Western: Cannonsburg Ski Area

[midget]

whomever keeps moving the brush pile. please stop. we collectively built this trail with several things in mind, namely making a fun trail that utilizes the natural terrain to prevent erosion and things of that nature. in the top section of the trail there is a very tight left hand turn that flows between trees. we really want you to ride through those trees and not cut the trail on the inside. yes we know it is faster,but less challenging. please stop negating the hard work and planning of the western chapter and the volunteers who helped build this trail you obviously ride next to daily.

if you would like to have a say in what happens when trails are built then please join us. we meet monthly. the trail work days are open to everyone who is willing to help.but please stop doing whatever you like, it is just not fair to the group of people who have taken the time to plan and legally build fun and CHALLENGING trails for you.
thank you for your understanding.

jason
one of the trail coordinators for the ski hill.

[RickPlite]

ditto what Jason said!

[midget]

REMINDER

the ski area DOES in fact CLOSE.

after november 11th please refrain from riding there. i have bumped into many people who apparently do not stop to read informative signs

[redrabbit]

Base of the ski hill and the lower lying areas are very wet after all the rain recently.

[Purple is a Fruit]

The base of the ski hill is still a bit on the muddy side, but is much better then it was after last week's 'cross race out there. The single track is in great shape, not muddy at all. The leaves laying across the trail makes it a bit more fun/interesting.

Question for those in the know though. Not too long ago there was a thread here about NOT changing/doing reroutes. Specifically, I believe the area of concern was in the first section where the trail makes a sharp left hand turn between two narrow trees prior to a nice lengthy "slalom" along the top of the ridge. Prior to the last trail day there appear to be two options, either through the narrow trees or a wider/easier cut out. After the trail day, there was brush piled up in the cut out to eliminate the easy route. When I was out there today, the brush has moved and is now piled between the narrow trees.

What is the preferred route as deemed by the trail stewards? I plan on heading out there again tomorrow (10-29) and would gladly restack the pile if needed.

Thanks for the awesome work out there guys. This is quickly becoming my favorite trail! With any luck I'll be able to help out at the next trail day, too.

[RickPlite]

the prefered route is through the small opening in the trees. Someone has taken it upon themselves to short cut the original trail and to also re-claim the short cut everytime we cover it up. Just wait until we have enough man power next spring to drag a 500 pound dead tree trunk across the short cut. Short cuts have started to appear on the last section of the lower whoop de do's also. I blocked it off yesterday. We will win.
If you are the guilty party, come forward at a trail day and let us know what you think. We might listen. The section where the trail weaves in and out of narrow trees is called the Upper Meadery. It was designed to be slower, more technical and less flowing (fast) than the other sections. A good trail mixes it up a bit, think of Fort Custer. Super Highway into Granny's Garden then back to fast two track and back to Crazy Beaver or the Amusement Park. Tell me one person that doesn't like Fort Custer.

[SlowPoke]

Something is wrong with this trail. I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t know how this would happen, but it has happened two times on this trail, and never any other place. My bottom bracket has come loose both times I did this trail. I have had the bike for 8 months and have ridden it every week on one trail or another. This is the only trail it happens on. What up?


Seriously
The trail is fantastic. What a fun workout.

It is amazing what you did with that hill on the north east side of the property. I have ridden it once during the day and once at night and both rides were a blast. Both rides were cut short because of my BB problem, but other than that……

MMBA, thank you for all the hard work. We all owe you guys that do the trail maintenance and education, a huge thank you.

You out did yourselves this time.

[midget]

just to remind everyone...this friday november 10 is the last day you can ride the ski hill. the land owners asked us to stay out starting november 11. so even though we may not have snow on the mountain bike trails we are to stay out of the woods. this is private property and the landowners are great people who have let us use their land. let's respect their wishes

[redrabbit]

Need to mark this trail as closed for season

Til next year...

[John_H]

Thanks for the reminder - changed to "closed". Sucks to have to wait until ski season over

[RickPlite]

there have been signs at the parking lot (on the fence) since October, also signs on at least three trees throughout the trail.
The ski area will typically have the gate closed and will potentially move their sign to the gate as well. At any rate, the trail is closed until spring.

Rick

[Robert_Baker]

the prefered route is through the small opening in the trees. Someone has taken it upon themselves to short cut the original trail and to also re-claim the short cut everytime we cover it up. Just wait until we have enough man power next spring to drag a 500 pound dead tree trunk across the short cut. Short cuts have started to appear on the last section of the lower whoop de do's also. I blocked it off yesterday. We will win.
If you are the guilty party, come forward at a trail day and let us know what you think. We might listen. The section where the trail weaves in and out of narrow trees is called the Upper Meadery. It was designed to be slower, more technical and less flowing (fast) than the other sections. A good trail mixes it up a bit, think of Fort Custer. Super Highway into Granny's Garden then back to fast two track and back to Crazy Beaver or the Amusement Park. Tell me one person that doesn't like Fort Custer.

I rode the trail Friday, on the first lap (4:30 pm) the brush pile was intact with a sign on it, on the second lap the pile was completely gone and the bypass swept off to look like it was the only route. It had to take some effort to toss the sticks far out in to the woods and sweep the leaves away. I saw two riders maybe 5 minutes ahead of me on the trail and tried to catch up to them but by the time I got to the parking lot they were gone, perhaps they were locals?

[midget]

gone

[jasondew]

there will be a FR/skills area planning, scouting, flagging session at the ski area december 16 at 10 am. the area is still closed for biking so we'll be on foot.

if you're unfamiliar with the FR/skills area project please go to geeride.net and check out the cannonsburg ski area discussion under "trails" for all the information. there's also information in the mmba trails forum. look for "FR project in west michigan."

look for me there. i drive a black grand cherokee and i'll be wearing a gray fleece.

i hope to see a bunch of people there.

[Stickboy]

Can we get a Poll started on the following Question about Cannonsburg ski area trail?

Should new trails be routed thru small trees?

Yes
No