We're heading into another cool, wet weekend -- you know what that means: friendly reminder to turn back if you're leaving ruts, avoid riding while it's actively raining, and ride straight through puddles if you happen upon them.  All these practices help protect the trails we love and keep them in good shape for as long as possible.

Now, for the updates...

Changes since last week:
✅ Lake Placid networks (Lussi & Loggers, Craigwood/Scott's Cobble) have both graduated to green status.  They will still have seasonal wet spots and whatnot, but they are ready for riding.  Please note: BETA staff are working on a reroute of the climbing section of the Back Nine at Craigwood.  Starting on June 2nd and ending around June 16th, a mini excavator will be on-trail.  This may result in periodic closure of the trail which will be signed but will not be announced beforehand.  Stay on your toes for signs that Back Nine is closed while riding at Craigwood between June 2nd and June 16th.  Thank you!
✅ Flobus at Three Sisters is back open!

Things that have not changed since last week:
Keene, Etown, and Wilmington are all still green lights and will likely remain good to ride for the rest of the season unless we get a big weather event (aka lots and lots of rain over a short period of time).  Saranac Lake is still 2/3rds good to go with stubborn Dewey holding out as our last remaining red light network.  It is still soft and wet -- please continue to avoid that network for now.

As always, thanks for doing your part to protect our trails by visiting the ones that are ready for riding and being patient with the ones that need a bit more time.  If you notice any hazards or sections in need of some trail work, please enter it on Trailforks of comment below -- we appreciate your help.
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Happy riding everyone!

Friendly reminders for our recent wet and rainy spring weather:

1. Protect the trails by turning back if you're leaving inch-deep ruts.  The tread is soft and needs some time to dry out and harden up.
2. Walk or ride through wild puddles in the trail, not around them.  Going around puddles will make them larger, and larger puddles are bigger challenges to fix.
3. We all get caught riding out in the rain every now and then, but do your best to avoid riding while it's actively raining whenever possible.

Only one update to the conditions report from last week: The Cure at Mt. Pisgah went from yellow to green.  Thank you Chris for clearing the blowdown over the weekend!

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Keene, Etown, and Wilmington (minus Flobus) are all ready to ride.  Flobus was closed on Sunday the 18th and will remain closed until the 30th in order for us to improve the riding experience.  Machinery is on-trail so please respect the closure -- for your safety and ours.  

Lake Placid and Saranac Lake still have an assortment of conditions -- Fowlers and Mt. Pisgah in Saranac Lake are green, Lussi and Loggers in Lake Placid is yellow, and Dewy in Saranac Lake and Craigwood/Scott's Cobble in Lake Placid are red.  Those last two networks tend to need a lot of time to dry out and harden up due to their soil type.

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As always, thanks for doing your part in protecting our trails by visiting ones that are ready for riding and being patient with trails that aren't quite there yet. If you notice that a trail is in better or worse shape than we've reported, please leave a comment below. Our reports are only snapshots and getting the latest updates is always great.

Happy riding, everyone!

It's that time of the week again: trail conditions time.  Weekend riding is right around the corner.

Changes from last week include:
❌ Flobus will be fully closed starting Sunday, May 18th and will remain closed until Friday, May 30th due to construction. We'll be working on the lower section with machinery on-trail. Flobus will be marked as closed with signage and ribbons at both ends. Please respect the closure -- for your safety and ours.
⚠️The Cure at Mt. Pisgah went from red to yellow -- there's a bit of blowdown on The Cure that volunteers are tackling this weekend.  Thank you, volunteers!  Absolute rockstars.
​✅ The Flume graduated from yellow to green.

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No changes from last week to this week:
➡️ WILMINGTON -- At least, most of it.  Hardy Road and Three Sisters (except for Flobus) are still green.  Join us Saturday for a volunteer trail day at Hardy Road to help us tune up All In and some of the other crowd favorites in that system.  You'll also get to meet Scott, our new Trail Crew Member.  Register in advance: sign me up!

➡️ KEENE -- East Branch Community Trails (still green). EBCT was one of the first trail systems to open up this season, which is typical and thanks to its design, low maintenance demands, location, and sandy soil.

➡️ LAKE PLACID -- Craigwood/Scott's Cobble (still red) + Lussi & Loggers (still yellow). Lake Placid trails tend to need a bit more time than Wilmington, Etown, or Keene due to its clay/silt soil. In addition, Scott's Cobble is on the northside of a mountain so it is partially shielded from the sun. As a result, it can stay cool and wet for an impressive amount of time.

Trail improvements completed last season by Kyra and Dusty have made a HUGE difference at Craigwood/Scott's Cobble -- they hardened tread, cleared and improved drainage, cut switchbacks, capped wet spots, etc. All these updates will help the trails remain rideable throughout the season. Shoutout to the volunteers who also helped with those efforts.

➡️SARANAC LAKE -- Dewey (still red). Dewey is a bit famous for its stubbornness to dry in spring. It has beautiful, rich, moist soil which can be stellar for plants and critters, not so stellar for riders waiting for the trails to dry out. We'll keep you posted on when Dewey starts looking ready for riding.

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As always, thanks for doing your part in protecting our trails by visiting ones that are ready for riding and being patient with trails that aren't quite there yet. If you notice that a trail is in better or worse shape than we've reported, please leave a comment below. Our reports are only snapshots and getting the latest updates is always great.

Happy riding, everyone!

Conditions for trail networks are unchanged from last week. However, you may have noticed we've gotten quite a bit of rainfall. Continuous and sometimes heavy rainfall is expected across the region for the rest of Friday and well into Saturday, generally petering off Saturday night. That's a lot of water!

​Significant rainfall can saturate the soil, leaving our trails soft and susceptible to damage. Some trails (East Branch Community Trails, Hardy) may fair just fine thanks to their soils and construction while others will need more time to dry out afterwards. Please give them that time. The weather is slated to clear by Sunday.

As always, if you're leaving ruts in the tread please consider ending your ride. Turning back early is no fun at all, but damaging the trail is no fun either. Congratulate yourself on a wise and considerate choice with a tasty treat or juicy brew. You earned it.

Fill your newfound free time with friends, reflection, and refreshments -- we hope to see you at the Annual Meeting TOMORROW NIGHT, 5-8pm at LPCA. Megan is bringing a small surprise for attendees; you'll have to be there to witness it yourself.

Whether you stay dry and comfy or venture out into the cold, wet woods -- have a great weekend everyone!