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Post by euclidian9 on Mar 18, 2010 7:49:40 GMT -5
A friend and I had planned a trip to FATS for this weekend but I was curious with the recent rain last night and possible scattered showers today if you all thought the trail would be open by Mid Friday? We would be driving from the Raleigh Durham area in North Carolina so we definatly wanted to make sure we could get some good time on the trail. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Mar 18, 2010 8:03:34 GMT -5
I seriously doubt it'll be open this weekend.
Someone who knows for sure should be along soon...
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Post by seenvic on Mar 18, 2010 9:09:41 GMT -5
Reschedule.
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Post by appdude on Mar 18, 2010 10:10:48 GMT -5
Will the closing of the trail improve at some time in the future? I thought FATS was to be a regional mountain biking destination. Those of us outside of a daytrip have to plan for a ride ahead of time. It really is detrimental to the economic benefit the area could reap from having a first class trail system. Tsali, Dupont, Bent Creek, Pisgah, Bull Mountain, Tanasi... I know I can plan a trip and ride at those places. And maybe it's meant to be for locals only. If so, that's cool. It needs to be advertised as such.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Mar 18, 2010 10:30:19 GMT -5
Will the closing of the trail improve at some time in the future? I thought FATS was to be a regional mountain biking destination. Those of us outside of a daytrip have to plan for a ride ahead of time. It really is detrimental to the economic benefit the area could reap from having a first class trail system. Tsali, Dupont, Bent Creek, Pisgah, Bull Mountain, Tanasi... I know I can plan a trip and ride at those places. And maybe it's meant to be for locals only. If so, that's cool. It needs to be advertised as such. Yes. In the spring and summer, when the trees are pulling up water from the ground, and we get less rain, the trail opens much faster after a rain. It usually doesn't even get closed, we just ask people to stay off when it's wet. When winter rolls around again, the open/close issue will be back. When FATS is open it gets hundreds of riders per weekend. If if it isn't closed when it's wet, it wont be a good place to ride anymore. Slightly off topic, but what's the rain plan for the Summit? All I've heard is that there will be one...any ideas yet? |
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Post by pedalpusher on Mar 18, 2010 10:42:41 GMT -5
Overdue time for re-routes !
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Post by euclidian9 on Mar 18, 2010 10:52:12 GMT -5
Thanks for all the advice. I think the best plan of attack would be to hold off on going down there since the majority believe that the trails will not be open... which sucks because we were really looking forward to the ride but understandable because of the conditions.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Mar 18, 2010 11:27:38 GMT -5
Thanks for all the advice. I think the best plan of attack would be to hold off on going down there since the majority believe that the trails will not be open... which sucks because we were really looking forward to the ride but understandable because of the conditions. Thanks for understanding. Come back in the summer, before the temps go north of 100! ;D |
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Post by grendalsnowman on Mar 18, 2010 11:43:09 GMT -5
Hey euclidian9, I just moved from Durham in July. FATS is awesome and will be worth a trip, but I have to admit that I miss Beaverdam.
Anyway, just wanted to say 'hello' to someone from back home and say I miss the heck out of NC.
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Post by euclidian9 on Mar 18, 2010 15:37:02 GMT -5
Yeah we were trying to figure out something around the Raleigh area after everyone said FATS would be to wet. We usually ride the trails around here and the other biker has never been to a place like FATS, Bent Creek, or Tsali... was hoping to get some really good long rides in. We are currently checking on the Anglers Ridge Trails up in Danville, VA. It just seems like the wet weather will never give anyone a break this winter.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 18, 2010 15:57:21 GMT -5
Will the closing of the trail improve at some time in the future? I thought FATS was to be a regional mountain biking destination. Those of us outside of a daytrip have to plan for a ride ahead of time. It really is detrimental to the economic benefit the area could reap from having a first class trail system. Tsali, Dupont, Bent Creek, Pisgah, Bull Mountain, Tanasi... I know I can plan a trip and ride at those places. And maybe it's meant to be for locals only. If so, that's cool. It needs to be advertised as such. Meant for locals, not at all. FATS's problem is numbers. The first full weekend it is open, 200-300 minimum will show up each day. I've gotten 7 emails today from people (non local) wanting info. We have very few working on FATS. We have hundreds/thousands riding it. I'd rather protect work of the few and keep it nice for the hundreds/thousands when they ride. If we knew we had the workers to fix it, it would be open more. But we know we DON'T have the workers to fix it. In the long run, riding FATS into a wide, rutted has-been of a trail would be far more damaging to the economic impact than managing the use during wet weekends when leaving it open will draw hundreds of riders. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp. |
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Post by seenvic on Mar 18, 2010 16:06:02 GMT -5
Overdue time for re-routes ! I am sure you are joking. Aren't you local? Go ride any one of the other local trails. They are great, just different. |
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Post by ted on Mar 18, 2010 17:41:40 GMT -5
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Post by Mark Y on Mar 18, 2010 17:42:12 GMT -5
Will the closing of the trail improve at some time in the future? I thought FATS was to be a regional mountain biking destination. Those of us outside of a daytrip have to plan for a ride ahead of time. It really is detrimental to the economic benefit the area could reap from having a first class trail system. Tsali, Dupont, Bent Creek, Pisgah, Bull Mountain, Tanasi... I know I can plan a trip and ride at those places. And maybe it's meant to be for locals only. If so, that's cool. It needs to be advertised as such. Meant for locals, not at all. FATS's problem is numbers. The first full weekend it is open, 200-300 minimum will show up each day. I've gotten 7 emails today from people (non local) wanting info. We have very few working on FATS. We have hundreds/thousands riding it. I'd rather protect work of the few and keep it nice for the hundreds/thousands when they ride. If we knew we had the workers to fix it, it would be open more. But we know we DON'T have the workers to fix it. In the long run, riding FATS into a wide, rutted has-been of a trail would be far more damaging to the economic impact than managing the use during wet weekends when leaving it open will draw hundreds of riders. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp. Not to mention, this winter has been one of the wettest on record; necessitating more closure than normal. |
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 23, 2010 17:45:18 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents worth - I love FATS so much that, when I am sure it will be open and worth riding (sometimes it is open but not worth riding due to the sogginess that greatly reduces the "fun factor;" Bill Victor historically has been a great help in determining if the trail is "worth riding"), I have been known to leave my house at 3:30 AM, drive the 275 miles driveway to FATS trailhead, ride 50-60 miles at FATS and jump back in the car and drive the 275 miles back home the same day (after stopping at MOT's BBQ in Martinez for dinner, of course). And I think it is worth every minute and mile.... ;D Unfortunately, I cannot find a decent paying job closer to FATS or get the family to agree to move there if I found one...  Some people say I need help.....  |
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Post by rsmith on Mar 24, 2010 17:35:05 GMT -5
Jacks.Bill,
South of you by 2 1/2 hrs., too far for a 1-day R/T. We also value Bill's posts, good trail condition indicator, also accurate. At same time, find Modoc, Bartram, HK, Keg great alternatives when visiting - or - incorporating while riding FATS. Had pleasure of living in Martinez, many years. Although an older `coot now, reflecting, CSRA one of the best communities I've called home. Has good / bad, like everywhere, but it's a great area +.
If you find suitable employment, your family should not fear. Quick trip to ~Lanta, or Savannah, air service for more distant destinations, mts. just over an hour north, and great forests / lakes all over the place. I've had family up there for some of my bike trips, rented boat from Savannah Lakes Resort / McCormick - dejavu hits every visit.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 30, 2010 3:58:10 GMT -5
Well, you have me thinking now...I lived in Atlanta 22 years, Beaufort, SC 7 years and Pickens, SC 6 months so I know the area and most of my family is from SC. My kids are on Florida Virtual School so we technically could go to school anywhere there is an internet connection and phone service.
Now if I could just find a job...If anyone knows of any transportation/mobility planning and/or traffic engineering opportunities for someone with 20 years private consulting and public agency experience and a Georgia Tech Civil Engineering degree with highest honors...well please let me know. I have recently been doing some really cool cutting edge stuff in Florida related to multimodal transportation planning, mobility fees, linking land use and transportation planning and vehicle miles traveled/greenhouse gas emissions reductions - please let me know.
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Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Mar 30, 2010 4:04:20 GMT -5
btw, I rode all the FATS trails this past Friday and Saturday and, with the exception that Great Wall is still a little soggy, they are all in great shape. Definitely worth the trip now!!!!! I'll be back soon!
The trees are budding so I would expect great wall to be dried out soon.
Great work y'all this past winter especially on some of those eternally muddy spots on Brown Wave. If I could only move up there, I could help more - although I did help Bill Victor on Brown Wave last year. My 14 and 16 year old boys will need community service hours so I would have them working if only I were there....
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