[Mtn. Biker123]

Some of you may see this as cotradictory and I really couldn't argue with you...I am a conflicted individual. Most of you know that I am not above poaching the occasional wilderness trail and I am fully prepared to accept the consequences of doing so. However, I take particular care as to minimize any disturbance. That said, I ran into 3 motos on Un Puno Loco (sp?). I probably wouldn't have minded so much except that I had been following their trail of carnage for some 3 miles. These guys parked at Mars Ct and proceeded to head in the way of TT, PB, and UPL where I ran into them. PB and UPL are especially tight and engineered by MTB'rs for MTB'rs. Long story short these three guys succeeded in ripping these two trails to shreds! I confronted them and I pretty much expected them to say exactly what they did, although they were more on the defensive rather than being humbled. What do you guys think? It will only take a few more occurance before whole sections of trail are completely destroyed. Please go by the Ranger Station or shoot them an email and voice your concerns. I have pics, but I am not at my computer. I called mtbike52 amd he got some pix of the vehicles and notifiied the authorities. I will post them later.

Bryan

 

[Mtn. Biker123]

Pix

This was a common theme for me today. If your going to poach, at least be respectful of the hard work that goes into the trails that you are riding. It won't be too long before Pirito Bonita looks like Coyote. You will have these guys to thank.

 

[Garson]

I called mtbike52 amd he got some pix of the vehicles and notifiied the authorities.

Good job on the reaction, guys. It'll be interesting to see if the "authorities" give a damn.
I hope he got photos of their vehicles before and after.

I figured Un Poco Loco would be among the first to go, along with the climb up to the top of Tunnel to Tio Juanito. And, of course, they'll destroy Tio Juanito coming up from Otero.

Has anyone seen them launch from anywhere other than Mars Ct yet?

 

[NM_Highlander]

I just finished riding up the ravaged Alamos Trail on Cochiti. I think it is open to motorcycles, but man have they screwed it up. I understand the argument about how those guys are the only ones clearing downed trees (and that service is much appreciated), but it only takes one hack on a moto to destroy far more trail than the good guys could ever clear. I think I would rather get off my bike a handful of times and lift it over a tree than the much higher number of times I had to get off because because of motorcycle damage. Entire sections were badly rutted and full of loose debris and every switchback was destroyed. It's a shame...

 

[Mtn. Biker123]

Bummer! notaknob and I saw trail crews at the top of Alamos SB's working over a month ago. I guess they didn't make it down that far. They were doing a tremendous job rerouting the top section. Were you north or south of the road?

 

[NM_Highlander]

I was north of the road... the top of the trail had a bunch of new water bars and drainage features...but the crews must not have made it very far. The cinderblock switchbacks were chewed up because the motorcyclist didn't do a very good job controlling the throttle... peel outs all over the place.

 

[SSweetleaf]

I just finished riding up the ravaged Alamos Trail on Cochiti. I think it is open to motorcycles, but man have they screwed it up. I understand the argument about how those guys are the only ones clearing downed trees (and that service is much appreciated), but it only takes one hack on a moto to destroy far more trail than the good guys could ever clear. I think I would rather get off my bike a handful of times and lift it over a tree than the much higher number of times I had to get off because because of motorcycle damage. Entire sections were badly rutted and full of loose debris and every switchback was destroyed. It's a shame...

You wouldn't be on Alamos trail if it weren't for Moto's

 

[Mtn. Biker123]

You wouldn't be on Alamos trail if it weren't for Moto's

Good point, SS. However, I'm sure that the original machines that carved that trail were far less powerful than machines of today. Creeping up a trail in first gear does far more to prevent damage than engaging the power-ban on every straight away and fishtailing every corner.

 

[NM_Highlander]

I don't know the history of that trail... and as someone who lives in the Jemez and rides there all the time, I know that many (most) of trails were burned in by motos... but are you sure Alamos is one of them. I thought it was built by the forest service. I may be wrong --- anybody know for sure?

And who is doing the maintenance? FS crews, I assume. I don't think they invest in non-FS trails... again, anyone know for sure? Who's hauling all those cinder blocks in?

And don't get me wrong, like I said originally, I appreciate those moto guys and many of them are my friends... but if they don't do something fast as a community, there will not be much of an Alamos Trail left... and they certainly aren't looking like responsible users in a time when motorized travel in the Jemez is under serious review. This is especially true for Cochiti Mesa where one of the biggest anti-motorcycle advocates lives just down the road. This guy is calling the FS to complain all the time and now all he has to do is walk down the road to make his case.

Just a note from someone who loves the great riding we have here and would hate to see it go down the shitter, even if those guys "built" the trail in the first place.

 

[Mtn. Biker123]

I can confirm that it was indeed FS in conjunction with VFO that were doing that work. I will say that the main riders out there did a superb job on the most used trails and most of the group have forgotten about AT. I think the only guys that are using that trail would fall into the "hack" category.

 

[woodhog]

The Alamos trail among many others will more than likely be closed to motorized in the near future when the travel management rule goes into effect. I guess we will have to figure out a good way to clear trail on our mtb's!!

 

[De La Pena]

Perhaps we could rig up some booby-traps on Poco Loco that trigger when a run over by 400 lbs load (moto 240 + rider 160 = 400 lbs) the rider is some how ejected (ie catapolt...) or rig a sack of rocks or boulder that would somehow fall out of a tree (kinda like Roadrunner and Coyote).

Any takers?

 

[delnorte]

Perhaps we could rig up some booby-traps on Poco Loco that trigger when a run over by 400 lbs load (moto 240 + rider 160 = 400 lbs) the rider is some how ejected (ie catapolt...) or rig a sack of rocks or boulder that would somehow fall out of a tree (kinda like Roadrunner and Coyote).

Any takers?

Just be sure to let pcupach know where the booby trap is or he will trigger the trap become a victim.

 

[Garson]

Some thoughts are best kept to oneself.

 

[Mtn. Biker123]

Just be sure to let pcupach know where the booby trap is or he will trigger the trap become a victim.

Actually, I was just thinking that he will probably be leading the rides from now on:thumbsup:

 

[NM_Highlander]

I just got some info from a knowledgeable Cochiti local (so it's on good authority)... Alamos trail was originally built by miners a long time ago and would have faded into oblivion decades ago had it not been for the active moto community using it. They are also the ones who hauled all of the cinder blocks in there and shored up the turns. Knowing it was not originally a motorcycle trail, they did their best to make it one. So in a sense, I should back off and not be so critical. Accept my apologies guys... I get carried away when a ride could be that much better, I should be happy with what it is.

 

[atenciole]

The Alamos trail among many others will more than likely be closed to motorized in the near future when the travel management rule goes into effect. I guess we will have to figure out a good way to clear trail on our mtb's!!

It's no problem to clear trail on our Mtbs. It just depends on how much work you'r willing to do.

 

[Dualsporter]

Perhaps we could rig up some booby-traps on Poco Loco that trigger when a run over by 400 lbs load (moto 240 + rider 160 = 400 lbs) the rider is some how ejected (ie catapolt...) or rig a sack of rocks or boulder that would somehow fall out of a tree (kinda like Roadrunner and Coyote).

Any takers?

Real mature.....