrown. They tend to get like that at this time of year, and the maintenance of them has slackened with everyone riding FATS all the time. Kinda sad in a way.

[jtaylor]

"Kinda sad"-- I agree and have lamented that fact; but in the long run there seems to be one helluva lot more people ridding now. Eventually that will bleed over to the other trails. We're so spoiled we let the Wildwood trail go, which still aggravates me when I think about it.

OK Bill, how many other trails have you ridden this year? Last night, I'll bet you were going to FATS. Can't believe you have to drive over there. But I guess now that you're another year older...........

[JIMMYC]

Few of us will take a stab at cutting the trees off Modoc in the morning (8:00am), hopefully we will make some progess, that is a great trail.
Thinking about it, best Creek crossing use to be on Turkey Creek, but the trail was rerouted when that first long bridge was put in.

[seenvic]

jtaylor said:

"Kinda sad"-- I agree and have lamented that fact; but in the long run there seems to be one helluva lot more people ridding now. Eventually that will bleed over to the other trails. We're so spoiled we let the Wildwood trail go, which still aggravates me when I think about it.

OK Bill, how many other trails have you ridden this year? Last night, I'll bet you were going to FATS. Can't believe you have to drive over there. But I guess now that you're another year older...........

Driving over is sad as close as I live. I have thought about that sometimes. I do ride over to FATS sometimes. But if I have no tubes w/ me, I drive. It is a long walk home if I got a flat. I picked up some tubes today at Cyclesport. But you have a good point.

I've ridden Modoc, LCHT, Horn Creek, Keg Creek and the Bartram Trail this year. One of my goals for 2007 is to ride all the local trails. I still have to get to several.

Mistletoe.....never was much to start with, IMHO. I never went there before we built FATS.

[dgaddis1]

I rode Horn Creek yesterday. It is indeed very different than FATS, but it was a lot of fun. VERY rough, I spent more time on roots than on dirt I'm pretty sure.

I tried to ride Modoc a few weeks ago, only made it about a mile and half before I turned around because of all the gigantic spider webs. That first creek crossing is fun though! I rode the drop in (after stopping to take a look at it first), but I couldn't pedal out the other side. On the way back I almost made it out on the first attempt, tried it again, and got a flat. Once the weather gets cold I'm going to go hit all the other trails in the area. Everything is pretty overgrown right now...and my biggest problem with that is that I get poison ivy/oak really easily, so I'm trying to stay out of the really overgrown stuff for now. But come winter time....

[cblack]

Keg creek has 2 creek crossing I haven't ridden it in 3 months but was in great shape the last time

[wooglin]

seenvic said:

LCHT has at least one I can think of, but it is in a section that sees mostly horse traffic and little bike traffic.

Last time I rode LCHT, years ago, the creek crossing I remember most was almost up to my chest and forced me to carry my bike over my head. Is that the one you're talking about? On the powerline cut?

OTOH, maybe I was lost. I seem to remember doing that as well.

[seenvic]

wooglin said:

seenvic said:

LCHT has at least one I can think of, but it is in a section that sees mostly horse traffic and little bike traffic.

Last time I rode LCHT, years ago, the creek crossing I remember most was almost up to my chest and forced me to carry my bike over my head. Is that the one you're talking about? On the powerline cut?

OTOH, maybe I was lost. I seem to remember doing that as well.

If it is the one I am thinking of , it got re-routed out of the trail when we built about 10 new miles up there in 2003. I am pretty sure that whole powerline section is no longer in the loop. Pretty sure that is Little Muckaway Creek you used to cross, and we stayed on the other side of it the whole way with the new route. You cross Little Muckaway now on the FS 505 Bridge.

The one I am talking about above is in "9 minute trail" and has concrete poured on both sides to reduce the mud coming in/out of the creek. And as I type this, I recall another two creek crossings I rode for the first time in the section near where the trail goes under the RR tracks. And there is another one in the new section just below Fell and before the first crossing of 505. But the unique one is in the Scenic Area. Not so much riding thru the creek....rather riding across a metal bridge that is about 16" wide, bent in the middle - and sometimes under water where it is bent.

The LCHT is prolly the best of the old school primitive trails. But it is a haul from Augusta to get there.