With more rain ahead for our trails, it’s time to stop and think about what you can do to preserve them. We have all done it, but if we all want to enjoy our trails it is important we exercise common sense or find some before deciding to skid around a moist berm that’s just received 20mm of rain. No one wants to be “that” guy.
So, respect your local trails and closures, because i personally believe in Hi-vis Karma. It’s CLOSED for a reason.
I’ve long shared the belief of staying off wet trails. However since moving to West Virginia 3 summers ago, the trails here NEVER dry out. Amazingly they stay muddy year round. When I moved here I thought I’d be getting some wicked back country riding in. Sadly I’ve basically had to retire my mountain bike for gravel riding because the trails are just total slop 90% of the riding season.
That’s a bummer.
Could the trails be designed better to help alleviate the problem? Maybe they need more grade reversals and drainages, or even rock armoring? In places like the Pacific Northwest where it’s always wet, they’ve been able to find ways to build trails that are sustainable, even in wet conditions. Might be worth looking into for your area…
Your local soil, elevation, vegetation, and climate will dictate whether you can ride more than any rule. If you ride in a southwestern desert with soft soil where it rains 3X/year, with little vegetation and roots, you’ll have a big impact on erosion and leave ruts that might last months. In the upstate NY we have rocky, sandy soil and exposed rock. These trails are durable and drain quickly and can be ridden in the rain. In Maine we have this in addition to dense pine root networks.
Hit a local trail in the rain, after it had been raining for days. Yes, the trail was softer than usual, and there were puddles and muddy places, but otherwise the trail was fine. And it was fine when it “dried out”. The water crossing was deeper than usual, but that just made it more fun!
That trail survives just fine even after days worth of rain. Torrential rains just make Baby’s Head Hill a little rockier. They don’t close the trail, simply because it is not necessary.
Not every trail out there is sensitive.
Here in North Texas, we stay off of muddy trails. It’s true that how and when muddy trails can be ridden depends in part on local soil, runoff, etc. We have enough clay mixed into the soil that riding muddy trails tends to create well defined ruts. Then when it dries out and hardens, those ruts are ground down to sand, making a mess of things. Our local riding groups and state parks do a good job of informing the public as to when trails are open or closed via web sites, hot lines, and apps, And many of our trails have status signage at the trail heads. The good news is that because of the clay mix, tacky trails can be ridden without causing damage. The down side to that is, the drag of riding tacky trails makes it feel like a never ending uphill ride.
I do trail maintenance on the Pine Top-Jumping Pound hiking, biking…and cow trail.
I have made up a ‘splashy’ green and brown letter size poster, using free clipart, and had it laminated at Staples. Dry, Tacky, or Frozen A Okay. Trying to get the point across regarding muddy trails to hikers and bikers…but anticipate more success with the cows!
If you would like the *.png or the *.ai file email at gary.raab@Shaw.ca
For those that think they are really hardcore and are in the ‘moo…ed’ to hike or ride no matter the trail conditions, grin and ‘bear’ it, do what I have done, go in behind Mt. Robson solo for ten days.
Don’t be a cow!
99 cow paddies to my name, one more pie and I will have certificate on the wall.