Trail Conditions?

[CouchingTiger]

Anyone have recent conditions reports? I'm wondering what conditions are like around the area. I know that we have about 5" of crusty junk here in Bedford which makes for pretty tough going. I saw that HP was ridable. I'm sure that Wompy is fine. Need less snow, more ice. Anyone know what the North Shore is like, like maybe up toward Dogtown?

-Couch

[neusaab]

The post on HPSF mentioned the Unabomber trail which last I was on it (snowshoes, a week ago) was OK and I'm sure is now packed enough to ride on. The rest of the place, though, especially the good singletrack, might be iffy at best. Not enough foot/other traffic.

I was hoping someone might report on it. I might make a run down there this weekend regardless.

[digger]

Walked some of the W. Gloucester trails yesterday. Plenty of dirt showing. Also some sheets of ice and soft ground/mud. Try to get it when it's frozen.

[BradyByrd]

I'm considering lynn woods tonight, does anyone have an update?

[Slappy]

Most of Lynn woods is CLOSED to bikes for the season

[pk]

I'm considering lynn woods tonight, does anyone have an update?

Hey BradyByrd

Welcome to the forum!

There are very few state parks that are closed to biking during the winter. In MA, the only places I know of are Lynn Woods, the Middlesex Fells, and the Blue Hills. In fact, I think these are the only parks closed to winter riding in all of New England.

Anyone know of any others?

pk

[neusaab]

Do you know WHY these sites are closed in the winter? Seems that those of us who choose ride all year are less likely to damage trails in the dead of winter. Mud season is another issue.

[BradyByrd]

Thanks for the update on park closures. I agree that winter is bound to be less damaging to trails so the policy confuses me. Lincoln trails are closed in mud season.

[DVRider]

Do you know WHY these sites are closed in the winter? Seems that those of us who choose ride all year are less likely to damage trails in the dead of winter. Mud season is another issue.

I have to disaggree, I see a lot more widening of the trails during the dead of winter because of the following.

Water pools in low spot on trail
Water freezes
Rider without studs goes around ice to avoid falling
Brush on side of trail is trampled and bacomes part of low spot
Water pools in bigger low spot on trail
Water freezes
Rider without studs goes around ice to avoid falling
and so on.I've seen some tight singletrack get wide pretty quickly this way.

I'd even argue that this has more impact on the trail than riding during the mud season as long as everyone follows the etiquette of riding through the middle of mud puddles and not doing the same as above(replace mud for ice). Also, the brush has less of a chance to survive when it's trampled during the winter as opposed to the spring when it's sprouting.

Besides, IMHO, it makes riding at those places so much better when you have to wait for them to open. It's a festival atmosphere in Lynn on the first Saturday that they're open.

[thecanoe]

Rode Otis yesterday and most of the trails were extremely muddy. The ones up on the ridges or high ground were great. After today's rain, it will take a while for the trails to dry out. I'd advise to stay off of them.

[MTBME]

Looks like were entering that painful transition between frozen winter trails and the warm dry weather of spring. It's too warm to firm up the trails and yet the ground is too frozen to absorb water and runoff. Looks like I may hit the road this weekend on my beater mtb.

[S2RT]

Hey Norm, take your beater up to NRRT and you can get almost 25 traffic free miles in. No worrying about some clown in a car tryin to soak ya by a puddle. Ya might even find a woodsy/powerliney side excursion or three while yer atit.

S2

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Shucks, I was hoping to see some good news for trail conditions. I ruinned my rear wheel on my road bike and waiting for a new one to come in--haven't ridden in an entire week!!!

Oh well, guess it's yet another "rest" weekend for me.

[MTBME]

Hey Norm, take your beater up to NRRT and you can get almost 25 traffic free miles in. No worrying about some clown in a car tryin to soak ya by a puddle. Ya might even find a woodsy/powerliney side excursion or three while yer atit.

S2

I have no idea what NRRT stands for.

[MissJean]

Nashua River Rail Trail