[cbehnke]

any recent trail condition updates for the multiple trails in the matthews winters/red rocks/dakota ridge riding area. the south facing technical route up the red rocks trail seems to melt and dry quick.

i'm jonesin' to get in a ride after work today but will abstain if it's gonna eff up the trails

 

[cbehnke]

Ridable

i rode the south facing route up the red rocks trail today at 6pm, only one small spot was sketchy where you needed to walk rather than tear up the trail

 

[braddk]

i rode the south facing route up the red rocks trail today at 6pm, only one small spot was sketchy where you needed to walk rather than tear up the trail

That's good to hear. I rode Green Mountain today, and it was probably too muddy to ride. I think I'm going to volunteer for some trail maintenance this Spring now.

 

[rmac]

i rode the south facing route up the red rocks trail today at 6pm, only one small spot was sketchy where you needed to walk rather than tear up the trail

Is there really no snow melt/run off soaking the trail from higher up the mountain? Sorry to push the question but 'one small spot' makes it sound like the trial is 99% rideable - would just like confirmation!

 

[ibmkidIII]

I assume the trail was frozenish at 6am. Bet it'd be a sloppy mess around 9ish.

 

[cbehnke]

Is there really no snow melt/run off soaking the trail from higher up the mountain? Sorry to push the question but 'one small spot' makes it sound like the trial is 99% rideable - would just like confirmation!

here's more detail, and this was as of yesterday at 6pm...so i can't guarantee it's still the same, there was still snowpack in surrounding areas neat the summit so it's possible that may be melting into the trail by now. but if you know that trail well it's rocky as a sum***** and rarely holds water. i'm pretty sensitive to trail conditions, i hike most of the trails first before riding i and won't ride if it's gonna jack up the trail...however, if it's only small sections that are sketchy, i dismount and skirt the edge of the water or mud (staying on dry ground and not trampling flora).

there is one small stream cross early on the trail...had water, but you have to ride thru that stream even in summer

there are some small standing water puddles very early on during the first 200-250 yards, they are maybe 12 inches round, easy to avoid, and not like quick sand pits around them

with 100 yards of the trail intersection (left climbs up red rocks, right skirts around the base of the mtn) there was one section that is 10-12 feet long with sketchy mud and water flowing sideways over the trail, it's easy to dismount there and step on rocks to get around it

then it was dry all the way until you get close to the top, maybe 30-40 feet from the summit, then there is snowpack. that's where you stop and start the ride down.

maybe i should have described that better in my original post. i referred to just the south facing ascent as ridaeable but didn't address the summit conditions (and descent back down to mathews winters) and some may have assumed i meant the whole trail was dry. my bad if that's what happened. i'll be very careful to better detail in future.

i too want to preserve the trails and minimize impact and user conflict, hope that detail helps clear any confusion on conditions and concern that i deeked the trail

 

[rmac]

here's more detail, and this was as of yesterday at 6pm...so i can't guarantee it's still the same, there was still snowpack in surrounding areas neat the summit so it's possible that may be melting into the trail by now. but if you know that trail well it's rocky as a sum***** and rarely holds water. i'm pretty sensitive to trail conditions, i hike most of the trails first before riding i and won't ride if it's gonna jack up the trail...however, if it's only small sections that are sketchy, i dismount and skirt the edge of the water or mud (staying on dry ground and not trampling flora).

there is one small stream cross early on the trail...had water, but you have to ride thru that stream even in summer

there are some small standing water puddles very early on during the first 200-250 yards, they are maybe 12 inches round, easy to avoid, and not like quick sand pits around them

with 100 yards of the trail intersection (left climbs up red rocks, right skirts around the base of the mtn) there was one section that is 10-12 feet long with sketchy mud and water flowing sideways over the trail, it's easy to dismount there and step on rocks to get around it

then it was dry all the way until you get close to the top, maybe 30-40 feet from the summit, then there is snowpack. that's where you stop and start the ride down.

maybe i should have described that better in my original post. i referred to just the south facing ascent as ridaeable but didn't address the summit conditions (and descent back down to mathews winters) and some may have assumed i meant the whole trail was dry. my bad if that's what happened. i'll be very careful to better detail in future.

i too want to preserve the trails and minimize impact and user conflict, hope that detail helps clear any confusion on conditions and concern that i deeked the trail

Great trail report, thank you.