Picnic is no longer underwater at all and is in good shape (not riding shape), it's mostly cleared with the exception of this blockage near the beginning on the easy line down before the Basket Drop.
We will get out again soon to clear this debris and also update when the trails are ready for wheels. Considering the current forecast, taking into account temps, cloudiness, and lack of more rain Deception will be good to ride Saturday afternoon, but definitely by Sunday morning.
What is it with people in Austin riding trails when they are wet? I rode D on Saturday night and last night. Picnic is good to go, but there are spots on D that are to be avoided. Even on Saturday it was possible to (delicately) ride 99% of the trail, but you have to GET OFF YOUR BIKE AND WALK IT on the other 1%. Unfortunately, by the enormous number of tire tracks and deep ruts in the mud, it is very clear that many users of Deception need basic lessons in trail use. I will be back out riding this trail today and I am telling you, it will be at LEAST another week with no rain before the areas where water pools or flows over the trail will be firm enough to ride.
ReplyDeleteIs there any way to get the word out about this?
There were moments there when I thought for sure I was on Walnut Creek and I was going to whip around the next bend and find a family with strollers and smoking cigarettes having a literal picnic in the middle of the singletrack...
I still advocate some signs. One big fat sign that says DO NOT RIDE THROUGH MUD. And how about "wear a helmet", and maybe "if it has training wheels, ride it on the BCRT paved area"... and GET OFFA MY LAWN :)
I know what you mean. I wish I could have gotten out to armor a few spots. Armoring a few of the lower areas goes a long way, it's worked well in Pre-Plunge and The Trap.
DeleteAs for the crowds - it has nothing to do with the recent status change of the trail, it's not like the general public reads the forums, facebook or the blog and the county hasn't publicized it. It just is, slowly but surely more ppl get on the trail - luckily it's staying tight and technical. As long as the trail doesn't get wide and easy I am fine with all user groups enjoying it, assuming they are not sanitizing and short cutting.
I'll see about adding trail head signage to warn ppl this is not a beginner trail and don't ride the wet spots.
I literally saw a guy out there with three kids, one of which was on a 16" bike with training wheels (about a 4 year old girl). Very same ride I nearly collided with some middle aged guy in a baseball cap, white socks and Reeboks on a Wal-Mart hybrid literally skidding sideways trying to stop. These beginners may insist this becomes a beginner trail, since beginners want to use it.
ReplyDeleteEven among the more experienced riders on the trail, I have yet to find someone yielding the trail to oncoming riders. I ride this trail as an out-and-back so I go both directions and it seems nobody bothers to consider the possibility of bidirectional trail traffic,
I agree it all started long before it became "public". We need to be willing to remind people: control your bike, yield trail to climbing riders, don't ride through water or mud, and this trail can be dangerous even to experienced riders.
In other news, this trail completely rocks at night. But it pays to have ridden it in the daylight since many of those drops have only one really rideable line and you totally can't see it in the dark.