Guided Rides Into Closed Areas of Cleveland National Forest

[KeepsWhatHappens]

It's not a done deal yet but the Warriors Society is nearing approval of an agreement with the USFS where certain WS members will be able to lead group rides into closed area of the forest. Those areas will not include Harding or STT/Luge, but will include trails/roads on the VQ/CC route which will be benficial to many.

The earliest these rides will take place will be late January after hydro-seeding has been completed.

They will not be taking place on the weekend of Feb 2 and Feb 16 as we have trail work planned on those weekends.

Once announced there will be strict rules for participation such as limited group size, RSVP only, registration, and adherence to ride leader and USFS rules. We may also be required to have a USFS representative along on the rides, but that is still TBD.

Gene and I have put in a request to co-host the first guided ride slot which will be the Blackstar-Silverado (used to be called Motorway) Loop. Date and time is stll TBD.

More details to follow as they develop.

KeepsWhatHappens

[OMR]

You can put me down to help as I'm sure we'll have a large group going.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by OMR

You can put me down to help as I'm sure we'll have a large group going.

OK will do.

We're still waiting to hear back if there will be a cap limit to the rides. I have heard we may be required one guide per 10 riders, but those things are still being worked out.

KeepsWhatHappens

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by KeepsWhatHappens

OK will do.

We're still waiting to hear back if there will be a cap limit to the rides. I have heard we may be required one guide per 10 riders, but those things are still being worked out.

KeepsWhatHappens

I'd be interested. It sure would be nice to get a look see at the Motorway. Would it include Maple Springs to the Peak? I was wondering what the antenna maintenance people are doing, they must be allowed to drive up there, right?

[allison]

I just hope it is open to more than 20 people! Otherwise, how do you choose?

[spookydave]

sounds HAWT! Who should I send my 10 bucks to???


JUST KIDDING!!

[Waldo]

I'd love to be in on a BS/Motorway (can't bring myself to call it Silverado) ride. I've done Blackstar a couple times, but have yet to ride Motorway, and I'd rather not have the CC/VQ day be my first time!

Thanks, WSers, for working this out!

[genusmtbkr5]

Maple Springs to the peak and beyond would be another ride on a different day. If this works out, we can repeat the routes and give as many people a chance to ride these sections. This depending how successful the first "guided" one is.

[allison]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Maple Springs to the peak and beyond would be another ride on a different day. If this works out, we can repeat the routes and give as many people a chance to ride these sections. This depending how successful the first "guided" one is.

So would it just be Warriors members that went?

Would be cool to have an open day, but I guess they can't do that. Just seems like it'd be unfair if only 20 people got to ride the closed areas (non affected by the fires, of course) and everyone else was left out.

But, I guess we'll see what happens when it all is figured out.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by allison

So would it just be Warriors members that went?

No, it would be open to those who signed up on a first come basis. But keep in mind, we will be limited to how many, but it will be more than 20 I assure you. We would like as many as the FS will allow and they think is managable.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by allison

So would it just be Warriors members that went?

Would be cool to have an open day, but I guess they can't do that. Just seems like it'd be unfair if only 20 people got to ride the closed areas (non affected by the fires, of course) and everyone else was left out.

But, I guess we'll see what happens when it all is figured out.

Like Gene said it will be on a first-come first serve basis to the public. Gene and I will post to Warriors Email blast and STR board as close as simultaneously as possible to be fair.

The max number of riders will depend upon how many approved WS ride guides come forward to volunteer. There will have to be one guide per eight riders.

We are shooting for the cap to be 50-60 riders.

KeepsWhatHappens

[Wrecker]

Who's doing the guiding? Just Warrior's Society? Are they going to allow docents? Do you have to be docent trained? Any other way to qualify as a volunteer for the ride? That would allow more people on the trails; what qualifications are there to lead this?

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Wrecker

Who's doing the guiding? Just Warrior's Society? Are they going to allow docents? Do you have to be docent trained? Any other way to qualify as a volunteer for the ride? That would allow more people on the trails; what qualifications are there to lead this?

Contact Debra Clarke at the Forestry Dept and get the specifications as to what makes a qualified volunteer...I am sure there can be more then just WS leading rides...WS just brought it up to her at the trail work and she said she would start working on it..basically the approved FS volunteer will have to give ride discription of the ride area you want to ride, the date and time and the names of the people you will lead...very similar to the docent led rides..and from what I understood it wasn't going to be a limited amount of rides...I understood we will be able to have these FS approved rides for an indefinite period...but we will see once it all gets finalized.

I know there will be lots of guidelines that have to be followed but at least it's a way for us to be in our Forest riding again and a way to let those training for the VQ and CC to see what the course is like.

As soon as we have the complete details I am sure it will be posted immediately!

Hey Wrecker...check your PM I have a message coming at you.

[Ladd Jasper]

Thanks for working on this, guys, it's very much appreciated .

A couple questions, which you understandably may not have answers to yet: will there be different sub-groups within that total of 50-60 riders? I'm certain a single group that size will not travel at anyone's optimum pace, excepting the slowest rider, of course .

Also, KWH mentioned no guided rides on 2/2 and 2/16 due to trail work commitments. These are prime dates for rides that will likely be in high demand. Perhaps extra personnel could be trained to lead rides so that no possible dates are left unused. Maybe schedule smaller groups on those days, to keep the docent/rider ratio acceptable to the FS, but still leave bodies available for the trail work?

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by Ladd Jasper

Thanks for working on this, guys, it's very much appreciated .

A couple questions, which you understandably may not have answers to yet: will there be different sub-groups within that total of 50-60 riders? I'm certain a single group that size will not travel at anyone's optimum pace, excepting the slowest rider, of course .

Also, KWH mentioned no guided rides on 2/2 and 2/16 due to trail work commitments. These are prime dates for rides that will likely be in high demand. Perhaps extra personnel could be trained to lead rides so that no possible dates are left unused. Maybe schedule smaller groups on those days, to keep the docent/rider ratio acceptable to the FS, but still leave bodies available for the trail work?

This is one of the logistics that is worked on. We will let you all know when we know.

[genusmtbkr5]

Hi highly recommend those keep riding in the areas open like Black Star to Beek's and even to Bedford Peak or Sierria. Also HJ to the peak or Trabuco, HJ/Coldwater and up ITT/down Trabuco or HJ , Blue Jay to Trabuco and up WHT back down to Blue Jay. Get those miles in. You don't have to train in the Santa Ana's. I do cause it's close to where I live. By the time these guided rides are scheduled, that section from Beek's to Silverado Trail(Motorway) will be a walk in the park.