Schaeffer Farms?

[pete]

Sounds like all the other trrails are looking good. Anybody been to Schaffer this week? How is it? Plan on being there Sat for the first time in months. THanks

[markie@unformat]

I went there Tuesday afternoon and the trails were fast and dry. It has not rained since then so I imagine it will be a dust bowl by now. :D

[DKBike]

Just got back. Trails are in good shape. Some puddles in low lying areas but generally, great biking. :D

[pete]

Sweet, thanks.

[montyw2]

anyone been out there since Jeanne blew through? Think it's dried out enough to ride yet?

[Dirt]

I was out last weekend and the trails were pretty close to perfect.

I'm looking forward to even better trails this weekend.

Peter

[Dirt]

MORE mowed out at Schaeffer and it made a huge difference on the red trail. That place has been overgrown because people haven't been riding it much. That is a real shame. You definitely should get out and ride the red trail the next time you ride at Schaeffer. There are 2 great creek crossings, some great climbs and a little more technical challenge than some of the areas you'll find out there. That shouldn't scare away the newer riders from that trail. It definitely is a great place to practice your skills.

For photos of Schaeffer and the red trail, click HERE (http://myroadtrips.peterbeers.net/mbrt/Sheaffer_Farms_10-09-04/Schaeffer-10-09-04.htm).

Good luck.

Peter

[Muddy1]

Great pics, Peter! I love the "chain growth" on the Heckler when Jason's landing :)

Chance, congrats on the nice shiny new bike! :cool: I hope you're enjoying it!

[crashmore]

Schaefer was in pretty damn fine shape this morning despite the rain we had this week. I did the Yellow minus the fields and the white early this morning and with the exception of a few puddles in the normal spots the trails were good to go. I'm going to probaly hit them again tomorow if anyone's interested in a ride.

[IFBikeMD]

This morning, the MORE trail work team walked most of the trails and created better drainage for almost all the standing puddles. It was a fine work day. Hope everyone enjoys the enhancements.

- James

[chunk]

does anyone know if schaeffer farm will be open and ridable tomorrow? thanks.

[saba]

Very muddy around the corn fields, otherwise everything was good

[chunk]

i think today was the day to ride schaeffer. conditions were excellent for MyOtherBrotherL, camp and myself. The only muddy spot was at the far end of the yellow trail.

we'll have to see what happens with the rain tonight.

[markie@unformat]

Anyone ridden Shaeffer this past week? I was thinking of going tomorrow....

Does it really close for the Winter months?

[DKEG]

I was at schaeffer on wednesday, Overall it is fine. The wooded area's are good, the fields (on the white trail) were a little wet still, only in one spot. They maybe O.K. by now. The fields on the yellow trail will be the only area's you may need to avoid. As I said before If you are in the woods it is fine. Ride on!

[markie@unformat]

Cool, thanks for the reply.

I was there this morning. The trails were totally frozen. My car themometer said 26°F.... The trails are real quick and nice like that. I had a blast.

[hophead]

Rode the White trail and part of the yellow today. Everything in the woods is good and firm--either dry or frozen. The trails that run through fields are soft and muddy and should be avoided.

There are several fallen trees most of which can be easily crossed. There is one about a half mile beyond the White/Yellow trail split, if you are riding from the trail head, going downhill along the side of a ridge that you'll have to carry your bike around to continue on.

[HeadSet]

Rode all trails at Shaeffer yesterday...Tuesday...
Everything in the woods is good and I expect it will be good even with the warm up at the end of the week
The field areas are going to be a bit of a slop fest later this week. One other thing, the farmer was out yesterday in his robo tractor putting down lime on the corn field, gives the area a weird "white" coating so don't be alarmed

[DAL216]

I rode on wednesday and it was awesome. Fast and dry.

Massive massive difference today. The mud was deep, thick and everywhere. I would seriously consider avoiding Shaeffer until it freezes up again.

[mtnbkr]

Any luck on opening shaeffer again? I obviously haven't been out there, but have to assume it's frozen since everything is completely frozen now. What do you all think?

[hophead]

Any luck on opening shaeffer again? I obviously haven't been out there, but have to assume it's frozen since everything is completely frozen now. What do you all think?
Don't know about Schaeffer, but with the exception of the new Hoyles Mill connector, Black Hills is still open . I rode it yesterday. Everything was either dry or frozen.

[DKEG]

Any luck on opening shaeffer again? I obviously haven't been out there, but have to assume it's frozen since everything is completely frozen now. What do you all think?

I am going to check it out this afternoon, I will let you know

[hophead]

According to the hotline (301-924-1998) Schaeffer is still closed.

[briantams]

Trail Conditions??

[piperj]

I haven't been out there to see what the trails are like, but acccording to the message on the Schaeffer Farms Trail Info Hotline, the trails are open for use as of March 17th, 2005. :)

The hotline number is (301) 924-1998.

[kev0153]

Any updates? Would like to hit maybe Tuesday 4/5

[thenewkid]

I was thinking about heading out to schaeffer tues. or wed. I know it rained alot on saturday. I haven't ridden out there before so I don't know how fast it dries out. Any advice would be appreciated, or if someone has actually been out there to check that would be even better. The hotline said it was open but I have no idea if they update it for individual rain events. Just looking for a good after work ride to celebrate the extra hour of daylight.

[markie]

With 10 inches of rain in the last 10 days I should think Shaeffer would have some seriously bad mud spots. Personally, I would avoid it until at least the weekend.

[kev0153]

Except it is supposed to rain this weekend :mad:

[markie]

Yeah I know. I am frustrated too. I have new forks and stuff to play with and I am more than keen to hit the trail. Still I am pretty sure places that retain water like Patapsco and Shaffer would be bad places to ride.

Think about getting to the Gambrills, I am.

[kev0153]

Gambrills is too far for an after work ride. Maybe Fountainhead will be open.

[jfoley]

schaeffer can take a long time to dry because the soil drains pretty slowly... if the gate has been open, which it sounds like it has, then it's probably really bad right now because of the *******es who've been out riding when they shouldn't

I was thinking about heading out to schaeffer tues. or wed. I know it rained alot on saturday. I haven't ridden out there before so I don't know how fast it dries out. Any advice would be appreciated, or if someone has actually been out there to check that would be even better. The hotline said it was open but I have no idea if they update it for individual rain events. Just looking for a good after work ride to celebrate the extra hour of daylight.

[punga]

schaeffer can take a long time to dry because the soil drains pretty slowly... if the gate has been open, which it sounds like it has, then it's probably really bad right now because of the *******es who've been out riding when they shouldn't

I rode for an hour late yesterday (4.5.05) doing the white loop. Everything was dry, the exception being muddy area around the 1st stream crossing (going clockwise), but that area is always sloppy. No packed mud on my bike and no nasty tire tracks in the soil. I heard reports at the trailhead that things were a bit sloppy on the yellow out near the tower, but I didn't have time to go out that far. Today's 70+ weather can only help, go ride! :D

[DAL216]

Anyone been out in the part of the yellow by the cornfields and around the cell tower? Was pretty messy out there last week so I have been avoiding that section.

[kev0153]

Out there last Sunday 4/10. It was messy, we walked around the worst of it.

[cowboy00242]

Out there last Sunday 4/10. It was messy, we walked around the worst of it.

Yeah, very bad on Sunday by the cell tower. The cornfields also have some issues in the usual spots. Other than those two areas, really... very, very nice. Go ride! :D

[DAL216]

Checked it out yesterday. There is one mudhole out by the cornfields, and the curve by the cell tower is getting better. A huge improvement from last week but there is still those two spots where i walked. Everything else is outstanding.

[AVee]

Rode the entire yellow and blue today. Excellent dry and even dusty in some parts. Even out back near the Radio Tower is dry - more dry then even in summer. Trails were packed and fast. The only blip is there is a tree hanging accross the white trail where you ride back up hill to the parking lot when riding the trail clockwise. Overall the place is cooking.

[Dirt]

Jason Rode Schaeffer yesterday afternoon and said that it was in pretty good shape.

Pete

[cowboy00242]

Rode Schaeffer yesterday evening, and overall in great shape! Cell tower area surprisingly dry, a few small mudholes in typical places. Good to ride! Should be even better today! :cool:

[jed]

Maybe this is not the place for this post, but I was wondering if someone could tell me how to get to the Hoyles Mill connector from Schaeffers? I'd like to check it out the next time I'm out there.

[tt_tyler]

Maybe this is not the place for this post, but I was wondering if someone could tell me how to get to the Hoyles Mill connector from Schaeffers? I'd like to check it out the next time I'm out there.

I was wondering about this also. I am heading out there soon and was hoping to check out where the new trail goes off from Schaeffer.

[Squirrel Girl]

You know where the drive turns off from Schaeffer road and ends at the parking area? Well, park along that road (or in the lot), and backtrack on your bike to the intersection there at Schaeffer Rd. Just cross across to the west side of Schaeffer Road and the trail is right there. It takes a turn to the right and parallels Schaeffer Road going north, just on the other side of the trees, then the trail veers back to the left and into the countryside skirting the South Germantown Soccor Park.

[davemagill]

Hoyles Mill is not yet marked and has 7 places you can get lost. but since it is an out and back, so what if you make it all the way!

From Schaeffer
1. Ride out the trailhead gravel, road, cross Schaeffer Road and the trail begins in the grassy field, with a quick right turn
2. After about a half mile, you daylight near the big indoor soccer building in the Soccerplex. Ride toward and past the building toward the woods behind it, and find the next entrance into the woods at near the power lines. Go about a mile and a half
3. When the singletrack ends, turn left on the gravel road. You go about a mile and cross a major stream.
4. At the end of the gravel road, enter the gravel parking lot for Hoyles Mill on the right and pick up the singletrack again.
5. At the end of the singletrack through the field, go straight onto route 121, under the railroad bridge. Go about 1/4 mile, and cross the bridge over the lake
6. About 100-200 yards after you cross the bridge, pick up the singletrack on the right.
7. Turn right at the end of the singletrack, and follow the gravel road to the Black Hills trail system, about a half mile.

[TMayhew]

Anyone in the Schaeffer Farms area that can report on rain? The weather maps looked like the whole area got some showers. Do you think a ride tomorrow morning could happen?

thnx