CRAMBA: Bald Mountain

[utabintarbo]

If anyone goes out to the North Unit, I'd like to hear your report on conditions. Hoping to ride on Sunday.

I will try to run out there Saturday, but from past experience, I would say you will find mud behind the Ranger's house, at the corner after the lake clearing, and parallel to Harmon just after the trailhead parking lot. Pretty much everything else will be tacky to dry, with the odd soft spot.

[Sortaslow]

Good to go. Usual icky but not sticky mud behind ranger ricks house. Go right through it. The puddles have a firm bottom are aren't deep. The rest is tacky. Great traction!

[Steve_Kinley]

The south unit had a few puddles and greasy spots but otherwise in great shape.

[Rock N' Rolla]

I took a tour of the north unit yesterday morning. Wiped out twice behind the rangers house. Once in the mud before the bridge, and another on the pallets sending me into a lake michigan sized mud puddle The rest of the way was fast and fun, with a few gluey spots. No bugs.

[utabintarbo]

There is a metric *beep* of deadfall after our recent winds. Nothing unrideable, but it makes a lot of unwelcome noises in your spokes and such. There's also a fair bit of faceslappers to contend with. BTW, did not check behind Ranger's house.

Also a lot of hunters out there - wear orange!

[utabintarbo]

Whole lotta leaves has fallen since last Saturday.

Wet leaves are slippery. They hide stuff. Be careful out there.

[SlowGuy]

Lots of trees down in BM South along red loop.

[Steve_Kinley]

The south unit trail is generally dry, one or two small puddles. The ranger is out this morning clearing the trees that came down.

[utabintarbo]

There is a wire down (looks like telephone or cable) across the trail about 4.5' above the ground on the uphill shortly after the wooden bridge just east of Harmon. I'll try to inform DTE or someone.

There is also a couple of trees down alongside the trail just after the trailhead (between 1 & 2) on the west side of Harmon.

A very large tree across the trail shortly after the lake clearing before #8.

OMFG-load of leaves down hiding any number of evil things wishing to jump into your spokes and derailleur. But it is wonderful!

Edit: DTE has been informed about the wire, I would advise AVOIDING that area until the wire is dealt with. I will try to keep track of that.

[tfelix]

Lots of slick leaves. Tree across the trail between 12 and 13 about head level. Mud behind the rangers house before and after the bridge not bad just rode around.

The wire you were referring to seems pretty low still about 7ft above the trail has caution tape hanging from it.

[utabintarbo]

The wire you were referring to seems pretty low still about 7ft above the trail has caution tape hanging from it.

It's still there?!?

I guess DTE decided it wasn't one of theirs and just left it.

[tfelix]

I'll try and make it out there this week to cut the tree after marker 12.

UPDATE: Removed tree and some vines about 1/8 mile past marker 12 tonight.

[Steve_Kinley]

There were four trees down on the south unit from the creek to Greenshield Rd, including a big one near where the trail comes in from the eastern parking area off Greenshield. I will try to stop by the ranger station tomorrow and let them know.

[turbotoad]

North Unit;

Trail was mostly dry except for a few of the normal muddy low spots that never seem to dry There was also one tree down requiring dismount. Don't remember exactly where as I haven't ridden here in a few years, but I believe it was somewhere between markers 14-15.

[Steve_Kinley]

The south unit has had no other riders on it as of this morning and in one section there hadn't been any hikers either. Great riding as there is very little snow and in some cases what is there has been packed by walkers. There are at least 7 trees down but I marked them on a map and gave them to a ranger who will try to get to them.