MCMBA: Proud Lake

[ihateplaindave]

A group of us rode it Sunday AM. Perfect. No water, mud, sand or face slappers. Best time of the year to ride it. Get out there now!

[plaindave]

A more fun group of us rode it this morning. Absolutely perfect conditions. About 1-2 inches of fresh snow. A few easy falls when we slid out. Talk about fun! Nothing like watching your riding buddies fall down in front of you.

[Bruck]

Expected to just ride dirt roads around Milford yesterday, but ended up following some tire tracks into loop 1.

The horses pushed down the snow enough to make it a some-what pleasant ride. Some horse dung, but was going slow enough to avoid it.

Great ride!

[Builder-Bill]

Proud Lake's Loops 3 and 4 were in good shape as of Saturday (3/26 ), Also the trail between Kensington and Proud lake was in good shape, and mostly dry.
Ride Proud lake, Its in your back yard. True Old School riding..
Bill and Sam the Trail Dog

[amadkins]

Proud Lake's Loops 3 and 4 were in good shape as of Saturday (3/26 ), Also the trail between Kensington and Proud lake was in good shape, and mostly dry.
Ride Proud lake, Its in your back yard. True Old School riding..
Bill and Sam the Trail Dog

Thanks for the update Bill. Have you had a chance to check Milford yet?

[Spinwheel]

Tonight I found the connector from Glengary to the dirt road to be pretty rutted in spots. Even with temps below freezing tonight it was still pretty soft - should be avoided. Same for Commerce - some sections are too soft still.

[Builder-Bill]

Hi Tim
Milford is still soft in a few spots, If the Weather stays above freezing it should be dry out in a few days.

[b_b]

I know these trials are shared with horses. Are there any plans to build separate trails? It seems strange that 900 acre Maybury can have separate trails, but 4700 acre Proud lake does not.

[WICCMB]

I know these trials are shared with horses. Are there any plans to build separate trails? It seems strange that 900 acre Maybury can have separate trails, but 4700 acre Proud lake does not.

There are no plans to separate the trail system at this time. To be honest, in the park's eyes there is no reason to do so - these trails get few users. Even on the nicest weekend days, you will only encounter a couple of people out there max.

[Steve_Balogh]

I know these trials are shared with horses. Are there any plans to build separate trails? It seems strange that 900 acre Maybury can have separate trails, but 4700 acre Proud lake does not.

There are no plans to separate the trail system at this time. To be honest, in the park's eyes there is no reason to do so - these trails get few users. Even on the nicest weekend days, you will only encounter a couple of people out there max.

What amazes me is how many hoof prints I'll see on the sandy stretch from the parkinglot to the RR tracks, and far less on the trail, with the exception of the long rocky DH. Are the equestrians using the road or some other section in particular? I have yet to even encounter an equestrian on that trail, though I'll admit I don't ride Proud Lake too often each year.

[Builder-Bill]

I know these trials are shared with horses. Are there any plans to build separate trails? It seems strange that 900 acre Maybury can have separate trails, but 4700 acre Proud lake does not.

There are no plans to separate the trail system at this time. To be honest, in the park's eyes there is no reason to do so - these trails get few users. Even on the nicest weekend days, you will only encounter a couple of people out there max.

What amazes me is how many hoof prints I'll see on the sandy stretch from the parkinglot to the RR tracks, and far less on the trail, with the exception of the long rocky DH. Are the equestrians using the road or some other section in particular? I have yet to even encounter an equestrian on that trail, though I'll admit I don't ride Proud Lake too often each year.

A few years back, I worked with the head of local Equestrian club, we laying out a separate new trail system for the MT Bikers. We had a meeting with the upper DNR management and she shot it down... The local DNR management was for the separation, They saw the need to promote the Park and to help prevent any conflict between users. ...

A lot of the locals riders Know it's a hidden Gem .....True OLD School MTB riding,
So just go ride the trails...
Pleace Respect other users,.... Don't ride up to Horses.. If you see them ,Stop get off to the side , let them go by... Talk to them the hole time... Horses think you are a predictor on two wheels..

We need to show more trail usage by bikers. This will show the need for a separate trail system.
More people need to park at the Parks main parking lot off of Wixom rd or At the lot on the corner of Child's Lake rd. and Dawson rd.
Just Ride the trails
Bill and Sam the Trail Dog

[b_b]

A lot of the locals riders Know it's a hidden Gem .....True OLD School MTB riding,

I will have to try these trails again. A few years ago I thought these trails were sub-par compared to Brighton, PLRA, Highland ect. I recall the surface being very lose and slow from horse traffic. Are the trails improved lately and do you have any specific suggestions to make sure I hit the good stuff? It's a drive for me so I tend to just keep going over to Highland or something else. Thanks!

[amadkins]

A lot of the locals riders Know it's a hidden Gem .....True OLD School MTB riding,

I will have to try these trails again. A few years ago I thought these trails were sub-par compared to Brighton, PLRA, Highland ect. I recall the surface being very lose and slow from horse traffic. Are the trails improved lately and do you have any specific suggestions to make sure I hit the good stuff? It's a drive for me so I tend to just keep going over to Highland or something else. Thanks!

Every time I've been out there it has been pretty torn up from horses. If you don't get out this way much, I'd skip it in favor of Highland, Milford, PLRA, etc.

[WICCMB]

A lot of the locals riders Know it's a hidden Gem .....True OLD School MTB riding,

I will have to try these trails again. A few years ago I thought these trails were sub-par compared to Brighton, PLRA, Highland ect. I recall the surface being very lose and slow from horse traffic. Are the trails improved lately and do you have any specific suggestions to make sure I hit the good stuff? It's a drive for me so I tend to just keep going over to Highland or something else. Thanks!

Every time I've been out there it has been pretty torn up from horses. If you don't get out this way much, I'd skip it in favor of Highland, Milford, PLRA, etc.

Or....you could ask for a guided tour of the trail system. I've offered many times before, and I will be happy to show people around this trail. PM me if you are interested.

[Steve_Balogh]

A lot of the locals riders Know it's a hidden Gem .....True OLD School MTB riding,

I will have to try these trails again. A few years ago I thought these trails were sub-par compared to Brighton, PLRA, Highland ect. I recall the surface being very lose and slow from horse traffic. Are the trails improved lately and do you have any specific suggestions to make sure I hit the good stuff? It's a drive for me so I tend to just keep going over to Highland or something else. Thanks!

Every time I've been out there it has been pretty torn up from horses. If you don't get out this way much, I'd skip it in favor of Highland, Milford, PLRA, etc.

There's been long dry seasons in August where the trail can get pretty loose and sandy, but the only horse damage I've ever seen has been the stretch from the lot to the tracks. Again, I've never encountered a horse riding here. I'm thinking the loss of a few boarding facilities and development before the housing market crash has driven some of the equestrians out of this area, I could be wrong. (Last year I knew a couple people giving away horses as no one was buying) I've not parked where Bill is saying, perhaps that's a better route. Loop 3 is really nice and is easy to miss if you are not paying attention. If i remember right the one sign wasn't too readable.