don't hurt the dirt

[bigmclargehuge]

I know you aren't supposed to ride trails when they are wet and muddy on account of increased trail wear and damage, but I like the mud ;). So, what trails are you allowed to ride when it's raining, muddy, etc? I'm tired of riding the dirt bike and atv trails around where I live and want to ride a legit mountain bike trail.

Robert Gillette

[chunk]

Riding in the rain and mud isn't just bad for the trails, it's also bad for your bike. Water, dirt, and grit work their way into seals and speed up wear and tear.

But if you really want to ride in the rain, stick to places with a lot of rock like the GWNF, Grambrill, or the Frederick Watershed and avoid stream valley trails.

[bigmclargehuge]

hmm...I guess I'm the only one who likes to bike in the rain and mud. Thanks for the info chunk,

Robert Gillette

[vonEck]

Riding in the mud's one of those guilty pleasures we mostly have to swear off in the interest of keeping the trails open. Back in my crazed youth I used to love a good ride through the bog myself, but I learned that it's not worth destroying the trails. Chunk's right. Some of the GW and Gambrill trails are well armored with rock and can take it. If you do come across puddles or mud, remember to ride or walk straight through so you avoid widening the trail. Closer in trails, like Wakefield, Shaeffer, Fountainhead, or Patapsco, should definitely be avoided while wet.

[bigmclargehuge]

I'm not evil...really I'm not. I guess I'm just young :D . I know you can't ride trails like Fountainhead and Shaeffer when they're wet.
One strange thing though, I was at FH last thursday evening (Oct. 17) when it was raining and had been raining for a couple of days, and the trail was open.
No one was riding or even around. I was just hanging out reading in between classes. The gate at the trailhead was open and the sign in the park said it was open too. Did they just forget to close the trail or was it open?

Robert Gillette

[Widebody Driver]

The Staff at Fountainhead makes the call regarding trail closures at Fountainhead.

They have a rain guage that they use and have some loose rules about how much rain in what period of time requires closure. Monitoring rainfall and making the decision to close the trail is on their "list of things to do"...so are lots of other things.

IMHO, sometimes they're right on top of the closure (changing the signs and updating the recording); sometimes they're busy with other issues.

Please, only ride the trail when it's open. If you happen to be around the trailhead sometime when, in your opinion, the trail is posted open, but, should be closed...either go down to the marina and talk to the Ranger...or give your friendly Fountainhead Liaison a call...

That would be me:
Stu Moulton
StuMoulton@aol.com
(703) 569-8977 (home)
(703) 628-3440 (cell)