Whiting Trail Conditions

Discussion in 'Trail Conditions' started by krishno22, Jan 1, 2011.

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  1. MTBJOE57

    MTBJOE57 mtbjoe57

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    I hope they do (get a tractor in there). If not, how about every one we can muster with shovels? Count me in, I'm so over walking on the beach.
     
  2. kioti

    kioti Active Member

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    Me, too. I used to love Borrego; now I avoid it.

    Lets give 'em a week and see what happens. I try not to rally the troops for work that can be done faster and easier with machines, but we did re-open the top of Whiting Road last winter with a small group and a half day's work. So throwing some sand shouldn't be a problem.
     
  3. ericfoltz

    ericfoltz Active Member

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    Instead of trying to move all that sand, they should just make a rock path through it like we've done over on Arroyo Trabuco. Rocks packed down in the sand make for a good bridge through the deep sections.
     
  4. kioti

    kioti Active Member

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    Thanks for your work in O'Neill, Eric. As for Borrego, it might work, but the big section's about 180 yards long and a foot and a half deep, so it sounds like it'd take a lot of rocks. Which would require a lot of tractor trips to the parking lot, depending on how wide of a path they'd want to create. Plus, they've got limited access without creating a new entrance, while the current one is pretty nice. And all for what is at best a temporary fix until the next big storm. Even so, they might dig down and end up running into water.

    Ken Rands from SHARE was able to get a grant to use on a soil stabilizer, but that doesn't work well with sand, and sterilized DG is available but expensive. Wood boardwalks have also been discussed, but the initial expense and potential mess (if there were a flood) ended the discussion.

    Long-range plans call for re-working the main channel and making some sort of diversion to protect the trail, which is currently in the bottom of the wash. We (the volunteers who met with the Rangers) suggested moving the trail onto the slope, but so far there are no plans to do that. Too bad they weren't able to clean it up last winter when they were running the tractor, but they were blocked by the mud and narrow entrance at the old gate.
     
  5. ebenke

    ebenke Member

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    It's a double edge sword really, to improve it it may become more sterilized, due to all the heavy equipment and widening to get back where it's needed on the trail. Personally, I avoid the Borrego side, due to all the sand pits, plus the Wahoo's side has less hiker/runner traffic then Borrego in most cases.

    Kioti,
    Your idea of moving the trail to the hillside, above the main wash sounds smart, but it might take a full panel & committee to approve the re-route.

    Then again wouldn't it be cool to have an extended elevated deck in some of the really bad wash-out areas?
     
  6. kioti

    kioti Active Member

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    Must be hard to be a Ranger with so many regulations. Trees are cleared, rocks are moved.. why not sand? I can see leaving it in stream crossings, but not letting it bury long stretches of trail-- at least when cyclists are one of the main user groups.

    In this case, I think all the additional run-off after the fires has raised the level of the entire streambed, and the old trail alignment is no longer high enough. Maybe a rule allowing the trail to be 3 or 4 feet higher in elevation than the high water line would give the Rangers enough leeway to adjust to natural changes.

    I love the idea of an elevated deck. Gangplank during the day; CATwalk at night. :)
     
  7. genrec

    genrec Member

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    STINGING NETTLE

    Hey Everyone,

    I could be wrong, but I think i rubbed up against Stinging Nettle today. Right after the huge sand pit (football field length pit)..that left turn before what was the first water crossing a couple weeks ago..a bunch of over grown plants. I think thats what it was, I felt it, it stung, i looked back and I beleive thats what it is. My arm swelled with little blisters where i rubbed up agaisnt it. After an hour plus they started to disapate to watch is barely an itch now.

    Watch it!
     
  8. guero

    guero iFroth

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    we saw ranger gump at 4-corners yesterday talking to some other riders about trail work and what not. he seemed like a nice guy who really does care about everyone's concerns. the coolest thing about ranger gump was that he was out there on his mt bike!
     
  9. no worries

    no worries Member

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    Saw something on the OC Parks Alerts about "all trails now open at Whiting, enjoy!"

    What was closed? Was work being done?
     
  10. Rumpled

    Rumpled Longtime Newb

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    I think Mustard the "other way" and Vista Point/Ridge? were still closed.
     
  11. Jonas104

    Jonas104 New Member

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    Current Whiting Trail Conditions(Merged/Last update: 2-8-14)

    Went out with a few buddies to ride the trails from El Toro/Portola up to Four Corners, noticed that the trail that runs "parallel" to Dreaded Hill was packed down or some kind of work was done to it. The tractors were still there. Anyway, this is my first time seeing this "reconditioning" of the trails. Alot of the brush was plowed leaving hard packed trails. Crazy thing was that it scared a bunch of the wild life to Live Oak/Serrano Creek Trail, saw like 6 deers on the way up and a few more on the way down. Do they usually do this to the trails as upkeep or something?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 27, 2011
  12. kioti

    kioti Active Member

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    Not sure which area you're talking about but I've seen some heavy equipment work being done on the east side of the park, near Coyote Brush/Line Shack roads. This area looks like it's outside the actual Park boundaries, according to the map, which might explain why all the brush is being removed..
     
  13. Jonas104

    Jonas104 New Member

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    Coyote Brush Rd!!! Thanks :D
     
  14. Revalimage

    Revalimage Active Member

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    Yep - that is always a 'manicured' fire road.
     
  15. kioti

    kioti Active Member

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    I just talked to Assistant Ranger Sean Bengtson, and he explained it to me. The work is being done by NROC (Nature Reserve of Orange County), to benefit the Whiting Ranch ecosystem. NROC removed non-native thistle and other invasive plants, and are restoring natural habitat by re-introducing cactus and sage scrub. This habitat is especially important to the California Gnatcatcher.

    The land they're doing it on was part of a land-swap from the massive new sports park development being built at Glass Creek, down by El Toro and Portola Parkway. NROC is transplanting coastal sage from the sports park property onto the newly acquired Whiting Ranch land.

    Thanks for asking about this because I was curious, too.
     
  16. Jonas104

    Jonas104 New Member

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    Awesome, thanks for the info guys. Good to know they're trying to preserve it, I feel so privileged to live so close to these amazing trails and would hate the see any of them disappear.
     
  17. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    whiting ranch needs some rain to mess it up a little. So smooth right now you ride a tarmac thru there.
     
  18. Revalimage

    Revalimage Active Member

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    Yeah, have seen Jim (kioti) cruise through on his cross bike before...

    I dunno, I think I'd have to be too careful with my line choice and that would interrupt my fun - might add more to the giggle factor - maybe time to give it a whirl.
     
  19. kioti

    kioti Active Member

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    Bad brakes and skinny tires on a rigid bike definitely boost the fun factor on overly groomed trails! Sand and stutter bumps-- not so much.

    A few good rains will put some ruts and loose rocks on those trails, and I'm all for it.
     
  20. mtnbikerfred

    mtnbikerfred Super Moderator

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    How's Whiting?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 16, 2012
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