Mid-State: Burchfield

[rvd]

I rode all the advanced trails tonight except glorious poperds, which is still wet near McNamara. I too noticed the new signage all over the place. Nice work. So much fun to ride this trail again! Hansen's Bebob is very soft and is better avoided for a while longer; one wet spot with many ruts on Swamp Thing too - near the end. All other trails are in good condition. Question for the TC: On forest hump, at the left 180 before the downhill, the trail that goes straight has been reopened. I didn't ride it or close it, as I wasn't sure if this was an official change or not. Reid, I did see the new line on Hellboy open, but I didn't try it out.

[reidabel]

Yes, it was a lot of fun to ride Burchfield again! We rode up to the water you mention on Glorious Poperd's, then were able to lift the bikes and walk to the right through to the beginner trail about 50 feet away. Maybe a water bypass could be cut through there until the new bridging is ready? It hits some natural berms that could be incorporated to make it interesting as it joins the beginner trail. I'm not sure if it was dry enough to ride, but it was dry enough to walk it. More research needs to be done!

[mjpo]

Two replies:

1. Water by McNamara: Dammit! I knew I forgot something. I forgot to put up a tempory sign to keep you from backtracking. Closure will take you to McNamara on the beginner trail. Sorry about that. The permanent fix is about 150' of boardwalk (think old Swamp Thing) that is being installed by an Eagle Scout Candidate. All approvals are in place and he hopes to have the work completed by June. This does not warrant the effort to make a 50ft bypass that will be used for just a few weeks. Please just avoid that section for a bit.

2. Forest Hump cutoff reopened: This is bandit work. This will be closed again. With a fence to be installed by the park. (Thanks for making us have to go through all this *beep* just because you can't deal with change btw.) A friendly suggestion that makes sense: If you don't like the new trail, just bail out at the road and head back to the lot that way.

Ok, enough venting. (I am not really following the wisdom of by signature line am I ?!?) Productive discussion.......the cutoff was closed for a few reasons. 1. to add more trail. 2. to get you to set the trail bed by riding the new trail. 3. What's the point of having it? Unless you are on your second loop or something....then see advice above! 4. That spot has always been a safety concern. Blind drop in from across the beginner trail, not to mention the merge with the beginner trail.

EDIT: When I say "you" I want to be clear that I am not referring to original posters.

So now I have to put up a fence. More work. Looks terrible. Just use the road please.

[TenSpeed]

Rode today. Trail looks very good. I only know some of the names of the trail, but stuff like Swamp Thing, DragonBall and Hanson's looked good.

[SteveF]

I rode there today too, and rode to the water on GP then backtracked on the first lap to the grassy, straight cross trail that intersects the old/original/easy trail. I just took that bypass instead of riding to the water on the 2nd lap. Don't take the first grassy cross trail (where you can look left and see split rail fence and someone's back yard) take the 2nd one and then take a left on the old trail and you'll get to Mcnamara's pretty quick and easy...

Trail looked good! I wish I could say I felt some satisfaction when riding the section I raked but all I could think was man, that was a LOT longer with the rake than it was on the bike...

[xcrdr]

Sorry we missed you Steve. Would have been nice to ride with you.

[F7Cannon]

Man, can't believe I am going to say this about Burchfield but it was almost too dry in spots when I rode the other day. After this mornings rain though it was nice and tacky in the corners and about as perfect as it gets today. Hope we don't get too much rain this week to ruin it.

[SteveF]

We should have a trail day and put the leaves back...

[SteveF]

Sorry we missed you Steve. Would have been nice to ride with you.

Soon! Brown county at the latest...

Man, can't believe I am going to say this about Burchfield but it was almost too dry in spots when I rode the other day. After this mornings rain though it was nice and tacky in the corners and about as perfect as it gets today. Hope we don't get too much rain this week to ruin it.

We should have a trail day and put the leaves back...

[peterlcole]

I want to say 1) I had a great time at Burchfield today, and 2) mucho thanks to reidabel for his effort building some crazy ladder bridges, I can't wait to see the finished product.

Also, a question. The MMBA trail guide says that there are both eight and ten miles of trails. I did the complete loop, so how many miles did I ride?

[TenSpeed]

I gave up guessing on my mileage, and got a couple of these for my bikes. Super easy install, and even tested against my car on the road, and pretty accurate.

[bockrona]

Rode Burchfield yesterday and thank you very much for all the work and especially the new signage. I believe I rode the whole thing properly for the first time. I just lifted over the bad spots and moved on rather than try to find alternative route.

I see that there are numerous bridges and planking and such next to the trail which have been replaced by newer/better pieces. Some of the replaced pieces don't look all that bad and although too weak for a bridge or where they came from, thay may have enough strength left to lay flat on the ground in some of the mud that is out there. Although I didn't stop to look at them closely, it seems that at least some could be reused. I'd come out to help move them around and such.

[TenSpeed]

I believe that the wood that you are talking about is along Swamp Thing, and I think that someone already has plans for those somewhere else in the park. I saw it out there when I was out the other day, and thought the same thing. In fact, it looks like someone might have reorganized these into an almost passable difficult bypass. I wouldn't try to ride it.

[Mike 373]

How is it out there? Anyone been out after ther rain?

[TCRunner]

I'm going to be in Lansing this weekend and I'm bringing my fatbike. I would love to get in a good workout and ride ~20miles. What's the best trail system?

Thank you.