Poto: Morton-Taylor Trails

[opjames]

usually run it counter-clock wise...but it doesn't matter. the ramps and piles are built for the counter clock-wise rotation but are ok either way.

Most of trails I've ridden in southeastern Michigan are run in a clockwise direction and I like the flow of this trail in that direction better. To each their own.

So... there is two-way traffic? Is this singletrack?

Yes, most of the route that I posted is single track. There is some gravel multi-use trail to connect the sections together, but mainly single track.
I doubt you will be generating enough speed to collide with anyone in most sections. The trail is tight, slow, and technical in some areas and most sections you can see far in front of you. I've only come close once in the Crooked Vulture section between the gravel trail and the old car. You can get going pretty good through there and some of the turns (3 of them) have a bit of an obstructed view. I ride this trail almost every day and have only had the one close call.

SANTA_CRUZ designed the trail to be run in either direction and has said that it will be like this until the trail gets too busy. It allows for a bit of variety if you get bored riding the trail in one direction, then turn around and try it the other way.

[ibisman]

And....no elevation which is good for my knee.

[opjames]

Was out there today removing poison ivy while enjoying a beautiful recovery day. Spent all afternoon (2pm-8pm) and met several fellow mountain bikers enjoying the trails. I can't remember everyone's name, but met at least 15 different people riding around the Mort. I do remember talking to mikesathome2 about his video of clearing the fat skinny. It was awesome to see so many riding today.

[Jay22]

Im jealous. I wanted to get out there and test out the new tires, but I got stuck working.

[mikesathome2]

What a busy day out there Wednesday! Hikers, bikers, Runners! it's good to see so many people enjoying the great weather and trails!
Nice to meet you opjames, I might be back on Friday around 6pm.

[SANTA_CRUZ]

I remember Jay22 mentioning riding the trail at dusk and have been wanting to try it, so tonight I rode to the trail from my house
leaving about 8pm. I took the gravel path from Canton Center and along the way seeing the tons of people getting ready and/or sitting in their spots
for the Liberty Fest fireworks. Hit the East, Crooked Vulture, West and Lucky Dawg before heading back just as the sun was setting.
Saw lots of bugs and bunnies. Had an ice cold Molson waiting for me in the fridge. Watched some of the fireworks. Everything is SO dry.

[SANTA_CRUZ]

Happy Father's day to all the fathers out there today.

Got all my honey-do jobs done early and decided to ride over to Morty T, do some trail and enjoy Father's day the way I wanted to. Very cool.

Rode all the loops and the sun even came out while I was there which was super nice. As I entered the larger part of the West loop, I came
upon two young bucks who were standing there staring at me. I stopped and continued and they did the same thing, running in front of me,
stopping and then as I caught up, running a short distance again. This happened three times and it was really cool. I came upon a mother and
son who were running the trail, he had seen them, she didn't. By the time I was riding home, it started to sprinkle. Good timing !

I saw the two cut out roots that James was talking about and the missing downed tree on Buckshaver, too. Gotta put up some signs telling riders not to do that ! No dumbing down

[opjames]

I rode around for a couple laps on Saturday and did some trimming in the power line area on the East loop. Met Rich out in West loop fixing a couple spots.

The narrow ramped log crossing on the Lucky Dawg is getting really loose. The log it's crossing is rotten and crumbling. Also, found another root removed, this time on Lucky Dawg.

There is a lot of water bottle littering going on out there. Rich and I tried to get a few of them, but can only carry so many.

[mdswmich]

I have fun out there although I would improve a couple of things. It would be cool to have a map. I wonder if my GPS would track well enough to make a map? I think I'll try it soon. (mainly for new people, it's hard to explain where to go from the parking lot.)

Would be nice if the turns were smoother and more flow. There's a section to the west of the parking lot with a couple pump hills, that looks like it could be continued through the woods, that would be fun. Mini pump track.

The trail is really nice to have where it is and great work guys keeping it up!

[opjames]

I have fun out there although I would improve a couple of things. It would be cool to have a map. I wonder if my GPS would track well enough to make a map? I think I'll try it soon. (mainly for new people, it's hard to explain where to go from the parking lot.)

I posted this last week.

Here is a map of the loop that I normally ride. Should be around 5.74 miles in a clockwise direction.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=21 ... 6,0.005252

Would be nice if the turns were smoother and more flow.

SANTA_CRUZ engineered the trails to be tight and technical in some areas. The tight corners are purposefully there as a technical aspect. It's not a speedy trail and negotiating it requires you to hone your handling skills.

[ibisman]

Wow, who cut the roots out? I went as far as I could this morning (6 miles) before the knee pain cut it short. The trail was perfect...mostly dry...some nice tacky spots...no mud. I figured with very little climbing I could get some miles in...wrong. Anyway...the rain didn't mess things up, get out there and ride!

[opjames]

Bummer about your knee Ibisman.
Not sure who's been cutting the roots, but they've removed several now.
I rode it yesterday (HOT) and did a little cutting in Wetland loop. Like you said trail is in nice shape even after the rains. Managed to get some ticks on me from the little walking around that I did.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

[Jay22]

Can't people just leave stuff alone? If you can't handle a few roots, maybe you should stick to the gravel path. (Whoever it is that's doing it)

mdswmich wrote: I have fun out there although I would improve a couple of things. It would be cool to have a map. I wonder if my GPS would track well enough to make a map? I think I'll try it soon. (mainly for new people, it's hard to explain where to go from the parking lot.)

Honestly, the first time I went there, I looked at the map from this site and it was a bit inaccurate. I got there and just followed the path and the first spot I saw single track, I dove in. It took a couple of trips to get the lay of the land but you're not going to get lost. You'll think your lost, but your not really. You will pop out on the main path eventually, usually within five to fifteen minutes if your hustling along. What are you doing this weekend? I'll meet you out there and give you a tour if you haven't ridden all the way through yet. You free sunday morning/afternoon? Maybe we can get a bunch of us to head out. CRUZ, IBIS, opjames, (and anyone I missed) you in? We should all go riding.

I actually talked to SANTA_CRUZ about adding/slightly changing a few things here and there to increase the flow, but the more we talked about it, the more I realized that MT has a reputation for being more tight and technical. Also, I see dads back there with two or three little kids cruising the single track. If we made it too fast then they wouldn't be able to ride it. I'm a speed demon myself, I love fast trails and turns. I love berms, but I also like Morton Taylor because its different. I can go anywhere and go fast. I can take my kids to Morton Taylor and I can go by myself too. I can have a good time either way.

That trail was designed well. I am up for adding a little pump track area though, if we can find a spot to do it and we get permission. That would be fun.

[Jay22]

Wow, who cut the roots out? I went as far as I could this morning (6 miles) before the knee pain cut it short. The trail was perfect...mostly dry...some nice tacky spots...no mud. I figured with very little climbing I could get some miles in...wrong. Anyway...the rain didn't mess things up, get out there and ride!

We can just dose you up on morphine first, or a lot of beer. You won't feel a thing...

[ibisman]

Got some? The pain is over the top.