|   another trail closed to bikers at Patapsco | Jeff Rage
Nov 9, 2002 2:45 PM | | Today I was going to show someone the Charcoal trail over in the Hilton area of Patapsco. However, a new sign was just put at the entrance, showing that it is off limits to bikers. If you don't know which one is the Charcaol, it's the one that has a steep section with 3 drop-offs in an open field area (we rode it on the "MD riders unite" ride.) It's one of the most challenging sections of Patapsco. Even with my amazing biking skills, I have only made it down it once. The only reason I can think that they don't want bikers on this section is because of that section. The rest of the trail is much easier, and there's no erosion problems. It is really sad that they have been closing off so many trails at Patapsco.
Here's an idea - they should mark trails like they do ski resorts: green circle for beginner, blue square for intermediate, black diamond for expert. |
| That hurts, but... | Bikebreath
Nov 9, 2002 3:56 PM | | ...there is good attention by the rangers at Patapsco and they do a lot of trail maintenance keeping trails in decent shape. They would only close a trail [IMHO] if it was suffering from bad erosion. Don't worry, there is lots to ride in Patapsco and in this area.
But,
I can't picture where you mean. I'm not sure I know the Charcoal trail, and I thought I knew the Hilton area. [I thought the trails there were the Red and Yellow.] To me the Hilton area is west of Hilton Ave. and I can't think of any "open area".
Bb, [ getting ready to do some Gunpowder rides now that the briars are going to winter mode. ] |
| put on your thinking cap | Jeff Rage
Nov 10, 2002 1:41 PM | | Ok, let me try to decribe this to you. Frist of all, imagine the river as a line, and another line extending from the swinging bridge in both directions making 4 areas (this is just approximate.) The upper left is the Hilton area, the upper right is the Glen Artney area, the lower left is the Orange Grove area, and the lower right is the Avalon area. (It's funny, many people refer to all of these areas as "Avalon.")
In the Hilton area, there is a big "tire playground". There is a trail close to there that starts with a few steps. This area is real rocky. At the first fork, you keep right (the other trail heads to an open area). You go down a rocky hill from here. The bottom of the trial is almost unridable. Most people seem to walk at this point. There a few man made planks to walk across. Next you start going back uphill, with a left turn. Then you have a sharp turn to the right. Right at this turn is the entrance to the Chorcoal trail on the left side, complete with a new sign, closing it to bikers.
I don't have the Charcoal trail memorized, but at one point you go out of hte woods into a field, and it goes downhill. There are three dop-ofs in this section, each about 2 - 3 feet. At the bottom is a small creek and the trail T's.
Ok, do you know where this is?
Bikebreath, trying to remember who you are. Did I met you by the waterfall the one day, or did you ride the "MD riders unite" bike ride, which started at the Park & Ride? Have fun riding with the YAMBA people today? |
| Strappin' it on like a helmet! | Bikebreath
Nov 11, 2002 7:24 AM | | I know the Hilton area and the tire playground, the rocky downhill and I have ridden both planks consecutively during a ride with a witness, [who can be brought forth if you present an affidavit]. I know the left you mentioned, but didn't know the name of the trail, nor have I ever been on it. I thought it might have gotten closed because it was an unofficial trail, so I did a google search and found it here. Looks like it was offical.
Thanks for waking, [riding] me through it so I could know where you mean.
Bb, [ I cain't miss somethin' I never had. ] |
| Saw that last week... | Xander
Nov 10, 2002 5:47 PM | | Yeah, I know which section you're talking about and it is a shame that it is closed to bikers. Hasn't it been for a while? I know the sign has been there a while, but I don't recall when the "no bikes" was added. The downhill you mention is a lot of fun, but it is also eroding pretty badly, in my opinion. That hill is probably the reason it's now closed.
Funny, after I read the subject of your message, I thought you were going to mention the section of trail north of the swinging bridge, which is now closed in order to be paved. Looks like they're building a freakin' 2 lane road back there.
I think they're paving all the way to Illchester road. Maybe further? In any event, it looks like all that fun rocky, kinda twisty pipeline section parelleling the river might be all gone in a few short months. If so (anybody know for sure?) it's very sad.
Guess it'll be nice for the more casual rider to go see the dam though.
Kevin |
| Yep. | Bikebreath
Nov 11, 2002 7:45 AM | | They are extending the Grist Mill Trail up to Illchester. I liked that section down there between the dam and the swinging bridge. Oh well, Mom told me to share with others, so I guess I have too.
Bb, [ Are there other users of the park besides mtb's? ] |
| drainpipeaphobia | Jeff Rage
Nov 11, 2002 8:39 AM | | We always used to ride both sections of the drain pipe, even though there's a trail to bypass the one section. One day we were going down the section closer to the dam, and some people were comming from the other direction. So the guy in front of me stopped, and of course I had to stop, too. Well, I was sorta knew to clipless at this point, so I couldn't just stop. I ended up grabbing a vine that was off to the right. There was a good five feet to the ground from where I was. My bike was clipped in to my right foot only, dangling below me. Luckily, I managed to lower myself down.
Needless to say, we always take the trail that runs by this section, and I have developed a slight fear of riding on drain pipes. |
| re: another trail closed to bikers at Patapsco | Single Speed Outlaw
Nov 12, 2002 7:21 AM | | Actually, that trail has been "officailly" closed for a while. It's marked as such on the topo map the park has been putting out. That particular section just hasn't been posted and since you just use a short section of it to reconnect w/ the yellow trail I've considered it fair game.
The strange thing about Patapsco and the few trails that are closed is they are generally ones that are NOT suffering from much use or errosion. Go figure. I've been riding there for over 10 years, so I've seen the changes and these are not the problem areas. |
| re: another trail closed to bikers at Patapsco | Trail Builder
Nov 12, 2002 10:43 AM | | If anyone has problems with what is going on at Patapsco (Hollofield, Avalon, Glen Artney or Orange) feel free to shoot me a line. Better yet, get off of your ass and come to a trail maintenance day. Nov 24th, Patapsco, meet at Avalon pavilions, 9:30am. I'm the lightning rod for riding in the park. If you got questions, I probably got the answers. Want to know which trail gets closed next? I know.
Some of the trails near the trail heads (very few) are closed to mtbs for hikers only. We have about 35 miles of trails out there to ride on so don't complain about the few we can't ride on. It's not like they enforce it. Hell, they even keep the 'unmaintained' (read: illegal) trails open. They don't work on them but they don't close them.
If you want to hear about a horror story, get up with some people in Marin. I used to live near there and some other Mid Pen Open Space places and THAT is a nightmare. We have it REALLY good.
Save your electrons and come to the trailwork day. Info at any of the Bike Drs, East of Maui in Annap, www.mambomaryland.org or www.more-mtb.org.
I'm the guy on the Phil Singlespeed (there are 3 in MD) or on the Rocky Mountain pulling the chainsaw in a BOB trailer (only 1). |
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