|
Post by yetichick on Nov 6, 2008 20:51:33 GMT -5
If you are talking about the lower section that goes by Parson's Mountain, you are right. Very few people seem to ride that section. We tried riding it a couple years ago, but the USFS had even closed part of it due to a conflict with the trail crossing private property. I don't know what happened to that issue, but did find out that the Greenwood mountain bikers do not ride that section. It was almost impossible to ride it due to downed trees, debris, and overgrowth. It doesn't look like the horse riders use that section very often, either. We are looking into putting some signs on that trail, like the FATS signs. It is in the planning stages, and requires USFS approval. It will happen, so keep a lookout for the signs in the future.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Oct 30, 2008 20:40:27 GMT -5
Horn Creek is also a great place for beginners. I had been riding in Tucson for a year when we moved here to SC, but was still pretty much a beginner. Our first trail in this area was Horn Creek, and I learned a lot on that trail. We have taken several beginners to that trail, and they loved it! It is just shy of 6 miles, and is a loop.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Jun 24, 2008 20:55:04 GMT -5
Cassie:
You are very welcome! We had as much fun as you did. You rode very well, too. Keep riding and practicing what you learned on Saturday. Practice standing and looking where you want to go. The more you go out and ride, the better you will get. The next time we have a clinic you will learn even more! I look forward to seeing you out on the trails!
Barbara
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on May 25, 2008 14:50:39 GMT -5
We rode LCHT on Saturday. The trail is in GREAT condition! It was fun, fast, and the weather was perfection. Met "Stan-The Parts Man" and Michael at Big Rock. They were just heading out as we were finishing! Fun trail!
Love the reroute at the creek crossing on section D. Previously you had to crawl over the collapsed bridge with the broken up cement pieces and rebar. We rode clockwise, and the armoring on the uphill side, after going through the creek, was awesome! Nice job!!!
Barbara
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on May 14, 2008 10:10:32 GMT -5
Michael and I are in! Barbara
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Nov 20, 2007 21:48:04 GMT -5
Michael and I have ridden LCHT 4 times this fall. Love it! What an awesome trail. We have tried several ways to ride, with parking/starting in different places (505/506, Parson's Mountain Recreation Area), but find the Fell Hunt Camp the easiest for us. The first couple times that we rode we were a bit lost. We tried to follow the USFS map, but as quiver says, sections were closed and other areas were confusing. It was quite obvious that what we did ride on the bottom of the loop is rarely frequented by other mtb riders. The time we started at Parson's Mountain Recreation Area, a worker had to show us where the trail started, and then it was a difficult and annoying ride from Parson's Mountain to the metal bridge. After we crossed the metal bridge, it was obvious that we were now on mtb territory! Great trail!!!!!! We contacted Ashby Stokes, on the following website: web.mac.com/ashby_stokes/Greenwoodmtb/Home.html. He gave us some good directions, and he now has a map on the website that shows the sections the Greenwood people usually ride. The map does not include the lower section of the loop. The last couple times we rode from the Fell Hunt Camp as follows: Fell Hunt Camp to C C to G (Big Rock) G to E (intersection of 505/506) E to D (train tressle) D to C C back to Fell We get in 20.6 miles riding that way. The above website also has great pictures and written directions, as there is one section on the Kudzu Loop (the upper loop) that the Greenwood group doesn't ride. We absolutely love the trail, but you do have to be on your guard for the horses. We have run into horses before, and had no problems. This last weekend we came across a total of 7 horses. We had to wait for quite awhile behind the last group, which was a set of 4, because the last horse in the group could not be controlled by the rider. If you were in eyesight, the horse was extremely skiddish, and the rider had his hands full. The horse spun around numerous times. Some cyclists had even gotten off the trail and tried to hide in the trees so the horse wouldn't see them and would stay calm, but it didn't work. Love LCHT, and will ride it often; however, mountain bikes and horses are a tough mix. Since it is a shared trail, you have to stay on the lookout!
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 3, 2007 16:07:12 GMT -5
Turkey Ridge and Beaver Run were cleared on Friday. All 3 loops are in great condition!
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Aug 20, 2007 15:27:20 GMT -5
Michael and I cleared 11 trees off the Lake Loop on the 4th of July. We plan to clear Turkey Trot and Beaver Run over the Labor Day weekend. If you want to help us, let us know. We will clear the trails either that Saturday (September 1st) or Sunday (September 2nd). We will be camping there that weekend, so we are flexible on the times. It wouldn't take long to clear the trees, and then we could get in a good bike ride! P.S. When you do buy your chainsaw, don't forget chaps, helmet (w/ear protection), and gloves. Barbara Drawdy
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Mar 15, 2008 17:43:18 GMT -5
Bill:
Don't forget-- the 29th is the day scheduled for a work party to get the Lakeview loop ready for the Baker's Dozen. We have 137 registered riders, and we need maxiumum volunteer participation on that day to get the trail ready. Pleae don't schedule a FATS work party that same weekend. The 29th is the last weekend before the BD.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Jan 18, 2008 9:00:12 GMT -5
Outstanding! I was wondering what the outcome was from the meeting the USFS had regarding this issue. Sounds like a great working partnership!
Blanket's Creek: I would drive 3 hours any day to go ride that trail. Have you ridden it? It is a lot of fun! They have done a great job building the trails and maintaining them. The parking lot was full, but we ran into only a few riders. I think we have ridden it 3 times now. Woodstock has a great bike shop--OutSpokin'--with great people that run the shop. They have been participants in our Baker's Dozen each year, too.
We love going out and exploring trails in other areas. We have so many more trails we want to ride. I would love to ride the new Racoon trail up in Chattanooga. We want to get up to Bear Creek and the Pinhoti Trails. We want to go back to Tanasi and ride there. Of course we love Dupont and Tsali. There has been a lot of work going on up at Dupont and a lot of new singletrack and rerouted trails. They have a very active group: "Friends of the Dupont Forest."
Arkansas is suppose to have some good trails. We would love to go there. We also want to go back to Oak Mountain near Birmingham. We need to get up to Virginia and try out the area you suggested.
Nothing better than a road trip and a new trail.
Barbara
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 24, 2007 11:12:06 GMT -5
Yes, we did remove it Saturday morning. Bill, your directions on where to park and walk in from the road were perfect. You saved us from a lot of unnecessary hiking through the woods, and from the briars!
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 21, 2007 19:53:53 GMT -5
Where were we a year ago? If I understand your question, you are wondering where this discussion was a year ago when the first riders were lost. Correct? Actually, it generated about the same comments as this post, and we have been working on the signs since that time. Several options and plans have been discussed, along with the costs, etc. Part of the $10,000 we are raising for the new trails at FATS are for the signage of all the FATS loops. We are in the process of ordering the signs, and hopefully can let everyone know in the near future when they come in and are ready to be installed on the existing trails.
In a perfect world, everyone would be 100% prepared for every situation in their lives. This isn't a perfect world. We can sit here and postulate on why the person got lost. Ill prepared? Over estimated his skills on the trail? Thought he knew the trail, but got turned around? It got dark sooner than he expected? He had a flat tire? I know quite a few "seasoned" riders who do not carry tools or tubes to fix a flat. We have all, at one time or another, miscalculated, or said, "nothing will happen this time." We gamble on that, whether it is on the trail, or some other aspect of our lives.
I have also been on trails that I was not familiar with, had all my tools, water, food, maps, etc., and still got turned around. I'm thankful that he got the help he needed, and I totally disagree that we should charge him for the rescue. I'm glad he went out and rode the trail, and I hope he comes back and rides again. I doubt he will have to be rescued twice.
The signs will be awesome. They will let people know which loop they are on, and some of the signs will point back to the trail head, listing the distance in miles. There will also be carsonite post at trail access points (gravel road, powerline, dirt road). Seems like FATS gets the most injuries, so pointing out the access points will be quite helpful.
Can't wait for the new trails to be built! FATS is awesome!
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 17, 2007 7:38:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 7, 2007 10:59:52 GMT -5
I know that "they" is code for what I spelled out. It was my attempt at a joke :=), and also being more specific about the Time Trial Series. In that case, Ray is the specific "they." What do I mean by that? Ray was the driving force and organizer of the Time Trial Series. Series 2 was on the calendar for May, because Ray wanted to run it. When he moved, it got dropped because no one else had the desire to organize it.
dgaddis1: If you want to take the lead and organize/run the Time Trial Series, contact our President, Paul. It seemed like the people who participated in it last year had a great time. I was out of town when it started, so wasn't involved and can't tell you the specifics. In addition, Paul might be able to give you the times from last year's series. They were posted, but I don't know if anyone saved them.
I haven't paid a lot of attention to my times on all the loops on FATS, but I know that I have done the Brown Wave and Skinny in 77 minutes (from the parking lot). The Brown Wave is my favorite loop.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 6, 2007 15:54:49 GMT -5
"They" moved to Savannah. One of "those" who has an interest needs to step up, organize, and run a time trial series. That's what makes a club: many members with different interests contributing in different ways to the club.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Feb 26, 2007 11:51:01 GMT -5
A lockable gate might be a good idea. However, that would mean that when the trail is closed, all of it would be closed. There have been times when a portion of the trail could be opened, while other loops were closed.
You asked for opinions, so here is mine. There are times when the trail should be opened, and times when it should be closed. The fact that a few ride it anyway should not affect whether it is opened or closed. When a person gets caught riding the trail when it is closed, they should be ticketed. That is the way it happens on every other trail, or property opened to the public. For example, when there were 4 wheelers on Horn Creek, the trail wasn't closed. The USFS did go and talk to some people, and it stopped, but the trail wasn't closed because a few were riding it illegally. Another example would be hunting. If a hunter went out right now and shot a deer at FATS, and got caught, he would be ticketed. Would the trail be closed? No. Blankets Creek has gates and is closed when it rains. Do people poach it? You know they do. Is the trail closed because they poach? No. If they get caught, they get ticketed. We should continue to close the trail when it rains, open it when it can be ridden, report people who poach, and allow the USFS to enforce the rules. That is my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Jan 11, 2007 7:25:48 GMT -5
Check out the notice on the main page. FATS has been closed by the USFS. A notice will be posted when the trail is reopened.
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Dec 19, 2006 11:10:01 GMT -5
Camping is available at Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area. Their website is: www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1188.aspx. Another option is the Petersburg Campground on the GA side. It is an Army Corp of Engineers campground, and rather nice. Just google Petersburg Campground, GA, and you will get all the information you need. It is easy to get to FATS from either campground. I have never stayed in a hotel in Augusta, but look up Travelocity and try the La Quinta on Washington Rd., the Wingate Inn, or the Amerisuites. Make sure whatever hotel you pick that it is close to I-20. If someone else knows which hotel is the best, or has another suggestion, hopefully they will jump in and answer this post. I hope you enjoy FATS. My husband and I work during the day, and as soon as we get off work Friday afternoon, January 12, we are hooking up our 5th wheel and heading to Indian Springs State Park just northwest of Macon. We will be there all weekend to participate in the Ronnie Thomson events, and will drive back to North Augusta on Monday, January 15. Hopefully someone else will be available to ride FATS with your group. If you go to the "trails" link on our website, you can get a map of FATS. The top two loops on the map haven't been built, but the bottom 4 are complete and a blast to ride. ;D Barbara
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 25, 2006 10:33:52 GMT -5
True--in a perfect world. I have been on trails when I had a mechanical, had tools, but still needed assistance and was thankful when someone else was there to help me. In addition, we have loaned out many a tube, compressed air cartridges, or converted a rider's drive system to single speed due to a failed derauiller to help a rider make it back to the trailhead. The forums are full of stories where people knew what was the right and perfect thing to do, but didn't, just that one time . . .
|
|
|
Post by yetichick on Sept 25, 2006 9:57:06 GMT -5
While some people may have no problems reading the map at the trailhead, then remembering what the map shows, then figuring out exactly where they are while out riding, others do have difficulty knowing exactly where they are on a new trail system. Two weeks ago we had just started out on the trail when we passed a guy. He asked if he was headed the right way for the parking lot. We told him yes, and he said "Good" with quite the emphasis on that word. He was thankful to have someone reassure him he was headed the right way. We have quite a few junctions, quite a few gravel roads to cross, and a lot of power line crossings. It wouldn't be too difficult to get turned around. Add the fact that it was 8:00 at night and getting dark--I bet the fun went right out the door at that point. So now we had four wheelers and horses on the trail--they were used by the Merriwether Fire Department to locate the missing riders. The Forest Service was contacted, according to the article, so hopefully between the USFS and SORBA/CSRA we can get some signs up on the trails.
|
|