MMBA

by **khots** » February 12th, 2007, 5:35 pm

For all you A2 locals-
I was wondering how you link the trail that goes under M-14 to Leslie Park, which in turn connects to Olson Park. I usually start off at Bandemer Park and end up looping around and eventually head to the Bluffs but I would like to head over to Olson as well but have not been able to link the M-14 trail up to it. I like to explore but any help would be great!

by **RockhopperA2** » February 12th, 2007, 10:24 pm

khots wrote:For all you A2 locals-
I was wondering how you link the trail that goes under M-14 to Leslie Park, which in turn connects to Olson Park. I usually start off at Bandemer Park and end up looping around and eventually head to the Bluffs but I would like to head over to Olson as well but have not been able to link the M-14 trail up to it. I like to explore but any help would be great!

Where in Bandemer are you starting? If you want to find the M-14 trail, start at the star. The map is my handdrawn from memory map, so don't get mad if it's a little off. The north path is a wide, boring, woodchipped connector, so I'd take the South path for the fun ride over the log jump. You can hook up with Leslie park trail at "L" It's right across the street, you can't miss it. Try the Leslie/M-14 combo both directions- it's a totally different ride each time. Oh, and if you see any deadfall, let me know- I haven't had a chance to ride those trails since the ice storm. [edit- better yet, post it on the trail conditions forum under Olson park]

by **Elno Lewis** » February 13th, 2007, 12:30 pm

Never knew that was there! How kewl! Learn something new every day.

by **bill_m** » February 13th, 2007, 2:04 pm

The Southern section of singletrack (east of M-14) crosses Pontiac Trail and continues into Black Pond Woods (aka Leslie Science Center). At the fork, go left and you will be on the "Ladder" trail. I really like this section as it stays on top of a very cool berm that was created when they dredged the creek. You will cross the creek on the new ladder bridge and it will pop you out in Leslie Park (near the tobaggon hill). You can take the dirt two-track out to DhuVarren Road, right at the entrance to Olson Park.

It's almost like someone thought this out :wink:

When you see this, you know you are on the Ladder Trail:

by **Elno Lewis** » February 13th, 2007, 2:12 pm

That is soooo kewl! I can't wait to jump on that bad boy!

by **scat silvurz** » February 13th, 2007, 2:23 pm

A2 Loop - minus the KublerLangford+Bluffs section - compare this "overview map to the map by rockhoppera - his plugs right in....

and Northeast Park [aka olsen]

the other stuff by the river, takes you to "the ridge trail" better bring some spare nads for that one....

by **khots** » February 13th, 2007, 2:40 pm

Awesome guys, thanks for your help! I can't wait to link all these loops together! Every time I go for a ride I am more amazed with the Ann Arbor trail network.

by **scat silvurz** » February 13th, 2007, 3:28 pm

best part is, there's so much undocumented stuff, that you can spiderweb the entire city and dial in a ride perfectly suited for your mood [trails, urban, or both!]....it's a wonder!

by **Elno Lewis** » February 13th, 2007, 4:09 pm

you gots thats right, Jethro! We needs to hook at that into Dixboro Trifecta (plus 1), and others.

by **scat silvurz** » February 13th, 2007, 4:14 pm

YUP!

How bout right now?

by **RockhopperA2** » February 13th, 2007, 5:59 pm

bill_m wrote:The Southern section of singletrack (east of M-14) crosses Pontiac Trail and continues into Black Pond Woods (aka Leslie Science Center). At the fork, go left and you will be on the "Ladder" trail. I really like this section as it stays on top of a very cool berm that was created when they dredged the creek. You will cross the creek on the new ladder bridge and it will pop you out in Leslie Park (near the tobaggon hill). You can take the dirt two-track out to DhuVarren Road, right at the entrance to Olson Park.

It's almost like someone thought this out

I ran into Sierra Doug on that trail a while ago, he said that he was working with you to get legal access to that two-track, and possibly some other trails in that field. How's that going, if at all?

I liked it better when there was actually a steel ladder, and you could tell when someone had never ridden the trail before if you heard a loud PING- *beep*

-splash!-

as they crossed the creek. But nature is a b*tch with her floods and all that..

...and I should really get my name capitalized. It's Rockhopper- (as in my bike) -A2 (as in the city where I ride and live, in that order)

by **gregL** » February 14th, 2007, 2:29 am

Here is a blurry pic of the ladder rockhoppera2 was talking about. This is from June of last year, before the trail day.

Although that ladder may have been more fun than the bridge, I definitely am glad there is now a boardwalk over this mess!

Also, here is the logpile that can be found along the connector between M-14 and Pontiac Trail:

by **Elno Lewis** » February 14th, 2007, 8:46 am

Why not? Nothin to it but to do it.

by **chris_f** » February 14th, 2007, 11:01 am

Wait, are you telling me you were supposed to ride over that ladder while still on the bike?!

I thought you were supposed to get enough momentum, leap off the bike and grab that horizontal bar from the fence, swing across the chasm, and then land on the bike again, assuming it made it across the ladder OK.

At least, that's how Scat told me I had to do it, or no beer afterwards. Wait a sec... Scat? SCAT!! :evil:

by **Elno Lewis** » February 14th, 2007, 11:12 am

My bike has magnetic wheels. How do you think that will affect going over steel ladders?

MMBA

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