CRAMBA: Holdridge

[mmba6862]

Based on the weather predictions, let's consider this an Impromptu Trail Day! March 17th 10:00 A.M. Meet at Holdridge parking lot. Dress in Green for ST. Patrick's Day. There are no leaves so dressing in Green should not be a problem.

J.O.

[Critter7r]

And I hope that no hunters would mistake workers for prey, since rabbit and crow are the only things in season.

[mmba6862]

No rabbits, crows or Hunters in Holdridge this time of year. However, the Fall is a different issue.

[Negaunee]

Rode the West Loop Saturday afternoon. There are still a few wet areas, especially in the first half mile or so. Then other little low areas the rest of the way. Was taking it easy today and walked around the wetter areas. After the early wetness you can really get rolling in some of the later areas. But unless you plan on walking around the wetter areas you should avoid this loop for a little while longer to not worsen the damage that some others have been doing to it already.

[WishIcouldcatchmybreath]

Rode all of the West Loop, and the first 10 miles of the East loop on Sunday afternoon. As reported already, the first 1/2 mile of the West Loop is still really wet! The Grinder on other hand, was dry and fun. There were about 3 trees down as I recall, the most serious being a good sized tree and bramble mess on the Meadows Loop (the was one between here and the Shields Rd exit, and another in the 1st 7 miles, but I can't recall exactly where). There was just 1 wet area in the Meadows Loop in the usual spot around mile 7.5 or so. The low areas near the swamp around mile 8.5 were bone dry.

[r21954]

There is a tree at 1.5 that I missed on Saturday, we haven't cleaned Meadows or Orchard yet, Orchard is really wet. The North should not be riden as it is too wet.

[turbotoad]

West trails were awsome tonight! Dry and packed. North trails were pretty good but still some muddy patches here and there.

[rvd]

Rode most of the options this afternoon; fun trail system.
The west and lake loops have several small puddles, and lots of 'play-dough'. Tech trail is good.
The north trail is very wet and should be avoided; lot's of hike a bike required.
Grubers is dry for the most part, but the trail is quite soft, or maybe it was the low psi in my t ires . Meadows has one section that needs to be walked and there was one tree down. The orchard isn't in great shape; lots of small deadfall, several wet areas, and 5 or 6 downed trees.

[mmba6862]

Actually, I rode all of the East last evening with the exception of the Orchard Loop for obvious reasons. As with the North Loop, the Orchard Loop should be avoided this time of year(one of the reasons it has been left alone to date). Anyway, the first 7 miles is dry and fun. The Meadows Loop has improved dramatically. It is mostly dry with one exception between 8 - 8.5 mile area. From 9.5 to 15.5(excluding the Orchard's Loop) it is dry and mostly fast!
R21954, there is a tree down after the 14-mile mark just after the downhill log pile drop-off. It is over a foot in diameter and sits at an angle. Not sure you wanted it left there based on the angle of lay. Looks like the tree just shattered and fell at the 12-foot line as you can see the remaining trunk standing just to the right of the trail.

[black2003ss]

Hows the West Loop looking? Like to come up and ride the West, Lake and possibly North loops. Looks like last report says no go on the North loop. Thanks.

[turbotoad]

Rode West and North tonight. West loop (and Tech loop) were fast and 95% dry. There were a few gooey spots near the begining of the long loop and the Lakeside portion had quite a few muddy patches. Not too bad though. The North loop was decent except for entering the first field after the East turn off. It was a mud fest. There were also numerous slippery corners that seemed fine until suddenly you were drifting! Just moist enough to catch you off gard. I imagine it should be dried up nicely by Wed or Thurs.

[FREEDOM35]

Rode Holdridge yesterday. The first East Loop trip, I avoided Orchard. The second trip, I did the entire thing and found the trail to be in mostly decent shape with only a few spots that should be walked. The North Loop is the same. I carried my bike over the muddy parts and tried to flatten the pizza cutters in drier areas. The West loop is pretty fast and dry. Again, I recommend flattening the pizza cutters when you see them. When the wet spots dry out, someone with a fat bike could easily eliminate the pizza cutters.

A word of caution about the East loop: there are many, many areas where heaps of dry leaves and sticks could compromise traction. If my camera battery hadn't died, I would have taken a picture of a first: A large stick wedged perfectly between my rearderailleur, chainstay, and brake disc. This happened to occur the moment I stopped to look at a deer (yeah, I stop to enjoy the nature sometimes) so no damage was done.

[mmba6862]

FREEDOM35 Is there still a tree down just past 14-mile below the log drop off?

[HiptonRadcliffIII]

Rode Holdridge yesterday. The first East Loop trip, I avoided Orchard. The second trip, I did the entire thing and found the trail to be in mostly decent shape with only a few spots that should be walked. The North Loop is the same. I carried my bike over the muddy parts and tried to flatten the pizza cutters in drier areas. The West loop is pretty fast and dry. Again, I recommend flattening the pizza cutters when you see them. When the wet spots dry out, someone with a fat bike could easily eliminate the pizza cutters.

A word of caution about the East loop: there are many, many areas where heaps of dry leaves and sticks could compromise traction. If my camera battery hadn't died, I would have taken a picture of a first: A large stick wedged perfectly between my rearderailleur, chainstay, and brake disc. This happened to occur the moment I stopped to look at a deer (yeah, I stop to enjoy the nature sometimes) so no damage was done.

funny you mention this. I have been skewered more times than I can count riding the east loop. I can't explain it. it's not like there is an exponentially greater amount of dead fall, but somehow sticks just seem to wedge their way into my bike on that loop.

[r21954]

I cleared the tree at 14 mile and took out a bunch of autumn olive shrub brush on the long climb at 14.5 miles. I thought the trail was in great shape tonight. Didn't do any slipin or slidin but I use real nobbie tires since the trail is listed as expert and technical. When we start complaining about sticks and leaves giving us a hard time when we R riding in the woods one must assume someone has become very spoiled.