Western: Merrell Trail

[RickPlite]

I wish the noobs Strava Nuts would just keep trying to improve their skills instead of stop blazing new easy ways around stuff.

Fixed that for you.

that too!

[G.Cook]

Sounds like Island Lake Syndrome

[vanwyk4257]

How much rainfall was there in Rockford last night? Will Merrell be ridable today or would it be best to stay off the trail? I know it was really dry and dusty the last couple weeks. Looking to get in a training ride with a buddy tonight.

[RickPlite]

How much rainfall was there in Rockford last night? Will Merrell be ridable today or would it be best to stay off the trail? I know it was really dry and dusty the last couple weeks. Looking to get in a training ride with a buddy tonight.

Merrell had heavy rain last night, it would be best to avoid it today

[mwilson7]

Looking to hit the Merrill trail on 9/12 and wondering if anyone has a condition report? Did the storms hit GR as they did the east side of the state on Wednesday?

[rvd]

That shortcut past the zig-zag on wilderness is pathetic. It hasn't been closed off yet, but it didn't seem to be used too heavily. Trail is in excellent shape but could use some rain.

[RickPlite]

That shortcut past the zig-zag on wilderness is pathetic.

explain where this is better for me

[aarontriton]

thinking of making the 2 Hour drive to Merrell today. is the trail to wet? thanks for the help


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[RickPlite]

thinking of making the 2 Hour drive to Merrell today. is the trail to wet? thanks for the help


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Should be fine a bit later

[rvd]

That shortcut past the zig-zag on wilderness is pathetic.

explain where this is better for me

It is about midway through wilderness, either just before or just after the start of the downhill segment (yellow). It is still in the pine forest; the zig zag refers to two large boulders just after a sharp right hander, that in turns follows a mild downslope with some rocks. To the right of the boulders (left on red days) there is a bypass of the rocks through the pine needles; it clearly cuts a couple of seconds off the lap or segment time and seems to be a mod by speed junkies.

EDIT: probably the same place you mentioned before:

the shortcut riders are now hitting Merrell Trail. Feel free to block off any shortcuts or trail straightening. The most obvious is the zig zag boulders in the pines...

[reidabel]

Hopefully he won't start making new shortcuts WITH the chainsaw

The problem is that blocking them off doesn't seem to help. I did this at my local trail and the logs I put in place to block were gone the next day. I think we have a lot more blockage removers than blockage creators. I'm thinking of digging a four-foot deep trench on the shortcut and filling it with manure ...

[gtrowbridge]

Other than one unfortunately-sized mudhole at the beginning of Sawtooth (it matched precisely the diameter of my tire, nearly stopping me dead ), the only issue is the metric *beep* of leaves obscuring the trail (and the rocks). Cue the "clear the leaves, or not" discussions.

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[RickPlite]

Is Merrell rideable on a regular 29'er mtb now with all the grooming that has been done? Are these warm temps putting the grooming in jeopardy if it would get ridden I guess is what I'm wondering?

it was rideable with a 29er. not sure if the base will get to soft today. just use the same guide as if it were to muddy. If you leave deep ruts don't ride it

[RickPlite]

from the Facebook page:

Please stay off the groomed trails if you are leaving ruts in the soft snow due to warm temps. The sudden drop in temps will freeze them into crappy trail surfaces. Treat soft groomed snow as if it was mud.

[grinder]

rode it on the 19th. was awesome. very few icy spots on trail (parking lot was a bit slick tho).

made a quick video of the ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbCT3f2HXoM

with the cold temps i would assume the trail surface would be good for a while. only some of the areas that are exposed to wind would be sketchy due to loose drifted snow, but there are not many areas like that.