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Post by wepaddle on Mar 15, 2011 7:27:53 GMT -5
I just called the USFS this morning to find out what if any trail closures might happen this week. I was told the area was closed until April 1st. I'm bummed. At least it's better than driving 5 hours and finding out. Pisgah here we come...
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Post by Angela on Mar 15, 2011 11:49:39 GMT -5
Not sure where the miscommunication happened but FATS is not closed. I just called and verified that with Glen (USFS District Planner). They are scheduled to do a prescribed burn sometime this month (they will try not to do it on the weekend) it is sourced out to a group that must carefully monitor conditions so they can't nail down a specific time. Even if it is closed for a few days for the burn the north trailhead will be open (Big Rock and Tower trails). It can also be closed if needed after a heavy rain........however..at this time......... FATS IS NOT CLOSED!  |
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Post by neal1975 on Mar 15, 2011 22:51:49 GMT -5
should probably be closed tomorrow though, due to the heavy rain we had this evening.
I rode out there sat. afternoon and in my opinion alot of skinny was almost unrideable and should have been closed, but oh well-
its funny how some sections are dry as dust and the others are sopping wet
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Post by Angela on Mar 16, 2011 6:09:07 GMT -5
You are right Neal but the US Forest Service is the only one that can call for a closure and that can be tricky - the rain is sometimes much heavier in one place than another. Then there is the issue of receiving the communication and updating the website - that can sometimes take a few hours.
That is why we have to rely on the riders who know these trails to do the right thing and stay off of them when we've had too much rain. For people who might have traveled in from out of town and don't know, they may find themselves on a trail and realize it is really too wet and they came based on the website that FATS is open so just didn't know. Hopefully those are experienced mtbers who will stay in the middle of the trail and go through the center of a puddle so as not to widen the trail - then stay off of it once they are aware it is too wet or in some cases turn back when they realize it is too soggy.
But if all the people who know the trails well will not ride the ones they know stay wet longer, damage to the trails can be minimized.
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Post by neal1975 on Mar 16, 2011 17:10:00 GMT -5
riding the trail when its muddy is definately no good. bad for the trail, bad for your bike, and you cant go as fast -
its my understanding that big rock and tower are almost always much dryer than the lower trails (skinny brown wave g wall etc.) After a heavy rain people should check those trails out first. Even though they are hard as *car honk*
after saturdays ride my bike was completely caked in mud and i had to detail it. cant let my baby sit there dirty
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Post by Apollo on Mar 16, 2011 18:17:54 GMT -5
^ I didn't ride saturday because i knew it rained in the past 36 hours, and the trails at this time of year hold water, Anyone in the area that rides FATS should know how long it takes for them to dry. I wish I could sit up there and be "that guy" that informs others of such things.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 17, 2011 8:57:50 GMT -5
riding the trail when its muddy is definately no good. bad for the trail, bad for your bike, and you cant go as fast - its my understanding that big rock and tower are almost always much dryer than the lower trails (skinny brown wave g wall etc.) After a heavy rain people should check those trails out first. Even though they are hard as *car honk* after saturdays ride my bike was completely caked in mud and i had to detail it. cant let my baby sit there dirty I'd agree with your point about Big Rock and Tower up to the point of them being "hard". That is subjective and to me they are not hard. But there are many other options on sketchy days. Modoc Turkey Creek Wine Creek Horn Creek Mistletoe Keg Creek Bartram HKSP BCSP Long Cane Horse Trail All of these tend to see 3% of the use of FATS and NEVER have the critical mass of riders to warrant a closure. Sure there are times when NO trail should be ridden. But this post is about riding trails not long after a rain when it is on the borderline of a good idea to ride a trail or not. Bottom line is this. FATS still closes because of it's popularity. It has a critical mass of riders that do put a hurtin' on a soft/wet trail. None of the other trails will ever get enough traffic to need to be closed (except Bartram from time to time in a rare case as it tends to attract more riders than the other trails but not as many as FATS.) Go ride them. They are fun and will make you a better rider. FATS will not make you a better rider. Fit, yes. Skilled, no. |
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Post by Ironi on Mar 23, 2011 6:30:52 GMT -5
Will FATS be open Thursday through Sunday? Are the rattlesnakes really that bad this time of year? Worry about my pups...
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Post by seenvic on Mar 23, 2011 9:01:36 GMT -5
Will FATS be open Thursday through Sunday? Are the rattlesnakes really that bad this time of year? Worry about my pups... Yes on open AFAIK. Snakes...yes plenty. I wouldn't worry about them. I did almost step on one a few years ago. I stood next to it for about 30 seconds and had no idea a rattlesnake was about 12" from my left heel. I am glad I didn't sit down, or put my camelback down in it. He never budged. A friend rode up to me and told me it was there. I jumped 6 feet forward and screamed madly. Turned out ok though. If they were aggressive, I would have been bitten. I don't think they are aggressive. Prolly an accident is your biggest concern. |
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Post by nitro on Mar 23, 2011 9:23:10 GMT -5
Ironi -- You were asking about your pups. Didn't this come from your website about your house for rent?  If that is the case, I would certainly be worried about bringing your dogs. You have had some terrible luck with dogs and snakes! |
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Post by dgaddis1 on Mar 23, 2011 9:30:49 GMT -5
Wow, you have had some bad luck.
FATS isn't a good place for dogs during the busy times anyways, lota people out there. During the day thru the week shouldn't have any issues though.
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Post by Angela on Mar 23, 2011 11:30:03 GMT -5
I'd say I ride FATS on average (all year) about twice a week. Have only seen maybe 10 snakes out there the whole time and I am actually on the alert for them since I do like snakes and enjoy seeing them in the wild. Only 2 of those were rattlers and we gave them wide berth and they were happy to slither off into the brush.
All that said there might have been others that simply layed low until we passed and those might be the ones a curious dog could tangle with. A lot of dogs are very vary of snakes and will bark but keep their distance.
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Post by Apollo on Mar 23, 2011 13:15:43 GMT -5
^ yup, almost hit a dog the other day... awfully annoying but that's another debate for a whole other thread.
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Post by Ironi on Mar 23, 2011 15:06:55 GMT -5
Thanks, Yes, I have had some bad luck; thats why I stop bringing them after Feb/Beg of March; plus its too hot.....try to go only on less busy trails. Rather hit a dog than be hit by rattler |
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Post by Mark Y on Mar 24, 2011 6:38:41 GMT -5
Bad luck for sure. A fair number of bites are "dry", as a venomous snake doesn't want to waste venom in a defensive strike. Obviously, a lot depends on the dog's general health, how much body mass they have relative to the venom dose, and how quick/how much treatment they receive. Statistically speaking, only 10% of humans will die from an untreated rattlesnake bite; but the after-effects of tissue necrosis, appendage loss, etc. can be pretty dramatic.
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Post by jwind on Mar 24, 2011 12:22:01 GMT -5
^ yup, almost hit a dog the other day... awfully annoying but that's another debate for a whole other thread. What is it with people and dogs around here? Not only does it seem like they are not allowed of leash anywhere but even when they are, people complain about them. |
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Post by bikerpanda on Mar 24, 2011 13:02:21 GMT -5
^ yup, almost hit a dog the other day... awfully annoying but that's another debate for a whole other thread. What is it with people and dogs around here? Not only does it seem like they are not allowed of leash anywhere but even when they are, people complain about them. there is a dog park downtown if you're looking for a good off leash park. My lab does not have to be on a leash but I dont mind keeping her on a leash when other people are around. Even though I know she obeys, other people dont.  |
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Post by Apollo on Mar 25, 2011 1:11:19 GMT -5
^I'm Speaking of FATS. And I think we can all agree that FATS can be fast, sometimes too fast to stop in time when an animal is in the middle of the trail. I love dogs, I just dont want to plow through one. I've actually had one bark at me and become semi-aggressive, but I deal with it because It's a multi-use trail. For all of the good dogs out there, there is always the one that gets in your way and barks that you remember. I understand yielding to hikers but sometimes It's unexpected.
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Post by brianW on Mar 25, 2011 5:07:42 GMT -5
I came up to an unleashed dog yesterday and it came toward me barking up a storm. Called out to it than I saw the owner about 50ft up the trail. I have done a lot of hiking with my dog off leash. she is always right behind me.
As for animals I have seen the rider in front of me nail a squirrel and I came within a bikes length of striking a deer.
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Post by Ironi on Mar 25, 2011 19:05:20 GMT -5
From the sound of it; guess I miss the old tower trails! While illegal, they were without restriction. Even though I lost my fur friend of my lifetime on the Towers to a rattler; mtn biking and fur friends together define my trail experience. My pups are professionally trained and follow right behind me. So if one of you out of control bikers hits one of my dogs, you will have injured me first. Don't blame my pup. However, I understand unleashed dogs present many a problem. Bit the problem stems from the Master. Let the dogs in the winter have a good time too |
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