Poto: Morton-Taylor Trails

[opjames]

*****ATTENTION TRAIL IS MUDDY*****
For the sake of Gary and Rich and all the hard work they've put into the trail year after year....please, STAY OFF THE TRAIL for a few weeks. They are MUDDY!!!!!! The soil is comprised of mostly clay and takes a long time to dry. However, the gravel trail is good to go, just NOT the single track.

To the 4 guys who rode it today and created 2" to 4" deep ruts throughout the entire trail, I hope you're satisfied with muddy mess you've caused. My gosh it couldn't have even been fun. I have pics of the damage, but there are too many to post here. Some of those ruts you've created in that CLAY will be there all summer, not to mention the deepening of the puddles and widening the trail. Maybe you didn't know any better, then again, maybe you did and think that the "Magical Trail Beaver" comes out and repairs the trails after you leave your destruction. Then again, maybe your not on this forum or can't even read this anyhow.

I hope that whoever has been planning a ride there, reads this and postpones it for at least a few more weeks.

[SANTA_CRUZ]

Thanks for the trail report James (and for you and Randy taking out those downed trees !) and yes, unfortunately those inconsiderate idiots that rode on an obviously not ready for prime time muddy trail most likely don't frequent this forum or even know of it's existence
I rode the gravel paths yesterday and they are dry and in good condition like you mentioned, so use those for now.

Like you say, I couldn't be much fun slipping and slidding all over the place and creating sometimes season long damage to the trail surface. I would like to get a hold of the stupid idiot that ripped down the trail head signs, too.

What possible reason could you have to do such vandalism ? I don't get it. I'll put them back up again of course and
hopefully with more hiker/biker traffic it will keep it from happening again, but there are just those few stupid morons out there that have to ruin it for everyone else that uses and enjoys this trail system. Rant over.

SC

[opjames]

Drawing of the mysterious "Magical Trail Beaver"

[Signus-X]

I went out there yesterday with my kid hoping that it would have dried up a bit by now but it was still a muddy mess. Avoid the trail until it dries up more.

[ibisman]

I walked all and rode (some) of all loops this morning. East loop is mostly dry to lilly rd. with some mud before the powerline towers.Crooked vultre is dry up to the powerlines and then mud every where. luckey dawg was dry (suprise) and all ramps were good. buckshaver was good for little ways and then under water. It is still a mess. Sant Cruz...like the tail on the skinny. need help soon let me know? Dave

[SANTA_CRUZ]

Thanks for the trail report ibisman ! I am also surprized that Lucky Dawg is dry and rideable. Strange.

Glad you like the recent addition to the West loop "fattie" as I call it since it's not technically a skinny due to it
being a foot wide. I just have to add a wedge at the corner transition to make it rideable (and a little safer) this
weekend and it will be all set. (plus a couple of little warning signs so that riders are warned before attempting).

I or maybe you will post a picture when it's done. Plans for this year are to add some length to the west end of
Dragon's Tail (near the church towards Michigan Ave) and try to address some of the muddy areas by adding
chunks of concrete and/or boardwalks. So, there will definitely be some work to do and I will let you know when.

SC

[ibisman]

I did a couple of laps this sunny morning and the trail almost all good to go. There are several spots where the water cannot drain that are remaining muddy. Buck shaver is still under water in spots. white tail going west , has some muddy spots too. The east loop is all dry, and crooked vulture has some mud coming west past the power lines. the west loop has some mud going towards Sheldon but Lucky dog is dry..as is all ramps and bridges.
very nice job santa cruz on the skinny!
I rode past Sheldon to check out those other trails we found last year, and the signs are gone.

[Dirtburner]

I did some riding this morning as well on the west loop and east loop. Theres a very low hanging downed tree on the west loop that's hanging about head height and also a large downed tree across the gravel path that leads west on the north side of the river near the trail head. As stated above some spots of the west loop are muddy and rutted I didn't have any shovels or anything but stepped on the ruts and leveled it out the best I could. Hopefully others will do the same if they do ride through it so it won't dry filled with ruts.

I am new to mountain biking and look forward to seeing you guys on the trail sometime

[SANTA_CRUZ]

ibisman, thanks for posting the excellent pictures of the new West loop "fattie", did you happen to ride/clean it when you rode by ?

Dirtburner, I will have to check out the lowhangers and cut those out of there very soon. I was riding the gravel path last Sunday and saw
the downed tree across the way just before the Lilley road crossing, but that's up to the township to remove. But, we will definitely address
the West loop one. I have plans to tackle the muddy areas in the West loop, Crooked Vulture and more importantly, Buck Shaver and Dragon's Tail.
Either need cut up log sections and/or boardwalk, so that will be my focus this spring/early summer. Stay tuned for a trail work day. Always work to do.

SC

[ibisman]

Santa cruz...I was going to cut and lay down some small logs in low areas that don't drain but i didn't want to do anything without asking you first.What do you think?.

[SANTA_CRUZ]

ibisman, that seems like a good proven solution to some of those problem areas, so yes, go ahead and install some !

Looking at the flooded sections of Buckshaver the other day I was thinking of installing some long boardwalk to allow it to be rideable in the spring months, got a whole bunch of wood in my garage that I need to use up !

[ibisman]

Sounds like a plan...let me know when I can help.

[Dirtburner]

Okay sounds good and I'm willing to help I'd you guys need it.

[opjames]

Most of the trail is dry enough to ride, except the South loop, some of the Buckshaver, and part of the Crooked Vulture. Those sections are still flooded or terribly muddy. A lot of heavy ruts are now cemented into the clay in most sections, due to all the riding during unfavorable muddy conditions. I'll try to fix what I can when I bring a shovel next time.
Me and my friend removed the tree that was blocking the trail on the West loop, we also had to block off the new "go around" that was being formed there.

Someone decided to set the bridge, crossing the river by the trailhead, on fire in the last couple days. It burned a massive hole in it and has been barricaded by the township workers. It's probably some of the unsupervised teens that come from the adjoining neighborhood.

[SANTA_CRUZ]

James, thank you for clearing the downed tree on the West loop ! I've been meaning to get out there, but haven't found the time yet. Riding around last week I had to smile because I could see all the places where you and Randy were doing your water draining engineering and it looks like it's working well.

Oh freaking great ! Burning a bridge ? ! Really ? This vandalism never seems to end.
Exactly which bridge is it ? The one leading to the East loop or the South loop ? I want to get a hold of those troubled
teens and put them to work correcting the damage they do !! Jeeze !