Coldwater Trail Conditions (updated 1/22/13)

Discussion in 'Trail Conditions' started by dirtyPG, Feb 9, 2011.

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  1. dirtyPG

    dirtyPG New Member

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    Has anyone ridden Coldwater lately? I want to hit it up this weekend, and was just wondering if it's rideable.
     
  2. mpmffitz

    mpmffitz Farm Freerider

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    Good looking out. I sleep on the weekends because I work nights on weekends but I'll ride with ya on a Monday thru a Wednesday. Let the tribe know of the conditions when your done.
     
  3. sdmoondogg

    sdmoondogg New Member

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    Bump. Anyone ridden Coldwater lately and have the 411?
     
  4. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    Has not been brushed lately and who knows what the latest storms did to it. Also The VQ/CC is this Sat so lots of riders will be descending UHJ if that's the way you plan on getting to CW.
     
  5. sdmoondogg

    sdmoondogg New Member

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    Thanks Gene. Aware of the VQ/CC, we are planning to ride Sunday. Will bring clippers and a saw and report back.
     
  6. sdmoondogg

    sdmoondogg New Member

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    Evdog and I rode ITT to Coldwater yesterday, 4/3. Overall it was slow going. Upper third was pretty clear. The middle third was increasingly overgrown. We stopped and cleared major obstructions with clippers and a saw. Overall spent probably an hour brushing. The lower third after the HAB was severely overgrown. According to Evdog, the ruts in the steeps were larger than the last time he was there. Dry and loose on top over moist soil an inch down.
     
  7. evdog

    evdog Member

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    The whole trail was somewhat overgrown as Matt said, worse on the lower part, but that was mostly softer brush that you could ride through provided you could see the trail.

    The upper switchbacks were all in good shape and rideable, just some minor ruts in a few spots. The first rut that caused problems was just above the start of the HAB. Of the three main steeps after the HAB, the first one was business as usual but more difficult as things are starting to really dry out. It was dry and loose, but the rut is no larger than normal. I had a couple nice crashes before giving up.

    [​IMG]

    The second steep was in good shape. Dry and loose, but rideable. Until the bottom, where you can see I got squirrely and got tossed big time :clap:. You can see where I lost it by the bush and ended up in the rut, you can also see where my front wheel washed out left of the rut at the bottom.

    [​IMG]

    After the turn at the bottom a big rut opens up and the next part of the steep is not rideable IMO. There is still moisture close under the surface so it is not too late to fix it if some people can get up there to work.

    [​IMG]

    The final steep is in good shape, rut has not grown and still some moisture.

    [​IMG]

    The chute right after it is in good shape too, dirt is soft. I crashed in it on try #1, and thought I was done for on try #2 but managed to pull it off with one leg out, no dab.

    [​IMG]

    While conditions are getting a little dry to ride the steeps, I was impressed how well the trail held up. Brushing will take some work but tread work required is minimal. If anyone is going up there to work I'd be down to help if I'm able.
     
  8. ThinkFast

    ThinkFast Member

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    Coldwater?

    Anyone now what condition it's in?

    I haven't been on Coldwater since November and at that time it was starting to get over grown. I'm wondering if anyone has been out there since and done any trail work.

    Thanks
     
  9. evdog

    evdog Member

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    I rode it last month. Very overgrown. On the upper sections before the HAB we did some brushing, and basically cut out the brush that was impossible or very difficult to ride through. It is still overgrown but you can ride through it. The lower down you go the more overgrown it gets. At the bottom its very hard to follow the trail, but the brush is at least soft so you can ride through it if you know where to go. There is some PO before you cross the creek to exit into the gravel pit.

    Most of the tread was in decent shape. The upper switchbacks were all good. There is a rut on the last descent before the HAB that made things interesting. Of the three main steeps on CW after the HAB, the first is unchanged - a bit of a rut in the middle filled with loose scree. The second one is in good shape, except after the main pitch where the trail turns right a rut begins that would be hard to ride given the continued steepness of the trail. I had already crashed enough, so walked it. The third steep near the bottom, right above the dirt chute was in good shape.

    Bottom line, it needs brushing badly but is rideable.
     
  10. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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  11. mike001

    mike001 Well-Known Member

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    Sunday 1/20: Trail ship shape.

    Never found the easement around the Great Pumpkin Slide. Is it up by the nearby residence?


    Thanks for the info and the stoke, y'all.
     
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