Winter is coming whether you're hoping and praying for its speedy arrival or dreading the snow to your very core. Nighttime temps are dropping. As we approach the time of year when trails are at their most vulnerable (scroll for a video from IMBA that explains why freeze/thaw makes trails vulnerable), please pay attention to and respect trail reports and temporary closures. Use your powerful noggin to make the best choices you can about when and where to ride. A wise man once said you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run. If you're leaving ruts in the trail it's probably time to walk away, at least. Running is optional. Responsible trail use involves being mindful of our environmental impact and helping to maintain the quality of the trails for all users. Thank you!
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Autumnal showers are well-upon us. Due to the hard work of many, many volunteers, staff, and contractors with incredible knowledge and skill along with a stint of pretty dry weather, our trails have been rideable for a long, long time -- thanks everyone for making that happen.
Trails are in generally good condition right now across our region but rain was heavy in a few localized spots so if you're leaving ruts in the mud, it's time to turn back. In most places though you'll find hero dirt and great riding, particularly this weekend with dry weather returning! Systems to avoid for the next day or so: Fowler's Crossing (esp. Oseetah View Loop), and Dewey Mtn. Systems that tend to fair the best after rain (but still note if you're leaving ruts): Hardy Road, East Branch Community Trails, and Three Sisters. We got a bit of rain, so you know what that means: give the trails a bit of time to dry out before visiting.
If you're leaving ruts in the mud because the soils are too soft, it's time to turn back. Please protect our trails by respecting what they can handle. It's green lights across the BETA trails at this point. Of course you should always ride in control and be prepared for changeable conditions ... but get out and ride!
This will end regular updates but we'll post here if conditions change and trails have to close for any reason. More greens every week!
WILMINGTON is generally looking great. Flume Trails and Upper PMD have both improved since last week. Keep your wits about you on Upper PMD as it still has some trouble spots. LAKE PLACID has a lot going on, huh? 🤠 Craig Wood is looking great EXCEPT for Green and Gold Jacket which are CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE. Backslope Trail Builders has been hard at work getting these jump trails tuned up for the season. Please respect that work and leave them in peace. 🤠 Scotts Cobble is yellow in part because Peduzzi Trails is doing maintenance at the intersection of Cobblewood Connector and Air & Stone. Keep an eye out for trail closure signs -- there is heavy equipment out and about. It is still advised to enter Scotts Cobble via the Jackrabbit. 🤠 Lussi and Loggers are unbothered and ready to ride 😎 KEENE, ETOWN, and SARANAC LAKE are all green all day (...for now)! Check out Dewey, which has finally graduated from red to green this week -- pay special attention to the brand new (and not *quite* finished) trail connections between Operation and Backgammon/Alternate-Backgammon. Staff and volunteers dug new tread there on Saturday. These reroutes are designed to help make Dewey easier to navigate + make the trails flow together a bit better. Have an awesome weekend! See you on the trails 😎 Thanks to the hard work of BETA staff, trail adopters and volunteers, all networks are shaping up beautifully. It's still Spring - you should still expect to come across occasional wet spots and perpetually troublesome soft sections, especially after the rain we've gotten this week. And although the trails are riding well, there is plenty of work to be done. If you want to get in on the chance to give back to our trails, join us THIS WEEKEND at Dewey (Saturday, May 18th, 9am) or Hardy Road (Sunday, May 19th, 9am). SIGN ME UP!
Please remember, this report is just a snapshot and conditions can change. Please let us know if you come across a trail that's not ready for traffic due to soft soils, down trees, or other hazards. Gentle reminder to please reconsider your ride if you're leaving ruts. No one wants to turn back early, but no one wants to damage trails, either. Lake Placid ➡️ All of Scotts Cobble (including Blue Ribbon and Cobblewood Connector) is CLOSED -- not only are the trails wet (including a significant amount of ice, somehow???), but BETA staff and @peduzzitrails are working together in an effort to harden the network. The Jack Rabbit entrance off of River Road is the recommended access point to Craig Wood while Cobblewood Connector is closed. Craig Wood is still a bit wet, but mostly rideable EXCEPT for Green Jacket and Gold Jacket. Our friends at @backslopetrails have been doing Spring maintenance on those trails to keep them in tip-top shape. Please avoid Green and Gold Jacket so Back Slope can focus on their work 🤝 Lussi and Loggers are good to go. Wilmington ➡️ Gulo Gulo, Bear Claw, and other Flume Trails are dicey -- turn back if necessary. Upper PMD is still completely closed. Hardy Road and Three Sisters have the green light. Saranac Lake ➡️ Dewey is still too wet and needs more sunshine to dry out. Pisgah and Fowler's Crossing are good to go. Keene and Etown ➡️ All trails are good to go 🤩 Things are SHAPING UP in BETA's backyard! Thanks to the work and intel from our dedicated volunteers and staff, we know that Dewey Mountain and Craigwood still need more time to dry out. We're stoked to share that all other trail systems currently have the green light for riding.
Please remember that we're only bringing you a snapshot of our latest info -- let us know if you visit a trail and it doesn't actually seem ready for traffic (we're on the lookout for that since we're expecting rain this weekend). Gentle reminder to please reconsider your ride if you're leaving ruts. No one wants to turn back early, but no one wants to damage trails, either. Green lights top to bottom are coming, trust! Have a great weekend, everyone 🤠 #RideWithGratitude TRAIL CONDITIONS UPDATE! Sunshine, warmth and low humidity are drying trails out nicely. Consider these updates a snapshot in time and are likely to change but right now everything except Lake Placid trails and Dewey Mtn are a go! Volunteers and staff are getting everything cleaned up, but you may still encounter some conditions like downed trees and debris so ride with caution. Use your best judgement and to prevent trail widening, ride directly through, not around, lingering muddy spots. As always, if the trail is consistently muddy or if you’re leaving ruts, it’s best to turn around and ride another day. A big THANK YOU to all who’ve been in the woods scoping progress, blowing leaves, raking, clearing trees and helping us to get things ready for another awesome riding season. #ridewithgratitude Ahh that sunshine... Trails are drying out, but it is still early season. Consider these updates a snapshot in time and are likely to quickly change.
Volunteers and staff are starting to clean things up, but you may encounter some conditions like downed trees and debris so ride with caution. Use your best judgement and to prevent trail widening, ride directly through, not around, lingering muddy spots. As always, if the trail is consistently muddy or if you’re leaving ruts, it’s best to turn around and ride another day. 🤞it’ll be green lights top to bottom soon. And a big THANK YOU to all who’ve been in the woods scoping progress, blowing leaves, raking, clearing trees and helping us to get things ready for another awesome riding season. #ridewithgratitude What a week! Winter came back and the eclipse happened. Now 60+ degrees in April has us all psyched on bikes but remember that during mud season, conditions and trail closures can change from day to day. We have a lot of snowmelt from the recent storm and next week’s forecast is calling for a ton of rain.
Please be patient as we endure the springtime rollercoaster of weather. BETA staff and volunteers are getting started on the early season work of raking, clearing blowdown, etc. There is still lots to be done so stay tuned for upcoming volunteer trail work dates. |