Scorpionwoman Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 7 minutes ago, CopeIt said: I rode the path today and ended up checking out powerline flow, chardog, and log loops. All good to go. Was skeptical about log loop but whatever improvements were recently done took care of the areas that used to hold onto water forever. Great job I ran and concur with that. But that's pretty much all that is ridable. I went on .6, and it was not good. In addition to the spots that usually get muddy, there is a new low spot developing not far into the loop, before the first sweeping turn to the left. There was still standing water there today. (Pics below.) I am confident Windy and BMX are not good, since they were muddy even before Friday night's rain. I also am confident that Mark's Art continues to be muddy in all the dips, meaning that the rock armoring that is left continues to get dislodged and the dips get deeper. I assume the dip below Mark's Art continues to get deeper (and can't drain). Hopefully anyone who rides out there for the next few days will do an abbreviated route. I rode an abbreviated route last Thursday, and it was actually kind of fun to figure out how to connect the ridable parts. Then as I was loading my gear (on Lincolnshire), a very large group of riders went by. I hope that organized rides are privy to the information that Charlie and others share, and that they consider that info in leading the route. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardog Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Scorpionwoman said: I ran and concur with that. But that's pretty much all that is ridable. I went on .6, and it was not good. In addition to the spots that usually get muddy, there is a new low spot developing not far into the loop, before the first sweeping turn to the left. There was still standing water there today. (Pics below.) I am confident Windy and BMX are not good, since they were muddy even before Friday night's rain. I also am confident that Mark's Art continues to be muddy in all the dips, meaning that the rock armoring that is left continues to get dislodged and the dips get deeper. I assume the dip below Mark's Art continues to get deeper (and can't drain). Hopefully anyone who rides out there for the next few days will do an abbreviated route. I rode an abbreviated route last Thursday, and it was actually kind of fun to figure out how to connect the ridable parts. Then as I was loading my gear (on Lincolnshire), a very large group of riders went by. I hope that organized rides are privy to the information that Charlie and others share, and that they consider that info in leading the route. Yes, the Log Loop / Ski hill Flow (Chardog Up) / Power line Flow loop is about the only thing without problematic areas that will only be damaged more by use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpionwoman Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Since the last report of Walnut trail conditions was on Monday, I thought I'd do my run out there today and see how it fared after a very damp Wednesday. Bottom line: it's wetter now than it was the first part of the week. As others have commented, the log loops take water *so* much better now that our wonderful trail volunteers have done all that work on them. But by riding them when they are wet, we are breaking down the improvements. Here is an example in pics, at the S turn about midway through. Those tracks represent quite a few riders on the trail after Wednesday. It's muddy enough that there was some sideways slipping. In addition, the places on .6 that were built up on one side with the water-diverting channel on the other are getting broken down, because the ground is muddy (even on the high side) and riders are sliding off, dragging the dirt with them. Also on .6, spots that did not hold water a few months ago are developing into mud pits. Please stop riding Walnut when it is wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 How is Walnut Creek today? Which trails are OK and which are to stay away from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardog Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 2 hours ago, AntonioGG said: How is Walnut Creek today? Which trails are OK and which are to stay away from? The winds yesterday helped. Some areas still too soft/wet that should be avoided include Main Creek Crossing, Mark's Art, the big dip after Mark's Art, first part of Windy Loop, BMX loop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTheCatLady Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 On 1/20/2019 at 4:57 PM, Chardog said: The winds yesterday helped. Some areas still too soft/wet that should be avoided include Main Creek Crossing, Mark's Art, the big dip after Mark's Art, first part of Windy Loop, BMX loop. I and a friend rode WC yesterday and I can confirm @Chardog's post. We didn't attempt Windy or BMX but from the rest of WC being exactly as indicated I'd guess Windy and BMX were still no-gos. I'll go ahead and explicitly point out that .6 was rideable, as incredible as that sounds. -cls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpionwoman Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Anyone get out to Walnut this afternoon? I'm hoping there wasn't much rain last night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpionwoman Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Got out for a run at midday today. Walnut is not ready for riding, yet. I was a little surprised at how wet it is. Here's a sampling of spots that stood out to me. 1. Outer log loop. Don't know if you can see it, but there's another puddle on down the trail, at the curve to the right. 2 and 3. This is on the climb in the middle of the Tangle of Trails section. The first one is not too far into the loop. The second is about half-way up the climb. I've never seen puddles in either of these spots before. 4. Tar Branch (I think that's what it's called. The little loop that's not far from the power lines that drops down and climbs back out). This is not far from the entrance to the loop off Shady Springs. Hope that's helpful info. clair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBaron Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Its really is crazy how saturated the ground around here is. -CJB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CopeIt Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Rode the concrete trail this morning. Walked a couple sections... close but still needs another day to be rideable. Just in time for the next rain to pay availability out even further.Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 42 minutes ago, CopeIt said: Rode the concrete trail this morning. Walked a couple sections... close but still needs another day to be rideable. Just in time for the next rain to pay availability out even further. It seems like the morning wetness comes and goes every day. If I'm able to, I'll get over there for an exploratory ride this evening. Worst case scenario is that turns into a connector trail and concrete spin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree Magnet Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 (edited) Trail work crew (all 5 of us) hit Windy yesterday and worked over one corner that needed help. I will say that the amount of damage being done to the trail due to use/mis-use is not equivalent with the maintenance we are providing. Sunday was a rainy morning before the Super Bowl when nothing was rideable outside of RPR and only FIVE people showed up (including the trail steward). Does anyone have any ideas to get more people to do their part to support these trails? Here are my assumptions that might be totally off: Mountain bikers are putting in the most effort to maintain Walnut This forum represents the most involved and informed Mountain Bikers in Austin This forum has around 500 people that KNOW about work days going on every week and the damage being done to the trails The average size of the work crew is 6 or 7 people every week On average 100-200 unique riders hit Walnut every day?? (Guess) 90% of those riders are NOT on this forum or any forum that discusses trail conditions If the park said "You can't support the trails you have so we're cutting your mileage down." Would people respond? Edited February 4, 2019 by Tree Magnet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CopeIt Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Yes.Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snekad Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Has anyone been out to walnut recently? How are the trails looking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrimTheFat Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 19 minutes ago, snekad said: Has anyone been out to walnut recently? How are the trails looking? I went out yesterday evening... The trails south of walnut creek were unridable in a very short distance from the pavement... I rode Chardog and the Log Loops and they were fine... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamsloan Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 It's getting there, but there are too many spots left that are still squishy. I was out there last night helping repair the trail. We were surprised at how dry it was, but it could use another day to avoid doing more damage. In a couple of days should be primo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Sunday we rode (on road bikes) past the north entrance to BMX and saw a kid with his tiny BMX bike caked in mud. It was so bad his dad was having to scrape it off or carry it because it wasn't rolling. 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snekad Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Definitely some wet spots still. Point Six Loop had some major puddling in some spots. Didn't make it to BMX or Windy loop as it seems to take longer than the rest of walnut to dry out. With that said you can definitely ride much of walnut without destroying the trail. I stuck mainly to the stuff around powerline hill and its pretty dang dry on that side of the park. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamwa Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Worried how much of a nightmare main creek crossing is. The south/west side was a mess last a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardog Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 There is a fair amount of rocks an cobble built up in the main channel just below the crossing causing the crossing to be deeper. If anyone out there could move a few rocks to let the crossing drain, that would be a great help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamwa Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 I pulled some rocks yesterday but noticed a bunch of new work today. Thank you very much trail volunteers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFisher Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 (edited) I went for a brief recon ride last night. Ski Hill Flow Trail and Inner Log Loops were perfect. Point 6 was fine, BMX was borderline. Until it rains again there should be enough to get in a decent ride (just be ready to bail on some of the slower to dry trails if need be). Edited May 6, 2019 by GFisher edit trail name 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 Walnut Creek is in great shape! Go ride before we get more rain! Only a few Damon spots in places, such as Mark's Art and some in BMX and Windy. Other than that and the creek crossings it's pretty dry overall. I did get chased by two dogs so far today. Heading out for another lap now! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Took a lunch walk to walnut creek and had a quick peek at bmx loop and windy loop. The ground was generally a little soft, but not as bad as I was expecting. Puddle in the usual spot near the start of bmx. Not ready- but maybe not that far off if it stays hot and dry. Not sure about the rest of the trails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 Was given this report by someone who just ran the trails: "The trail is damp but fine. Small isolated puddles will probably be gone by this evening. Mark’s Art crossings are still messy. The seep at the start of Windy Loop is still seeping. Best to use the route-around to minimize erosion there." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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