Winter

[terrelljiggums]

Will FATS be closed for the winter season? When?

[seenvic]

Should it be?

[terrelljiggums]

I don't think so. I was just curious; bought a new bike.

[EdgeE]

I think it should, and when open during the winter, maybe on some rotational basis, with at least one or two trails open and the others closed. We had the group night ride on Brown Wave last Wednesday (11/26) and there were many wet muddy spots and we had not had rain for several days, and even then it was not a hard rain. However, due to a friend insisting on FATS, we rode Big Rocks Friday morning & it was fine. Maybe Big Rocks does not see the amount of traffic that Brown does? I do not know if condensing all users onto one or two trails for a week, and then closing those trails for a few weeks (up 5 weeks if only one in rotation) would do more harm than good.

[seenvic]

Dec 1, 2008 17:27:08 GMT -5 terrelljiggums said:

I don't think so. I was just curious; bought a new bike.

Any other reason other than you just got a new bike?

Is there a reason you can't ride your new bike on a trail that isn't as new as FATS, doesn't get the traffic FATS gets?

Do you like the rutted areas on FATS that will hold more water as more people make more ruts? What do you find appealing about this trait in a trail? Do you like your trails to stay muddy or drain well? Do you like your trails to lose the singletrack feel?

Please give some thought to these questions and let us know your thoughts.

[seenvic]

Any others with an opinion?

And reasons why you have this opinion?

It's your trail. It's our trail. It's everyone's trail. But someone had to give some thought to build it, and now we all need to give some thought how to manage it.

What do you think?

[Sasquatch]

Gravel?
How about on some of these high traffic trails like FATS throwing down some gravel in the bottom of some of these dips that hold water. It seems like the gravel would increase drainage on the surface level and any gravel ruts can be fixed just by kicking some more rocks from the side back into the middle? Not sure how feasible this is, but it was just a thought. Gravel is readily available and not priced too bad (there are several huge piles on the sides of the Long Cane Trail that have been sitting there for over a year and a half) so maybe USFS might have a hookup on it or something?
Just trying to throw something out there...

[JIMMYC]

gravel? well you have to get it there, that can be a big job, beside we already pavers that could be put down.
To me it makes alot of sense to close FATS down for a little while. After all we have several trails that need to be ridden.
Anyway that's what I think.

[seenvic]

Who is going to put the material out there?

[Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill)]

After recovering from my surgery 12/23, I'll come up and help for a day if someone will give me a place to stay. I have shovels.... Might even convince one of my boys (ages 13 and 15 - they need service project hours for school and are big and strong - the 15-year old is taller than my 6'-2") to come help, although last week I could not get the 15-year old out of bed to ride FATS even being enticed by AUCE breakfast bar at HKSP and/or fresh BBQ at Sportsman's.....

[ted]

Dec 2, 2008 12:04:36 GMT -5 seenvic said:

Who is going to put the material out there?

I heard they were.

[ted]

When's the next SORBA-CSRA work party scheduled?

Imagine 12-15 people with fire rakes cleaning drains or putting in brick that is already in place especially with the nice soft ground.

"TBD" has been the answer on the home page for quite a while.

[Macho Retro]

What a great question. I was wondering about all the bricks out there.

Let's get together and clean some drains! Where do we get the rakes?

[JIMMYC]

I would think after the Christmas holidays. You won't have to worry about all that shopping and shooting.

[seenvic]

www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/gamez2.pdf

Archery only Dec 1-13.

[JIMMYC]

gun after that until jan. 1, then youth hunt jan 3rd. that's the day you don't want to wear white.
thanks for the info

[azdrawdy]

I penned a pretty long answer last night around 9pm, then just deleted it. I deleted it because most just don't get it, and really don't care about getting it (kinda like Ted's quote).

In a nutshell:

- We have two trails that do not need to be ridden much at all after receiving a substantial rain. Petersburg and FATS. It will indeed take years of gravity and years of volunteer efforts to make these two trails sustainable after rains.

- We have at least eight trails that typically can be ridden within 48 hours of a decent rainfall. Several of these can be ridden within 24 hours. These are within roughly a one hour drive. Every one has a distinct personality and challenge in different ways.

Alas, they don't get ridden. No one cares to ride them. Those two trails listed above get the most tires on them, consistently.

Can't close the trails. USFS said no to that last season.

As far as work parties, a person just needs to step up and say "Hey, I am going to run and organize this party." Show up at a meeting. Word gets out, emails get sent, it gets talked up and people show up. At least at FATS. Doesn't work any more at the others. My caveat with a work party at FATS is we are getting ready to lose one of our other trails due to lack of support.

I just wish we could create some change and spread the wealth around to all the trails.

MD

P.S. As far as gravel, I don't think that is an answer. There is indeed a lot of it used on LCHT. In a majority of the areas used, it seems to be pushed out to the edges. I must admit I like JC's bricks. I just wish THEY would get out there and do something about the trails so I can ride...

[Sasquatch]

when it comes to needing some people to do some work my fraternity (about 20 members) is always looking for community service projects. all those guys need is directions, a date, and a time.

[Timothyjames]

Dec 2, 2008 10:01:48 GMT -5 seenvic said:

Dec 1, 2008 17:27:08 GMT -5 terrelljiggums said:

I don't think so. I was just curious; bought a new bike.

Any other reason other than you just got a new bike?

Is there a reason you can't ride your new bike on a trail that isn't as new as FATS, doesn't get the traffic FATS gets?

Do you like the rutted areas on FATS that will hold more water as more people make more ruts? What do you find appealing about this trait in a trail? Do you like your trails to stay muddy or drain well? Do you like your trails to lose the singletrack feel?

Please give some thought to these questions and let us know your thoughts.

I was recalling a mid-winter closing last year that was outside of hunting season. TJ and I talked about coming out to ride but didn't want to do any damage to the trails considering how soggy the climate is around this time of year. All of the above questions almost seem rhetorical because no one wants to destroy the crisp tight feeling that the majority of the trails still have and since the thread has turned into a 'work party' proposition.

i guess the question revisited is, should we recommend that the trails not be ridden during these months or is it a judgment call of the rider. you choose and be prepared to deal with the consequences of the damage you cause when the next work party goes out to repair. No biggie, just wanted suggestions so we don't hurt the place we love.

[oddcouple]

Please no gravel it will cause more harm than good they use it on race tracks for run off to slow cars down really fast if they go off the track, it will do the same with a bike, can we say endo, will also make you wash out if in a turn.