LOHS - Lake Orion High School Trails

[Steve_Kinley]

I trimmed the 1st mile and last .5 mile of singletrack this evening. the 1st mile has some wet sections including standing water but after then it is pretty dry. Some of the corners may be slick.

[Steve_Kinley]

There is a large mass of trees down in the very last section of singletrack, larger enough that we may end up routing the trail around it rather than trying to cut through all of it. Hope to get it done this week.

[Steve_Kinley]

I managed to get the reroute done this evening so the trail should now be clear.

[kcnado]

Off Track a bit, Steve - congrats on receiving the award presented by the Finnerman family! Well deserved!!

[Steve_Kinley]

Off Track a bit, Steve - congrats on receiving the award presented by the Finnerman family! Well deserved!!

Thanks, MiSCA is working hard to get students out riding.

[kyleRIG29er]

How's the trail looking, I want to come check out the trails before the race this weekend, is it pretty easy to find from the High School?

[Steve_Kinley]

Here is my answer from the racing forum:

You can probably follow 90% of the trail by starting at the northern edge of the upper parking lot, the one that overlooks the ball field below. The trail runs right off the edge of the parking lot from right to left (E to W) up the hill toward the fence. Follow the well worn in dirt path but there may be a section or two you could accidentally skip since we have optional loops off the main path. What time will you be riding? I can usually be there by 4:00 pm if you want a guided tour.

[Steve_Kinley]

A lot of string trimming has been completed over the last two days. The trail is opened up now in most sections where it is easier to see the the corners and lines and therefor faster. Just in time for the time trial on Saturday

[Rock N' Rolla]

Any updates for this trail. I finally made it out there on the 21st. I like the new longer section Steve! And how some on thet newer sections from last year have hardened into a flow.

[Steve_Kinley]

Thanks. The trail is in good shape and very dry and fast. Combine it with Bald Mountain South to get a 12 mile loop. BMS is also very good right now.

[jjmcwill]

I rode last night, starting at the north parking lot as suggested. This was my first time on this trail.

There were small orange flags indicating where NOT to make turns. This really helped, but I was still somewhat confused by the optional loop(s) off the main trail, as well as where to turn in order to pick the Bald Mountain south unit trail (which I found and rode).

Some marker posts and a maps would really help the uninitiated. Early in my ride, a guy came riding the opposite direction. He said he wasn't sure what direction was the right way to ride, and neither was I.

Ride wise, it kind of reminded me of Highland. Lots of tight turns and short climbs. Only a few sections where I can cruise downhill around wide turns, enjoying the wind through my helmet. I had to check my speed often so that I didn't miss turns and crash into the trees. Popping onto the Bald Mountain trail provided a nice change of pace, with its wide trail, rolling hills, and easy turns.

At one point on the LOHS trail, the end of a poorly trimmed branch got me right in the neck from the right side. I have a nasty looking 3" long scratch. I'm glad it wasn't any worse. I also got nailed in the right foot by the end of another branch and heard it loudly crack. My bike shoes fortunately took the brunt of the impact, and my foot seems fine.

[Sortaslow]

I think reflectors to your left?

[Steve_Kinley]

Sorry to read about the troubles you had on the trail. I am not sure where the offending branch was, we had a race there this past Saturday and didn't hear of any issues. I will try to get out in the next fews days.

The school does not want to install permanent trail markers and any markers that I put out tend to disappear, sometimes overnight, although it is less of an issue when school is not in session. I have also put wrong way trail markers at the exits of several sections but some of those disappeared as well.

If you want a tour of the trail let me know. I live close by and tend to ride the trail fairly frequently.

[jjmcwill]

Thanks.

Didn't mean to complain too much. The branch was probably a random fluke or something, as most of the trail was well cleared.

I feel it's a good, challenging trail, and always nice to have a change of scenery and new challenges to ride!

It's unfortunate that you have limited options for marking the trail.

[Steve_Kinley]

The trail is OK to ride, no trees came down and all the branches of size have been cleared.