The Tip

Where is this new stuff?

OMG! There's a huge fire ant bed underneath Brodie! 😄 So yes, I was able to open it and see the test picture and location. But I couldn't figure out how to drop my own pin. Which I imagine, for me, would be even more difficult to do if it involved adding the picture of the problem at the spot I wanted to pin. Great idea here by the way.

There was a pretty big homeless camp underneath Mopac on the north bank of Williamson Creek. Now it's cleaned up. I wondered who did that? City? Highways? Greg Abbott? It was encouraging to say the least.

SCREW YOU! I'm offended! 😄

I was just in there this morning. They were excited to say they got their first one in. They are now officially a Santa Cruz dealer! Better hurry if you're in the market for one.

Watching them hike up conveyed how steep it was better than the other video. I keep having to tell myself to double the wow factor watching these type things because of the frustrating phenomena of how cameras fail to show how scary features actually are. I also like his videos because he always shows what goes on behind the curtain. And I laughed at the subtle, "ouch" when he fell over.

What he is calling ruts I would call channels, or cupped trail. Jealous of all that beautiful dirt. Those "ruts' will just turn into nice berms eventually.

It's strange, but I looked up that spot on Strava Global Heatmap, and there was hardly any activity on that line. 😉

I was reading the Dana Peak Facebook page and there was chatter about work days to maintain the BLORA trails. People were talking like it was getting enough traffic. I didn't have time to check it out while we were up there but all that chat makes me want to try it out. We did ride Miller Springs Nature Center. I had never heard of it but we were camping right across the road from it so it was a low investment to check it out. It turned out fun enough that I say it's definitely worth a drive to try it out. When I looked at the Strava Global Heatmap right before we started exploring I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed because there was lots of recorded traffic. It's different and very scenic. It's only 20 minutes from Dana Peak which is the other good place to ride in the area.

Yes, there is a Homeless Fortress on the south side of Old San Antonio Rd, across the road from South Park Meadows. But it's easy to avoid by just staying on the road as you head east to get on the I35 frontage road to cross the bridge over Slaughter Creek. That bridge has a VERY wide shoulder so it's a safe passage. That's the only homeless camp that I've seen anywhere out there now.

😄

Here's my ride attempting to ride it all without repeating trail. https://www.strava.com/activities/4173265826

Cool for you to give some publicity to MMS. I say all the time it's an under appreciated (and used) interesting mountain biking spot. Before you go out to "review" an area, do you ever try and locate a rider that knows that particular area well? Having a guide to show you the best stuff would be advantageous. Here it seems like you have done what most newbies to MSS do. That is just riding the area around the main part of the park. Scenic along Slaughter Creek, but yes, mostly easy. The more challenging stuff is east of South 1st and also on the most southern edge of the park. There is 15+ miles of single track in the park proper. I'm not sure how much of your 15 miles was in the park or when you ventured out.

I totally agree with this. If we wait for everything to be totally dry than that means parts of it will already back to moon dust.

Yes, that's a good way to look at it. I might have even said on a post recently that the ride was guilt free.

Not if the puddle is only taking up half of the tread and the other half is dry. That would make no sense to aim for the puddle just so you can leave a rut and carry some soil away. I addressed this issue in my post, "(but don't leave the existing trail tread because that widens the trail). "

I am reluctant to give a trail report in a simple "good to go" a lot of times. I always feel I have to elaborate to add caveats. When I shorthand say "Good to go" what I really mean is that it is good enough to get a ride in without destroying the trails while still having an enjoyable riding experience. But you still have to go around some puddles, (but don't leave the existing trail tread because that widens the trail), and there are going to be a few soft spots, and I sure didn't lean into a lot of turns. And riding the rocks wasn't a lot of fun. Do most people, present company excepted of course, know what good to go means, or should I always elaborate?

My wife and I "spur of the moment" camped this weekend at Belton Lake because Dana Peak camping is closed for the winter. And Union Grove, the other Army Corp campground on Stillhouse Hollow Lake was booked. Our Live Oak Ridge campsite was 20 minutes or so from Dana Peak. The first thing we did when we started our ride at Dana Peak was to check out the camping facilities. Tent sites 1-8 have just a picnic table, charcoal grill, and a fire ring. And that's it. No electric, and no water. There are 20 RV sites, 1-20. Our #7 site is going to work out great. Lots of room around the fire pit for a BIG ring of folks! Most of the RV sites have plenty of room for a tent. I think that the RV sites are allowed only one tent. I haven't gotten a definitive answer if more than one would be allowed. Sites 21-25 are designated for tents only, but they have everything the RV sites have. A shelter covering a picnic table, water, electric, fire ring, charcoal grill. It's all very nice. The riding was good. I'm pretty sure there are two days of good riding available regardless of the skill level of the rider. This is going to work out very well!

My wife and I rode there two days. She doesn't like challenging stuff. So she was happy here because there is a lot of cross country yet scenic trail west of the campgrounds. The more interesting stuff was between the two parks east of the campgrounds. We found a couple of fun trails but it was above her pay grade. There were a lot of people there, a popular place for sure. I found out they have a specific to Dana Peak group that stewards the trails. There is a lot of signage. There are a couple of jump lines. It's an interesting place. I am looking forward to the April event there. It is going to work out great.

I laugh at myself doing this sometimes when I get momentarily disoriented as to where I am. Laugh, because maybe it's a trail I've been on dozens of times. Doing something "backwards" or at night, "It's all new trail."

So to clarify, you are both saying that yes, you can ride all the trails year 'round even when the park is closed for the season. The only issue is where to park your car. And there are multiple entry points to chose from. Yes?

Dana Peak campground is closed during the winter. Does this mean that the trails there are inaccessible during the winter also? Or are there access points to the trail system outside any gates that allow you to ride it all regardless of campground status?

Interesting. I have had no issues with these https://www.amazon.com/GIYO-Overshoes，S-XL-Neoprene-Waterproof-WinterProof/dp/B082HXGRX8/ref=sr_1_4?crid=7WXQIHV9Z97W&dchild=1&keywords=neoprene+mountain+bike+shoe+covers&qid=1610456434&sprefix=neoprene+mount%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-4

Do you wear neoprene shoe covers? My toes are my weakest link in the cold and my new-ish shoe covers have really helped. I haven't ridden in sub 40 conditions yet, but after a recent ride in sub 50 weather I was okay.