Aliso is now open!

[TURNERob]

Read on the o.c parks website that Aliso is open now \:/ I'll probably be going there on Monday.

[miznaxxx]

I just called and the message says it's open. \:/

[LBmtb]

Awesome news! JamR also sent me an email about this. I'll update the front page once I get home. \:/ \:/

[ECOdork]

Sorry for the lack of originality, but this post is nearly the same as the one on mybikesite.com...

Aliso is in great shape, for the most part. I took some pics of the washed out part of Mathis that I will try to figure out how and where to post them on this website.

My route was fairly clean. Ranger Office --> up Mathis (around the detour, of course) --> Top of the World --> down Mathis --> Dripping Springs --> Coyote Run --> Ranger Office. The only really "bad" section of trail I encountered was on Dripping Spring, a little wet and muddy so take caution, but otherwise firm.

A big THANKS to the Park crews and Rangers that clearly have been working to re-open Aliso!!!! \:/
There were plenty of riders and hikers out there, so ride friendly!

As a side note--and at risk of sounding extremly "preachy" but I had such a damn good ride that I'll risk it anyway: I am new to the area--originally from TX--and I will only be here for a few more months. I just have to say that THE OC has been truly the mountain biking fantasy I hoped it would be! Where I'm coming from (east-central TX), we have 2 "local" places to ride within ~1 hour drive for a total of about 20 miles of trails. Don't get me wrong, they are good rides, but you get really tired of the same 2 trails. In my hometown (south TX) NO places to ride (that I am aware of) because all the land is privately-owned and used mainly as hunting leases.

So please appreciate what you have here! Just off the top of my head I can think of over a dozen SWEET places to ride with thousands of acres of varied terrain within ~30 minutes of South OC! And if you consider all the SoCal area, it's mind-blowing!

Love it, appreciate it, nurture it, don't litter, don't take it for granted, and enjoy it! \/

Alright, I'll get off my soap box now....

[ECOdork]

Pic 1

[ECOdork]

Pic2

[ECOdork]

pic2

[LBmtb]

Hmm . . .

Something tells me there was rain damage!

[TURNERob]

Damn, that is crazy!!! I heard the rode was "gone", but I never thought it would really be GONE! I look forward to getting out there on Monday

[jinks]

Rode here this morning. The trail's are in pretty good condition with a few muddy areas on Dripping Cave, but other than the odd rut it was fine. I've never seen so many people on these trails before. Personally, I think the rougher conditions make the riding more enjoyable and technical. Here's the route that we tooK: Ranger station - Dripping Cave - up Mathis - down Lynx - up Cholla - down Rockit - Coyote Run single track and then back home.

[arloburns]

Hey Guys,

I rode aliso today (Saturday Jan, 22nd) it was in pretty good shape. I attached 2 more pictures of the trail damage on the road to mathis. It's amazing that the whole trail leading to Mathis is pretty much gone.

-Ralph

[ECOdork]

I received a letter asking me not to "post anywhere that you ride trails during closures".

I appreciate this individual’s tact and discretion in dealing with this matter and will respond in kind. Receiving this letter made me realize that I may have mislead (and angered) more than this one individual. I truly hope this is not the case. I was not riding around AW while it was closed. After discovering on this website that AW was opened, I did call ahead to the Ranger’s Office to confirm this and heard the message indicating all trails were opened. I haven’t received a reply to my request for clarification from this individual, but if s/he meant that I was riding around in certain trails--and encouraging others to do the same--despite closures, I must apologize. It is very clear from the pictures I took that this section of Mathis is closed. That was the point of posting the pictures. I was merely trying to contribute to the great SoCal MTB community that I admire by providing images that I myself have been desperately waiting weeks to see.

I apologize for causing any damage to our already fragile reputation as MTBers. Obviously any damage is already done as my original letter and pictures are now floating around in cyber-space, but please accept my apology for any misunderstanding on this matter. If the admins and/or the website community feel it would be better to delete this thread and all the contained information, I encourage you to do so.
Again, I apologize for serving as “the bad seed” that risks ruining it for everyone. That certainly was NOT my intention.

I make it a point to adhere to posted signage and to treat the places we love to ride with respect and I expect others to do the same.

Thank you

I think it was pretty clear that you were riding when the trail was open and only a portion of the trail was closed. If someone misinterpreted or overreacted, I don't think thats any fault of yours.

[LBmtb]

Originally Posted by texlepomis

If the admins and/or the website community feel it would be better to delete this thread and all the contained information, I encourage you to do so.

I don't believe in censor ship

[ocmtb]

i rode that trail in the pic and right after that it was a marsh mathiss will be closed for a while