January 24 Trail Report

While we keep hearing that this crazy inversion is supposed be dispersing and that we are in for a weekend full on sunshine, by yesterday afternoon that prediction still hadn’t come to fruition. Yesterday was yet another day of cloud cover and below freezing temperatures, meaning that trail conditions were once again frozen solid throughout the day. Although the weather remains cold and bleak after going on almost two weeks of inversion, these days remain a great time to be on your trail of choice without worrying about tracking through mud when conditions thaw. There is plenty of evidence throughout the system to show that people are waiting for warmer temps before heading out which has left a lot of tracked up trail tread as a result. Take this as a request to put on an extra layer and head out when it is a bit colder versus waiting for mid-day when trail conditions are likely to be quite sloppy.

Due to the fact that we haven’t received any measurable precipitation for an extended period and that temperatures have remained below freezing for multiple days, it is hard to tell what trail conditions will be like when the sunshine and warmer weather returns. Plenty of trails appear to be drying out at this point and may remain so even when soil moisture thaws again. However, it is also very possible, if not likely, that there is still a lot of moisture locked up at the ground level and that muddy conditions will return once again upon thawing. If we do see the sunshine once again this weekend, please be on the lookout for sloppy trail conditions where mud once again is sticking to feet, hooves, or bike tires. If this is the case, please, please turn around and find a new place to recreate.

One other housekeeping note to mention here, we are infinitely appreciative of folks that are willing to lend a hand to keep our trail system in good repair and are blessed to have hundreds of volunteers that come out in the spring to help put our trails back in order after the winter weather. That said, we are once again asking that folks DO NOT strike out on their own to practice their own version of trail maintenance at any point in the year without Ridge to Rivers oversight. Someone with very good intentions did their own maintenance around the Polecat Reserve recently which has ultimately ended up being counterproductive. The work done has not helped with water management and instead has become more of a disruption to the flow of these trails. All of this work will have to be repaired once warmer weather returns. If you are or know the person that has done this work, please discontinue this in the future. If you are interested in giving back to the trail system, there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities this spring when conditions become optimal for trail maintenance. You can contact us through our website, https://www.ridgetorivers.org/about/contact-us/ to discuss volunteer opportunities.

Thanks to everyone and have a great weekend out on the trails!