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Post by seenvic on Jun 1, 2010 9:39:35 GMT -5
This is what you and I rode last time, right? The southern part of the lollipop? If so, I don't recall it being more techy than parts of Wine Ck or Modoc. Also, you gotta learn to start missing those sticks! Yes, we rode the lower part last year as an out/back. Your memory is fading. This is more technical than Wine or Modoc, IMHO. Will get more technical as it dries out as some of the more technical spots are too soft to ride right now.
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Post by seenvic on May 31, 2010 8:18:25 GMT -5
Not so much interested in the whole thing. The route I plan to do is to park at Keg Creek, ride it and Mistletoe. Restock at car. Then ride one way to another car at West Dam. Will do everything once except the part b/n Mistletoe and Keg is done each way. The cars aren't very far apart so it makes for an easy shuttle to leave one at West Dam on the way to Keg Creek.
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Post by seenvic on May 30, 2010 9:51:51 GMT -5
Mark, Hard to explain, but GPS seems to miss about 5-10% of the distance. I think it has to do with the way GPS tracks vs the consistancy of the magnet being on the same spot on the wheel everytime it goes around. for some reason, the GPS misses some distance while the magnet/wheel does not. But the real nutty stuff with GPS's is the elevation data some give off. I've seen folks claim FATS has over 5000 feet of climbing. I read in Singletracks.com today about Stanely Gap trail in GA.....and someone claiming it climbs 1500' in 2 miles! There is just no way. Elevation has to be recorded with a barimetric pressure altimeter. If it doesn't, the results are way off by a degree of 2-3 times as much climbing as there really is.
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Post by seenvic on May 30, 2010 6:43:11 GMT -5
FATS got hit with a steady, soaking rain last night. Still sprinkling of and on this morning. Today is a good day to stay off of FATS and new Bartram.
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Post by seenvic on May 29, 2010 17:54:20 GMT -5
Plum Branch was great today. 3 of us went out, me Jon Taylor and Eric Huston. Looks like a pretty good wind hit the trail since last there. Several non-rider trees down and a few new ridable trees. We did the 5.5 - 6 mile main trail, and then turned onto the new trail until I had the most violent crash I've had in 5 years. Stick caught in rear wheel absolutely slammed me to the ground, right shin into a small limb laying on the ground. It hurt like hell and had me feeling weak for a moment. I think I have a small puncture wound. Thankfully, I had brought with me my own personal NMBP member (Jon) who promptly had neopsporin, gauze and tape on it. After a few minutes, I was fine. But we decided to turn around there. The trail back to the car is absolutely stellar. I think it is better this direction. When we got to spot I recognized as the return to loop on the big equestrian lollypop loop, I decided to explore this option as I recall there being some high quality single in there. What I found was about another 2.2 miles of trail that was spectacular. Singletrack with technical features galore. Off camber, rocky, rooty, step ups and down....just great. For the old schoolers this came out at the brick house on the paved road. It is the end of the old Gold Mine Trail(?).....I hadn't ridden this is 10+ years. There was a short section of trail going thru a recently burned area. Here is a map of what I rode today. I rode the red parts, as out/backs. Ride ended up being 15.6 miles on my GPS unit which means it was probably 16+ miles. The blue part is my estimate of where the newly constructed part gets mucky and we didn't go in there today. Disclaimer: Some of these trails MAY go onto private property. It seems like it does to me. The main 5.5 - 6 mile trail starting/ending at the Plum Branch Saddle Club is fair game...I am 99.9% sure. As sure as I am of anything, but one can never say never. The other red leg of this map going to the house is also fair game....I think. It is kinda weird riding this close to a house. Almost in the backyard. There is a no trespassing sign on the same post as the trail arrow sign. It was like this 10-15 years ago as well when I rode it. I spoke to a rank and file member of the PB Saddle Club last week and she said they ride this trail regularily. RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
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Post by seenvic on May 28, 2010 17:29:40 GMT -5
If I had stim$$$, I'd build singletrack. No way we could/would want to put up anything permanant over Stevens Creek. Same reason I have always proposed long term Connector routes of Turkey/Modoc to cross SC on Price Mill Rd, where there is an existing bridge.
Reason why this is the spot is because there is existing access on both sides. Years ago (1998?) I rode to end of gravel rd that stops at SC and tied a flag. I thought the other side was the bottom of the gravel rd that you ride to get to Buzzard's Chute. The next day, I rode to the bottom, hike a biked about 50 feet to the left and across SC was the flag I had tied the day before. This spot is perfect.
Gotta go.
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Post by seenvic on May 28, 2010 8:32:01 GMT -5
what would it take for it to happen? Im sure we could find a substitute for kayaks that way it wouldnt be so expensive. Oh we'd have to find the kayaks for free....AWOL type of place that has them for rentals and would let us use them as a sponsor of the event. I've always thought the ferry boat system would be the best. Have two boats, that can hold 4-6 rider/bikes each. I am a bit of dreamer who every once in a while pushes a dream to reality. But there are many more dreams than realities. Not sure if this dream will ever become reality or not.
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Post by seenvic on May 27, 2010 10:02:10 GMT -5
Zip line has issues. Gotta get the bike and rider across. Takes time to hook up. Line of racers waiting.
The line across the kayaks is just a singletrack line to ride. Get to the spot, down to the creek. On your bike and ride across.
Doubt it will ever happen, in any way or fashion. I just saw the picture today and thought....wow.
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Post by seenvic on May 27, 2010 9:36:10 GMT -5
That has been considered. As has a ferry boat system. The zip line may work because the entry side is higher than the exit side.
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Post by seenvic on May 27, 2010 9:32:59 GMT -5
Thanks MD! That was a key piece of info I needed. So if I am reading the Kiosk, I need to start on the trail off my right shoulder, not behind me, correct? Only one trail starts at the kiosk. The "trail" off your right shoulder is just a 25' long path that goes to the old campground. Get on the one trail that leaves the kiosk. A few hundred feet (yards) in there will be a intersection. GO STRAIGHT AT THAT INTERSECTION (that is what MD was saying) At the next intersection, go LEFT. You are now on the GW Loop going CW and going toward the Skinny Loop. The next intersection (third one) is the Skinny Loop. If you go straight, you have left GW Loop and are on Skinny going CW. If you go right, you are on both GW and Skinny Loops for about 50 feet. Skinny then curves to the left, make this curve and you are on Skinny going CCW. If you go straight there, you remain on GW going CW. It is well signed. You can't miss Skinny Loop. Just get on the ONE trail going away from the kiosk and follow the signs. The main thing is to make sure you go straight at the first intersection. If you go right, you are headed toward Deep Step. There is a new black sign and a new map made of cedar mounted on a black post at this intersection.
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Post by seenvic on May 27, 2010 9:23:44 GMT -5
So for years now I've envisioned an event that hooks up Modoc to FATS (long before FATS was even built and it was just the Tower Trails). It entails either a fairly long hump on pavement, or getting across Stevens Creek at the end of FS 638C (I think). FATS isn't far from this crossing. But the creek is deep and wide there. And today, perhaps I found the solution. And here it is..
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Post by seenvic on May 27, 2010 7:42:57 GMT -5
Plum Branch.
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Post by seenvic on May 26, 2010 15:09:01 GMT -5
Long Cane Horse Trail. It is b/n Abbeville and Greenwood. It is awesome.
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Post by seenvic on May 26, 2010 14:42:09 GMT -5
I take a few people with me to share the job of web clearer. I don't mind the spiders, and I don't mind a few webs. But pulling down 7 miles of webs....gets old.
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Post by seenvic on May 26, 2010 11:32:02 GMT -5
You can't get there from here.
And what Dustin said.
I'd ride it CCW, so you have to turn right onto the Skinny instead of going straight onto it. Then a quick left turn and you are off GW/Skinny and onto just Skinny Loop. Will make sense when you get there.
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Lurkers
May 26, 2010 11:29:22 GMT -5
Post by seenvic on May 26, 2010 11:29:22 GMT -5
161 visitors in last 24 hours.
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Post by seenvic on May 26, 2010 8:05:24 GMT -5
If we don't get any rain b/n now and Saturday and it's not raining Saturday, I plan to ride the Plum Branch Trail again.
It is a 5.5 mile one way trail that is more technical than anything else we have. It has creek crossings that have steepies in/out and step ups/downs as well. It has wonderful flow, but is chunky and technical. If you removed the chunks (roots and rocks), it would flow like FATS. You are invited. Bring someone to ride with if you are super fast or super slow as I am about in the middle of those two extremes. Meet in the town of Plum Branch around 9AM say in the "Fishing Village" parking lot - can't miss it if you can find the town. From FATS parking lot, it is about 30-35 minutes up hwy 28. The trail is a short (2-3 minute) drive from the town center, but it is easy to meet in town and follow to the trail.
LCHT explore the trail ride June 5. THIS TRAIL IS DA BOMB. DO NOT MISS THIS RIDE. IT IS THE BEST EXPLORE THE TRAIL RIDE YOU WILL DO.
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Post by seenvic on May 25, 2010 8:55:37 GMT -5
I'd make sure you are ok with 6-7 hours on the bike.
I'd be sure to do at least one 5 hour ride before the SMC. I'd be sure to have ridden at least 40-45 miles in a day. Doesn't have to be 40 miles of singletrack, but a mix of single and pavel.
If one regularily rides a loop or two at FATS and shows up at the SMC, it is going to be painful and probably a DNF. But with a little prep and a strong will, it is doable for about anyone with some fitness.
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Post by seenvic on May 24, 2010 15:38:19 GMT -5
Horne Creek. ride section 2,3,4 hit the dirt road and when you return do section 5. Ideally, we can get the route put back together so that we can turn on Miller Rd and come up that way. That would put section 4 and 5 at the end. And would take us off of Martintown Rd for 2 miles and ride a dirt/gravel road that is better.
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Post by seenvic on May 24, 2010 13:42:46 GMT -5
Thank you for saying that.
Doubt it will have much impact.
I ride behind people all the time with mucho travel front and rear, and often times the rider will go out his way to miss the tiniest root.
I don't get it. But can't solve it either.
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