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Post by seenvic on Oct 2, 2014 15:41:22 GMT -5
That is cool n all.
But imagine how much singletrack could have been built with that money instead.
Over 100 miles at least.
I'd pick the single.
Still a cool bridge, though.
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Post by seenvic on Aug 15, 2014 11:37:17 GMT -5
Maah Daah Hey Trail
Never been there, but it looks no more difficult than FATS. Friends have ridden it and say it just long. Not hard, just long.
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Post by seenvic on Aug 15, 2014 11:35:34 GMT -5
Pinhoti in North GA is very challenging. At least the Snake Creek Gap part is.
Weird that one moved.
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Post by seenvic on Aug 15, 2014 11:33:27 GMT -5
Based on the criteria of....
"IMBA has returned the Epics to the original intent of the designation—demanding, singletrack adventures in a natural setting. The 2013 class of Epics celebrates true backcountry riding experiences that are technically and physically challenging, more than 80 percent singletrack and at least 20 miles in length. All of theses Epics feature offer amazing opportunities to interact with the natural world.
It isn't difficult to understand. My kids were riding FATS on 20" bikes when they were 6.
We are still a Ride Center. And FATS will still appeal to 98% of people who ride a bike in the woods.
The criteria changed and FATS no longer meets the criteria. Not the end of the world.
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Post by seenvic on Aug 9, 2014 10:10:57 GMT -5
Today is also the day Jerry died in 1995. I'll think I'll put on a black t-shirt.
I'd think Smokey the Bear is older than that. Here is why. I used to work for older man (who is now ~90) who told me this funny story. When he was a young boy, maybe 8 or so, the thing to do was write a letter to Smokey the Bear, and he'd send you some sort of fire safety kit, or something like that.
Well the young boy sent the letter.
And no kit arrived.
So sometime later, he wrote another letter that his mother never mailed but kept as a keepsake (parents will get this).
The second letter from the little boy said:
Dear Somkey, (not Smokey, Somkey)
Where's my damn kit?
He still has the letter to this day.
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Post by seenvic on Aug 5, 2014 15:22:43 GMT -5
Good words for riders of the Greeneway, of which I am one.
I don't come across this often. To me the most dangerous Greeneway users are the side by mothers each pushing a baby stroller. They take up most of the width of the trail, don't realize they are doing this, and then complain to the city if a rider or roller blader passes closely by them.
So, can I post some words of advice to them on their forum? :-)
All that said, I like the narrow gravel next to the greenway. Kinda like singletrack. Sucks when the debris is tossed here.
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Post by seenvic on Jul 28, 2014 14:14:37 GMT -5
I think the editor of Edgefield Daily.com read the post on our site and took it from there based on his own limited knowledge of local trails.
He doesn't know that there is a trail called Stevens Creek, he just knows that Steven's Creek flows (somewhat) near FATS and wrote what he pictured in his head. He asked me in an email if the incident took place near Fury's Ferry Landing. I told him that the incident actually took place at a different trail along hwy 23 that connects Modoc to Edgefield. Not sure why he didn't correct the story.
FWIW, Stevens Creek flows at the bottom of the gravel roads many folks ride in the area called Buzzard's Chute or Butter. If we could get across Stevens Creek in this location, it would be a fairly short ride to the Modoc Trail. Fairly short being about 10 miles. Back in the days of riding long thru the forest, I always wanted to leave a small boat here to get across. Never did that.
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Post by seenvic on Jul 27, 2014 13:25:00 GMT -5
Just wow.
Keep us informed about this.
Scary. Glad he got out of there ok.
McCormick or Edgefield County Police?
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Post by seenvic on Jun 13, 2014 9:07:31 GMT -5
True story to Brian's point. A few summers ago I was meeting a friend at FATS. I couldn't recall which lot we were meeting in. So I waited in the main lot, and it started pouring rain, and in a few minutes the temperature dropped 25 degrees.
I drove over to the North lot, no rain, still in the high 90's, and waited there. I waited around, he texted and said rained out. I went on home thinking sooner or later the whole area would get wet. I still lived near FATS, and it had stopped raining by the time I got home.
Weird.
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Post by seenvic on Apr 26, 2014 23:14:37 GMT -5
Fastest trail I have ever ridden. Super flow like FATS. Built by same guys who built FATS.
I have not ridden the newer, shorter trail. But saw the flagline before it was built and it looked super.
There is a campground at Payne Creek. It is an ACOE site.
It is in the middle of nowhere though.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 22, 2014 8:14:48 GMT -5
Dayum, that first rock drop at Modoc has gotten big!
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Post by seenvic on Aug 24, 2013 8:29:13 GMT -5
I stated my opinion about the USFS. My opinion comes from personal experience in seeing how the Service manages its land. Growing up I wanted to work for the Service. Job shadowing and working temp jobs with them showed me how under-staffed and under-paid the people who work for them are. I also came to see how bureaucratic their management plans are. Google "Southern Four Wheel Drive et al. v USFS" concerning closure of the Upper Tellico OHV. Tellico was arguably the most prominent off highway vehicle area east of the Mississippi. The Forest Service didn't have to lift a finger to keep the trails open and managed. Almost all the upkeep came from volunteers from the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association and various other groups. Nobody thought it could be closed but the USFS under pressure from Trout Unlimited and others closed the trails a few years ago. They then contracted out a million doller+ contract to a company to obliterate the trails. And finally ,in typical USFS fashion, proceeded to clear cut the entire are and silt up all the creeks that supposedly were in need of protection from the jeep trails. Another example that has influenced my opinion towards the Forest service concerns the Parson's Mtn atv trails in Abbeville county. They are also managed by the Long Cane Ranger district. Several years ago gates were put up to keep dirtbikes and atv's off the trails during times of wet trail conditions. There were times in the summer when the trails were dry and dusty and we'd show up to ride only to have the gates locked. Maybe the Forest guy just didn't get around to it that day or forgot, or didn't care to drive down there and do it. I just know that this happened numerous times to myself and people I know. I've rambled too long. My point is that the less the USFS has to think about something the better off everyone is. They don't have the desire or manpower to go locking and unlocking gates or checking trail conditions. I feel They'd rather slap a closed notice on gate rather than work through an issue and come up with a specific management plan. In your meeting, tell em SORBA-CSRA has everything handled. That your using the groups extensive knowledge of trail management experience to protect the resource while also allowing the public access to recreational opportunities. Just my opinion. Apples and oranges. Do you see any motorized trails being built on federal property? No. Do you see any non motorized trails being built on federal property? yes. They are managed differently at all levels. On the Parsons Mtn deal, that sucks. But they have a call before you haul line to see if the trails are open. The first time it was dry and dusty - and you showed up and it was closed.....that sucks. But at point you should have known to call the number. FATS can't be closed for 25 years from at least 2003. It was built with RTP $$$ and the USFS signed on saying it couldn't be closed for 25 years. USFS will work with SORBACSRA to manage it. That part you have right.
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Post by seenvic on Jun 29, 2013 14:35:14 GMT -5
Sweet. How do I get them?
Huge thanks.
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Post by seenvic on Jun 29, 2013 8:28:41 GMT -5
I have a cook at the cafe who is need of a rear 26" wheel. Doesn't have to be anything special, just go round and round.
Not looking to spend alot.
Anyone have a beater 26" wheel in their parts box?
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Post by seenvic on Mar 13, 2013 10:35:43 GMT -5
dgaddis1 - When you do change up brands, I'll be happy to take your used CB pedals off your hands... Clipless pedals are on the shortlist of items you should probably not buy used. If you do, you should know the history of the pedals. From the looks of those, I'd pass. This is especially true if the rider has never ridden clipless before. Clipless pedals develope a "feel." If they're your pedals, you understand the nuances of the "feel." But if they aren't your pedals, you will find that at times you clip out to soon and other times not at all....and perhaps fall over. YMMV.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 13, 2013 10:30:29 GMT -5
This is one of our favorite places to hike in the area. Great wildflowers and there's a funky VERY old cedar tree you have to bushwack a little ways from the trail to get to but it's a hoot to climb. We usually eat a snack while sitting in the tree. I know, it's kinda silly. Thanks for posting these pics! Love seeing the little guy out on the trails. I think I know where this tree is. There is an entire grove of cedar trees just off this trail. I have never seen so many, large, mature cedars in one place. Years ago I was hired to redesign that trail and we flagged it right thru this cedar grove. But SCDNR wouldn't let us put the trail there as it went thru some other endangered plant species on the way to the cedars. I think the cedars are perhaps the most impressive thing on the site and it is a shame the trail bypasses them.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 11, 2013 16:11:19 GMT -5
I agree with Dustin. FATS is maintained for a rider with absolutely no ability to ride a trail that is not maintained to this level. Anything remotely challenging is ridden around by most riders and eventually moved so it doesn't have to be ridden around any more. Riders like this won't ride anywhere except FATS because they don't have the ability to and do not enjoy riding trails that aren't like FATS. I say this because I have been told this by several people when I asked if they ever ride any but FATS. It is my personal opinion that the folks doing the volunteering like it this way. Or they would't do it this way. Other areas of the country have trails as popular if not more poular than FATS. But the locals there take a different approach. I think this is an example of such efforts. sorbacsra.proboards.com/thread/3409/signsFATS is a product of the local riding community. And the local community is lead by those who show up. And the ones showing up have chain saws and the right to use them. Unless a different set of volunteers "show up" without chain saws and with educational signs, it won't change. And it shouldn't change. This is a lead, follow or get out of the way scenario.
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Post by seenvic on Feb 16, 2013 11:04:17 GMT -5
FATS still needs time to dry out....rode by on the way home from a gravel ride and saw a guy covered head to toe in mud....seriously, his entire body was mud colored and matched his bike. There are sections of gravel roads that are still holding water, so I doubt FATS will be anywhere near dry enough to ride before next week. Not quite sure about Hickory Knob and Bartram though. [/quote] where pollution is the metaphor for folks who trash FATS (or really any trail)
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Post by seenvic on Feb 9, 2013 15:53:15 GMT -5
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Post by seenvic on Feb 9, 2013 15:44:50 GMT -5
That was great. Thanks for posting.
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