conditions??

[sueper]

Has anyone ridden Wakefield recently (today/yesterday??) Thinking about making a trip there on Saturday if it's in good shape...

[jago61]

was about to try Wakefield yesterday (Saturday) ~9a, but the first creek crossing (behind the ball fields out of the first parking lots) was very sloppy, so I figured most of the flats would be a mess, and I headed over to Accotink instead. trails were mostly ok, but definitely some soft/slick/muddy spots, esp. on the western extreme (near the gas lines??).

[g_barr]

I rode the following trails between 15:00 and 18:00 hours on Sunday:

Ac - CCT, no problems
Ac - westernmost singletrack from the dam to the WWTP road, good
WF - The Bowl (HIGHER trails), good
WF - Creek Trails (full distance), good
WF - Phase I, good
WF - Phase II (whoops, center powerline trail), fair
WF - Phase III (switchbacks), good +
WF - CCT, good

I'd rate them better except for the many small areas which are still wet but not really muddy. I actually got off and walked many areas because of the rutting. The stream crossings were higher but not especially more muddy. I stayed off of everything closest to 495 and the lower bowl trails (typically the wettest).

BUT, we're supposed to get rain tonight. I'd bet if WF-Ac got an hour of steady rain, the whole network will be a complete mess on Monday. If we get the rain that's forecasted, think about a road ride.

[Squirrel Girl]

Less than a 1/10 of an inch of rain! Warm temps, high winds. Whew, this past front that went through won't kill our opportunities to ride!

http://www.deepcaves.net/smilies/jump.gif

[walsh]

I rode the following trails between 15:00 and 18:00 hours on Sunday:

Interesting - I hiked Wakefield during that same window of time yesterday, for want of anything better to do. The bowl, Phase I and Phase III were fair, but I wouldn't call Phase II anything short of a disaster. There was standing water in the whoops, and severe rutting outside the witdth of the trail where riders had avioded the worst areas.

[g_barr]

Interesting - I hiked Wakefield during that same window of time yesterday, for want of anything better to do. The bowl, Phase I and Phase III were fair, but I wouldn't call Phase II anything short of a disaster. There was standing water in the whoops, and severe rutting outside the witdth of the trail where riders had avioded the worst areas.
That is interesting. I rode through the whoops the latest and I didn't go through standing water. The only reason why I was in Phase II under the powerlines at all is because I found a 5-gallon bucket and was picking up trash - I needed a less technical route so I wouldn't crash. But I did walk from the center trail to the westernmost trail because of the mess.

I would have given a fair rating for everything except all the firm stuff was pleasantly sticky and not rutting. Except where there was standing water, the ruts were holding shape (like you could turn a bowl on a potter's wheel). I also noticed a lot of damage from walkers/riders skirting the wet spots:(.

But after this afternoon's rain, I think even Accotink will be bad on Tuesday.

[jago61]

conditions yesterday (3/1) late afternoon were pretty good, the wind goddess did nice work -- no standing water, no slick/greasy spots, just a few soft areas (creek crossings, switchbacks and whoops).

[Trailcreep]

probably the worst spot is the low spots in the whoops or rollers at wakefield - there is the old upper trail you can use to avoid the rollers and get back into phase I or just or just stay near 495 and go over the top and down the berms. We're planning or moving some gravel into those low spots next saturday during the workday.... Accotink should be good so ride there first and let wakefield dry until later in the day.

[CountZero]

As of today, the exposed trails, especially those with poor natural drainage, are in bad shape.

The torrential rains of two days past did some real damage.

[Cinlind]

or should I just go boating?

[jabberwocky]

I haven't been there, but I'll bet anything Wakefield and Accotink are in great shape (as long as it doesn't start raining). We got almost no precipitation yesterday (or in the past 10 days) and its been warm and windy.

Go for it and enjoy.

[g_barr]

or should I just go boating?
According to the other Chris in the "THE" Thursday Night Wakefield Rides Thread (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10651&page=4), Wakefield was in great shape last night. I went through some sprinkles at 495 and 50 at 2:00 p.m. but not enough to wet anything.

There's a steady breeze on the Potomac around Roosevelt Island right now.

[blacknell]

Just back from Wakefield an hour ago. Phase IV, Salamander, and Phase I are all good. Didn't check out the powerlines because I ended up spending an hour looking for a lost Cateye (that I never did find). Lots of folks out there today.

[coppiracer]

Beautiful conditions Saturday morning

[harpo]

I was there Saturday afternoon and conditions were great. BTW, the new sections of trail (phase IV?) are beautiful. Some of the rocks are *sharp* though :-)

[Jim D]

Anyone know if Wakey will be OK to ride tomorrow AM? Too wet? thanks

[MyOtherBrotherL]

Wakey was quite nice at around 5:00 PM this evening. Provided it doesn't rain tomorrow it should be even nicer.........

[macdaid]

Any word on conditions
since Thursday's deluge?

Think it'll be ok Sunday, 4.6.08?

Got two teenagers hankering to ride, and it's getting harder to put them off.:eek:

Thanks,

Dave

[Squirrel Girl]

Any word on conditions
since Thursday's deluge?

Think it'll be ok Sunday, 4.6.08?

Got two teenagers hankering to ride, and it's getting harder to put them off.:eek:

Thanks,

DaveDave, you do know that that's the day of the Cyclefest at WF, dontcha? That may or may not make you more inclined to bring your kids. But there's a race for part of the morn, and ya just need to plan.

http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10950&highlight=cyclefest

[harpo]

I was just there, and the trails were mostly OK. Couple of wet spots on phase IV, and a couple of puddles in the woods under the powerlines. The race will probably do some damage though.

Off the trails it is very muddy.

[bkjoe]

hey Larry -

nice job on the rain dance you must have done to keep the rains away today!
you'll have to show me that sometime...

bk