|
Post by Angela on Jul 3, 2013 14:46:23 GMT -5
So much for the wishful thinking! : (
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 4, 2013 8:42:36 GMT -5
Report on the FATS rain gauge, 6.5 inches since this past Sunday morning........the only thing positive I can say is that my lawn looks better than it has in a decade.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 5, 2013 13:11:53 GMT -5
More rain.
|
|
|
Post by stickboy274 on Jul 6, 2013 18:12:04 GMT -5
Any idea how it did today? I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow. Thanks
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on Jul 6, 2013 18:41:26 GMT -5
Any idea how it did today? I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow. Thanks Lots of rain all over the CSRA today, and looking at the forecast I imagine FATS will be closed for the next week.
|
|
|
Post by stickboy274 on Jul 6, 2013 18:45:58 GMT -5
That's fine. Are there any places down there that will be ok to ride that you know of? I don't mind getting dirty, bit I don't want to tear anything up.
|
|
|
Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jul 6, 2013 18:50:57 GMT -5
That's fine. Are there any places down there that will be ok to ride that you know of? I don't mind getting dirty, bit I don't want to tear anything up. Boyd Pond or gravels roads seem to be your choices. Definitely not FATS.
|
|
|
Post by brianW on Jul 7, 2013 7:43:59 GMT -5
.45" in the last 24 hours. 7.35" since last Sunday. Looks like another day running at Blanchard Woods followed by some laps in the pool.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 8, 2013 6:26:47 GMT -5
About midnight thunderstorms started rolling over the area and we received a flash flood warning in effect until 2:45am. Not sure how much additional rain we received but needless to say all the trails are saturated at this point and the forecast is that more are on the way. For up to date trail/weather conditions follow us on Twitter > FATSUpdate or go to our homepage
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 9, 2013 6:09:56 GMT -5
Keeping an eye on the radar through midnight last night it did not look like FATS got additional rain yesterday - we did get quite a bit of rain around I20 and south. More of the same predicted today, we have to have some dry days for this trail to dry out enough to ride. Unfortunately the chances of rain are predicted to go up each day through Friday and Chantal's projected path could mean additional rain in the coming days.
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on Jul 9, 2013 6:38:20 GMT -5
I don't think we need daily (or multiple times a day) weather updates at this point LOL. It'd be much easier to just say:
FATS is and will be too wet to ride until further notice.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 10, 2013 6:22:25 GMT -5
Totally understand Dustin and we have shut off that Twitter feed to the Facebook page. A lot of people are new to the forum or just joined us on Twitter and would like to get more frequent feedback than FATS is open and FATS is closed so they can plan trips into the area or for the weekend, etc. Unfortunately more bad news - had about an hour of rain yesterday afternoon, more late evening and then just before lights out (1am) took a quick look since heard the rain and this is what I saw (see below) - FATS will remain closed, please stay off the trail, the damage done when the trail is that saturated can cause a wonderful, flowing trail to become rough to ride. I also promotes a lot of erosion around roots and no we won't be cutting those out (in fact lots of our more experienced riders love that rougher ride). Be sure and pass the word on to those that don't have the experience and understand why they should stay off the trails, they are the ones that stand to lose the great place to ride as the trail becomes rutted, eroded and rooty. I'll add the amount of rain from the FATS gauge when it becomes available. Update: .8 inches in the past 24 hours for a total of over 10 inches in the FATS gauge since June 30.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 11, 2013 12:10:52 GMT -5
Please do not ride the wet trails and spread the word the best you can so other less astute riders will understand. The trail head has been taped off for a reason, with all the rain we have had the trails are very saturated. You might have read we are currently in competition for the 2nd longest consecutive wet days in Augusta - rain today means we compete for 1st - last time was 1904.
We stopped by FATS on our way from Wine Creek to downtown last night and there were two guys getting into their minivan - backs caked in mud - since I have nothing else suitable to say I'll just say.... very disappointing. It is apparent that the tape has been broken a couple of times and been reattached (thank you diligent volunteers). I will post a couple of pictures later but the standing water in the first 40 feet of trail was very apparent.
|
|
|
Post by brianW on Jul 11, 2013 20:36:27 GMT -5
I know the reasons why but I will still say another reason to have a "TRAILS closed/open" flip sign at FATS similar to the one at Ft Yargo.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 12, 2013 6:53:37 GMT -5
When we first approached the trail at the kiosk this is what we saw - Walking down the trail to those trees at the back of the first photo the next section of trail looked like this - Of course this was before the additional rain yesterday and last night. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what the rest of the trail is like. Even when we have the rest of the trail taped, I haven't seen the first part looking this wet ever in the past!
|
|
|
Post by brianW on Jul 12, 2013 16:49:20 GMT -5
Of course it doesn't take a rocket scientist......it takes a hydrologist.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 14, 2013 13:33:15 GMT -5
If you have been following Twitter you know that the rain continues and that FATS has had rain nearly every day since June 30th. The trails are completely saturated and it is going to take a while before it dries out. This coming week is the most dangerous time for this trail system.
The weather looks like it will finally be drying up and so many of us are past ready to get out onto the trails. This is not a "do not ride until after 24 hour situation" - the saturation and continuing seeps coupled with nice weather can mean extensive damage if riders do not stay off the trails. It will be opened as quickly as we can and know that Skinny and Great Wall will probably be the last to open. PLEASE DO NOT RIDE THE WET TRAILS!!
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on Jul 14, 2013 16:47:09 GMT -5
Big failure on the USFS to fail to provide a large red gate to shut down parking for both parking lots. These gates are all over the CSRA, to protect other valuable resources, but we can't use them for our resources.
MD
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on Jul 15, 2013 6:04:09 GMT -5
Big failure on the USFS to fail to provide a large red gate to shut down parking for both parking lots. These gates are all over the CSRA, to protect other valuable resources, but we can't use them for our resources. MD Agreed. I don't understand why they wouldn't want a gate and a partnership/agreement with SORBA-CSRA which would give us a handful of keys to distribute to nearby responsible people who could open and close the trail for them. Opening/closing the trail would require zero effort on their part, and it would make it so much easier to keep people off the trails.
|
|
|
Post by Angela on Jul 15, 2013 6:30:03 GMT -5
Things aren't always as easy as they might look where a government agency is concerned (this option was explored in the past) but maybe we can revisit.
This is certainly something I personally wish we'd had starting a decade ago. Parking lot closed wouldn't stop everyone of course but would send a much stronger message!
|
|