Quarry Ridge - Current Trail Conditions

[diggidy]

Trails are perfect.

[blackbike]

Trails are perfect.

Except if you ride fast be ready for a mud pit at the basin of the swoop-in (stay tight to the right), and on the second left turn berm on the downhill. 
That second berm is taking some erosion.  Other than those two spots it's totally dry out there, not even tacky.

[DaveHill]

weeds?

[blackbike]

Weeds tall in the entrance field, not too bad everywhere else.  And trees.  Trees all over the frickin' place. 

[quattro]

Did a few laps last night, the dirt is perfect except for the soft spots mentioned earlier.  The weather yesterday evening was fantastic but I only saw two other riders for the hour I was out there, how is that possible?

[diggidy]

I was out there earlier in the day. Until my front tire popped off the rim and I got thrown into the concrete slab at full speed. Crashed so hard it moved my stem 90 degrees!

[blackbike]

I was out there earlier in the day. Until my front tire popped off the rim and I got thrown into the concrete slab at full speed. Crashed so hard it moved my stem 90 degrees!

You weren't ridin' wheels with them dangerous I9's in the middle were ya? 

Sorry, ahem, back to trail conditions...

[diggidy]

Hahahahahaha. That was good.

[tominatr]

very dry but fine. My bro and I finished the end of the big sister line and added a little to the jump at the bottom so watch out

[QueLastima]

Did 4 or 5 laps in the dark tonight.  Trail was in pretty good shape, some isolated wet spots, including slippery corners.  Very rideable, but the bike and I got a little muddy.

[DaveHill]

Ok, last Quarry Ridge update was July 8.  Who was out there Sunday afternoon?  Better yet, a lunch report today would be ideal.  Post up lazy punks!

[CollinHagen]

Somebody was spinning laps this morning, saw the car in the parking lot.  Gotta be dry by now right?

[DaveHill]

I would think, but I haven't been to Quarry Ridge in at least a month, wonder if its a jungle.  Collin, have you been riding much?  We should get out and hammer some laps together, CR or Kettles sometime soon. 

[CollinHagen]

Sounds good.

[blackbike]

I'm going to try to squeeze a few laps in either at lunchtime or towards the end of the day, I'll let you guys know what I find.

[blackbike]

A few mudholes leading up to the first climb, in the basin of the swoop-in, and by the last mini-berm on the main loop downhill, but other than that everything is totally rideable, tacky, not even greasy.  By tomorrow I'd expect people could start riding over the mudholes and smoothing the tire ruts in them back out.

The first climb section leading up to the sandy climb area appears to have washed out right down the middle in the rain, I would say it's back to being technically challenging now - took me four tries to find a line to crank the singlespeed up it successfully.

The low-ish tree down that's been hanging over the straightaway for awhile seems much lower now, I was ducking and I'm a short guy.

[GT Fatty]

Went out last night.  Two very little spots with water, otherwise perfect.  The first climb is washed out down the middle, very challenging.  It seems the lower part on the big climb is full of round rocks making that harder and then the upper part it seems the dirt was washed away so the sharper rocks are bigger (hitting feet and pedals on them.)  Everything else is delightfully tacky and super fun!  Lots of growth but none affects the riding line at all.  I didn't do any of the big-boy stuff though so I can't vouch for that but conditions are prime for knocking out XC laps. 

[Deathbringer?]

How abt the bridges? I replaced one of the two small bridges on Thursday, but the large one was deep in the muck like lukes x wing on dagobah.

[N.T.C]

How abt the bridges? I replaced one of the two small bridges on Thursday, but the large one was deep in the muck like lukes x wing on dagobah.

"Use the force."

[CollinHagen]

Few wets spots on trail after descent of ST and some water near the 2nd berm on the ST.  Trail in great shape otherwise.

[DaveHill]

yeah, that 2nd berm holds water for a long time after a rain, and it looks like both berms are deteriorating.  how bout that short climb before the sandy climb, nice rut down the middle, not sure what we can do there?

[CollinHagen]

Yeah, that first climb is completely washed out down the middle of the trail.  Maybe a switchback?

[blackbike]

You guys may be surprised but that climb is already in much better shape than it was a week ago.  Between riders, a little rain, and maybe a little dirt someone threw on some new lines are starting to take shape and it seems it's starting to heal itself in the way that trails do.  Some more riding and I think it will be fine for now - after all some of us were complaining earlier this year that it had become less technical.

In looking at it some more today, I think for big rains we may have created this problem ourselves with the re-route (which I really like so don't get me wrong) because it looks like much of the the rainwater from the whole sandy climb would want to run straight down this way now.  Collin is probably on to something with the switchback idea.

Trail was great today but I'm surprised how moist it's all staying right now.

[bmmullen]

I bench cut the high side of the washout to form a rideable (though temporary) line early last week.

The open area by the 3 sisters has always drained toward the first climb and has eroded the trail quite a bit over the years. There is a grade reversal between the first climb and where reroute starts, so I don't think we've caused water flow down the trail and into the climb. During the IMBA visit a couple years back we used inclinometers to evaluate that climb and due to the steep grade and sandy soil composition, they predicted that it would need to be overhauled in 2-3 years. I have a couple ideas for temporary erosion control, but we'll almost certainly be cutting a new line up that hill next spring.

If anyone wants to lend a hand with any sort of small patch up project, let me know what you think is a problem area and we can make it happen.

[imwjl]

I bench cut the high side of the washout to form a rideable (though temporary) line early last week.

The open area by the 3 sisters has always drained toward the first climb and has eroded the trail quite a bit over the years. There is a grade reversal between the first climb and where reroute starts, so I don't think we've caused water flow down the trail and into the climb. During the IMBA visit a couple years back we used inclinometers to evaluate that climb and due to the steep grade and sandy soil composition, they predicted that it would need to be overhauled in 2-3 years. I have a couple ideas for temporary erosion control, but we'll almost certainly be cutting a new line up that hill next spring.

If anyone wants to lend a hand with any sort of small patch up project, let me know what you think is a problem area and we can make it happen.

Yeah, a patch up as you put it might have to happen, but maybe a re-think, different direction, and building a platform for turn and berm might be the answer for getting to the top and get you a fix that won't need attention for a long time.

Do you think we need patch up this year or could plan for a permanent fix in the spring work days?

The place was a quarry and I've learned that the cities buy rock on the cheap so the materials might not be so difficult. When I last walked it with clinometer at spring work day I saw no easy way to get in a better slope or fall line situation.

Please give a shout when you know you'll be out there and I'll try to meet. It's also good to scout in winter and re-trace what looks like it will work when things are melting.

Thanks.

[Daz]

The IMBA Trail Care Crew was also suggesting to leave the climb and armor it.  It would be a chore but could be cool to ride up if done right.  I've just got back from British Columbia and saw a lot of armoring on their trails that get lots of rain.  There is tons of rock up in the sandy section...just a pain to get out and down.  Anyone have a quad with the ability to load stuff on it?

[diggidy]

I have a quad that I could lend to the cause, just tell me when.