Snowy Foxboro Ride 3-1-09

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A snowy and slippery ride at Foxboro today. Actually the trail conditions were much better than I had expected, but there were many ice patches as the video shows.

Here's a link to the video. 2 posted now and a couple more to come.

http://www.crerars.net/mtb-video.aspx

Riders:
Kmdmac, Rich, Susan, Carol, Skunkty14, IC

[C.P.]

Hey Iain, thanks for sharing! I wanted to join in the fun, but I'm still on the mend from a nasty stomach bug thing...bleh

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CP,

You're welcome. Sorry to hear that you're under the weather. Glad you didn't pass it on at Thursday's spin. :)

It was really fun today. Lots of thrills and even more spills...

[Steel Monkey]

Great video... It's too bad your riding on a hiking only trail.

[DVRider]

Great video... It's too bad your riding on a hiking only trail.

There are only two trails in Foxboro that say "No Bikes" or "Hiking Only". This is not one of them. Blue blazing does not indicate No Bicycles.

[Steel Monkey]

It's there at the end of the trail.. just have to look for it. It's one of the brown ones that stick in the ground.

[skunkty14]

It's there at the end of the trail.. just have to look for it. It's one of the brown ones that stick in the ground.

What's there? Signage? I don't know Foxboro as well as others but I'm pretty confident that Riding is correct here....

[Steel Monkey]

If you come in from granite st. it's the trail on your left the brown sign is right there unless it's was taken down I believe it's part of the warner trail you'd figure the the blue diamonds on the tree that say hiking would be enough not to ride there.Check out the map.

[skunkty14]

If you come in from granite st. it's the trail on your left the brown sign is right there unless it's was taken down I believe it's part of the warner trail you'd figure the the blue diamonds on the tree that say hiking would be enough not to ride there.Check out the map.

While you're correct that Warner Trail does not allow MTBers where trail crosses private property, the Warner Trail guidebook http://warnertrail.org/Guidebook2008%20Rev%2004.pdf clearly states on the first page that where the trail crosses public land(i.e. state forest & conservation land) that MTB access is left up the to that body to decide whether or not MTB access is permitted. Thus in the case of Gilbert Hills, this was a decision left up to the DCR which has not prohibited MTBs on this section of trail.

Not trying to start a pissing contest but just providing information for anyone who comes across this thread. Maps and guidebooks are really the way to go here IMHO. For example there are loads of trails in Wompatuck that only show XC skier blazes but all non-motorized users (hikers, bikers, horseback riders, snowshoers, etc.) are welcome.

[C.P.]

I was surprised to see the hiking trail comment, b/c I've never seen the signs myself, and, for at least 12 years, I've been riding this trail, it's a good connector. I think I know why, I always ride it heading toward granite street most of the time...maybe I dont see the signs?
I was just looking at the Foxboro map (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/F.GilbertHills.gif), and I think SteelMonkey is talking about the trail in the attached pic below.

Anyways, here is some commentary from the past regarding that trail. I'm pretty sure that a few years ago we put together a trailwork plan to show the land manager Ron Clough that included replacing the small bridge on that trail (that log that runs lengthwise) and Ron stated that he wanted a new bridge to be wide enough to handle his ATV. I dont recall any comments regarding "hiking only" from back then, but that was a while ago. It's still a project that's on our list of "to-dos", and I dont know the status...just some background.

[ic]

CP, The log "bridge" that you mention has been replaced by a rock armor "bridge". Also, don't recall seeing any hiking only signs there.

[bdee]

I have never known that to be a hiking trail either. I've been riding there for ~ 10 years and I generally am out there a few hours a week. Given all the moto crap that goes it's really a moot point if it even is a "hiking only" trail. While we're worrying about intended use and signage it's worth noting that the main loop from HQ was never designated a "dog crap" trail but, you know, that's kinda what it became over the last few years ;)* I have yet to complain about it to anyone with a dog.









*Now, before some humorless troll barks at me (barks, it's a joke, get it?) please be advised I'm all for more users in the woods. In fact seeing more folks out there makes me happy. But dogs, being the good natured (and sometimes neutered) fun loving scamps that they are, can't pick up their own crap. No thumbs you see...

[Steel Monkey]

Never knew it was a hiking trail come on now....the blue diamonds-spots on the trees are a dead give away you can even see it on the video I know your not riding out there on the trails with your eyes closed.

bdee maybe you should start complaining I don't use the main entrance that often as I live near by so I can just jump in anywhere. ... with the the dog park down the street changing it's rules it's easier for the the dog walkers to go to the forest and muck up the trails and how fast do you think the dog walkers would complain if something happen out on the trails with a biker?? Not everyone in the forest likes mountain bikers being out there and there's more of them than us.:rad:

[bdee]

I don't plan on complaining, I like dogs better than people anyways.

[DVRider]

Never knew it was a hiking trail come on now....the blue diamonds-spots on the trees are a dead give away you can even see it on the video I know your not riding out there on the trails with your eyes closed.

I can empirically state that that trail is not off limits to Mountain Biking and here is my evidence:

By your logic, Bikers can not ride on Hiking Trail since Bikers have Mountain Biking Trails and Hikers have Hiking trails.

Therefore, MX can not ride on Biking Trails since MX have Motorcycle Trails and Bikes have Mountain Biking Trails.
"Dan's Trail"(See IC's video Dan's Trail) is the Mountain Biking Trail that runs out from Lakeview Rd.

If MX can not ride on Mountain Biking Trails, then why is the enduro run on "Dan's Trail"(sometimes called the imba trail) every year. The Enduro route is approved by at least the Land Manager, I also believe the route is additionally approved by the DCR Office in Boston.

Therefore, unless the trail head says No Mountain Biking or has a picture of a red bike with a "No" symbol through it, it is a ridable trail.
Additionally, based on your logic, we would not be able to ride on Bridle trails.
And for my final argument, because there's really nothing else left to say, Our own website (http://www.nemba.org/ridingzone/p_Foxboro_State_Forest.html)includes the following:

As a result of a GOALS planning process, an extensive network of marked trails exists in the forest. Designations include trails for hikers, horses, mountain bikes, and motorcycles. With the exception of small sections of the hiking trail we are welcome on all of the forest's marked trails as well as the other woods roads, singletracks etc...

Let me repeat:
With the exception of small sections of the hiking trail

It does not say we are not allowed to ride the hiking trail.

Let me rephrase:
We can ride the hiking trails unless there are signs saying we can't.

I rest my case <-- Rich, that's for you.

[Steel Monkey]

Dvrider
Dan's trail is not the trail in question as it seems that most mountain bikers ride the moto trails without much conflict.The trail in question did have the brown sign with the red bike on it as of last summer you would only notice it if you come in from granite st. as most come in the main parking lot and take that right off the fire road and never see it, don't know if someone has taken it down now. I'm not here to police the nemba members where they can or can not ride I was just making a observation about video being on a hiking trail.
There are far more challenging trails in the forest besides the hiking trails and thats where you'll find me.:)

[C.P.]

I had a chance to head over to Foxboro today to do a trail check. So first off a quick trail report. Trails are still frozen for the most part and have icy spots in a few places and will need more time before they are ready with the upcoming thaw. it'll be soon, maybe 1-2 weeks...

I also had a chance to stop in and ask the land manager Ron Clough about the trail in question (see my post above) by showing it to him on the map. I specifically asked if it was okay for bicycles to ride on. He answered with a very matter of fact YES.
I didn't get a chance to have more conversation or ask what the significance the blue hiking blazes had; but while I was riding, I took note that in a few different areas in the park that those blue blazes were installed on a few trails that I knew were are okay for all user traffic.

Back at the headquarters, I took note that at the Kiosk at the trailhead, there was a map and a separate 8.5X11 paper with trail written descriptions. One thing I found was that the trail descriptions for the Hiking trails included a statement that the "Hiking Loops" were marked with blue blazes and blue hiking symbols; which to me indicates that the presence of those blue blazes really only helps to mark where the "Hiking Loops" are for the map challenged, (rather then mark trails that are Hiking only and exclude certain other forms of user traffic). This made sense, since I did see those blue blazes on trails that all other traffic use.
The trail descriptions also had a statement at the bottom of the map key that read something like: "look for signs that exclude certain user traffic throughout the park"

As I left, I also ran into one other park staff worker and stopped to ask him the same question about that trail. He gave the same answer as Ron, YES, It's okay for bikes.

Edit: I also looked on both ends of the trail for those Bikes Excluded signs, and there weren't any.

I hope this helps everyone, I learned a little more about Foxboro today...

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Thanks for checking and posting CP.