Western: Merrell Trail

[RickPlite]

trails will be closed Saturday 1-20-13 due to warm weather and thawing conditions

[trevrev97]

Trail update?

[RickPlite]

The trails at Merrell are ready to ride but Sawtooth should be avoided as it is still very wet. There are about 10 deep mud holes near some berms. Please ride straight through them rather than creating bypasses. They should dry out by midweek if the rain stays away for a while. We will reshape and repair them after they have dried
.

[cramer]

The trails at Merrell are ready to ride but Sawtooth should be avoided as it is still very wet. There are about 10 deep mud holes near some berms. Please ride straight through them rather than creating bypasses. They should dry out by midweek if the rain stays away for a while. We will reshape and repair them after they have dried
.

They are still there and VERY deep / large and show no signs of drying up. I stopped after one lap, didn't seem like a good idea to keep riding. Worried about Monday out there. Luton was bone dry. Talked to another guy that said EV was really muddy too.

I like the new advanced technical features that were added.... to the driveway.

Springtime at Merrell is a first for us and not a normal spring at that. We may need to armor the areas if they will never dry. Some appear to be spring related and others just deep puddles.

That trail has been baptized by fire. Officially opened and then a huge drought, now a once in a generation flood the following spring. It's not fair. Wondering if it's water still slowly draining down from higher up on the hill that might be replenishing the mud holes as fast as it can drain or evaporate.

[RickPlite]

The trails at Merrell are ready to ride but Sawtooth should be avoided as it is still very wet. There are about 10 deep mud holes near some berms. Please ride straight through them rather than creating bypasses. They should dry out by midweek if the rain stays away for a while. We will reshape and repair them after they have dried
.

They are still there and VERY deep / large and show no signs of drying up. I stopped after one lap, didn't seem like a good idea to keep riding. Worried about Monday out there. Luton was bone dry. Talked to another guy that said EV was really muddy too.

I like the new advanced technical features that were added.... to the driveway.

Springtime at Merrell is a first for us and not a normal spring at that. We may need to armor the areas if they will never dry. Some appear to be spring related and others just deep puddles.

That trail has been baptized by fire. Officially opened and then a huge drought, now a once in a generation flood the following spring. It's not fair. Wondering if it's water still slowly draining down from higher up on the hill that might be replenishing the mud holes as fast as it can drain or evaporate.

I agree and we can't keep the trail closed until June, that just won't work. Pray for a dry spell and then we can reassess. The trail survived 3" rain storms last summer no problem.

[Mike_D]

Last Wednesday there was 1 really bad mud hole on the downhill just past the picnic table. There was flowing water leaching out of the side of the hill. At that time, there was really no way around it. I went right straight thru it (as we are supposed to do), almost and have 2 muddy shoes as a result

[RickPlite]

I am new to the website and forums, can someone tell me where I can find out if a trail is open or closed? I am currently looking at Merrell also Upper Macatawa and Luton.

Thanks

Brian

The trails never really close, they are posted "closed" when muddy or wet but not gated. Just use some common sense before heading out. We recommend waiting 24 hours to ride after a rain storm. Merrell, Upper Mac and the Game Area are prone to be wet even after a rainfall of 1" due to some high clay content areas. Luton seems to handle 1.5" ok. You can ride the CBurg Ski Area or Yankee in the rain! The sandy soil at these locations make it the perfect choice when in doubt. A little trial and error goes a long ways. If you start riding a trail and you are leaving deep tracks in the trail behind you it is a good idea to turn around and head elsewhere.

[Brian4884]

Exactly the advice I was looking for...thanks Rick.
You guys are awesome.

[gtrowbridge]

FYI. Talked to the fire dept tonight at the trailhead. They were scouting emergency access points for a triathalon that apparently is using the trail this weekend.

Haven't seen anything about that yet here so be prepared for some non riding time here this weekend.

Maybe someone else has more details?

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

[balexander87]

Hoping you guys don't get too much rain up there. Would like to get up and ride Merrell and Luton tomorrow afternoon. Forecast looks like tomorrow should be good so long as you don't get too much today/tonight. Fingers crossed!

[lampenj]

I'm betting you're right. It's the first time I've gone down there, but I've been witness to taco'd wheels and other 'quick exits'.

[300hp]

Rode it for the first time on Sunday and this trail RIPS. RIPS RIPS RIPS. Did three laps of the full trail in red direction....I could hear my side knobs ripping at the berms....it was awesome.

Question for the die-hards.....which direction has the longest downhills....or is it a wash?

[Mike_D]

Rode it for the first time on Sunday and this trail RIPS. RIPS RIPS RIPS. Did three laps of the full trail in red direction....I could hear my side knobs ripping at the berms....it was awesome.

Question for the die-hards.....which direction has the longest downhills....or is it a wash?

Red. Hands down.

[rvd]

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.

[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!