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Post by mudonthetires on Nov 1, 2011 22:31:10 GMT -5
Rode Keg today after work, the weather was perfect! I ran into dparrot a couple of miles in, he was on his way out after doing some trail work. A lot of leaves are starting to fall and there were a few large limbs that I moved off of the single track, but other than that the trail was in great condition. I really like the new rock bridge that was put in. It sure beats the mud puddle, water hole, and sketchy log ride that could be found there on any given day in the past. Riding CCW about a half mile after the big rock creek crossing there is noticeable four wheeler activity. It seems like they are following the single track for a mile or two and it is really widening the trail, almost making "double track" in a few spots.
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Post by dparrott on Nov 4, 2011 10:30:32 GMT -5
I completed a trail realignment yesterday - this is the steep hill shortly after 'Bedrock Crossing' going CCW. About 3-4 years ago this stretch was flagged for a reroute. The existing line continued to widen, had a sharp turn at the top and bottom and was directly on the fall line where erosion was slowly making its mark. Last year someone put in a different wiggle at the top which helped a bit but what was needed was a long term solution. This new piece is about 200' long, is marked by pink flagging tape and yellow triangle blazes and has several grade dips to shed water. Tyler was the first to ride it - in its unfinished state. The trail is truly gorgeous now.
The 4 wheeler activity is truly disappointing but not unexpected. It usually starts about this time each year when the lake level is really low to get access to the lake bottom. They enter off the cul-de-sac in Keg Pointe subdivision and continue down a badly eroded 4 wheeler trail to the shoreline where it intersects KC Trail. Sometimes they make a loop using part of the Boulder Creek section. But at least one machine came in over the hill and back onto the trail. There are numbers of choke points, both natural and designed (large downed tree cutouts too narrow for the machines and bridges). But they bulldoze their way through, go around or over them. Tyler, how far do the tracks continue? Once, a few years ago, one machine had even made it past the Keg Creek crossing (where the dropoff is). It could be worse - this machine is definitely a 4 wheel drive variety and has a skillful driver. A 2 wheel drive machine would not get as far but would more likely have churned up tread, especially with a less skillful or careful driver. IF you should encounter one, try to be courteous and explain the damage they are doing. I've found that espousing the law brings laughter and disregard.
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Post by brianW on Nov 4, 2011 17:52:45 GMT -5
When I was out there a few weeks back I did not notice 4 wheeler signs after Keg Creek crossing. Are there signs on the trail to the cul-de-sac showing no atv/horses? If not maybe one should be place on it.
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Post by dparrott on Nov 4, 2011 19:12:41 GMT -5
Currently, there are no signs on the North side to that effect. There are plans in works for more signs like that and to complete the mileage markers.
My understanding from COE is that there had been signs in the past but they were ripped down or riddled with bullet holes. They are aware of the chronic ATV problem but enforcement is difficult.
Looks like the ATV tracks are fairly recent - 1 to 2 weeks old.
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Post by mudonthetires on Nov 6, 2011 19:08:01 GMT -5
If memory serves me correctly, I noticed the tracks going up to within a 1/4 mile of Keg Creek and then they seemed to gradually disappear. It looked like the tracks would follow the singletrack for a while, cut up or down into the woods, and then run back on the singletrack a little while later. Nothing from what I could see across the Creek. The damage was very obvious and the tires had already created a rut deep enough to resemble side by side singletrack (on the fly it was hard to tell the original line in some spots, especially if you are not very familiar with Keg.)
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