I'm back mountain biking after some years doing other stupid stuff, ha! David Whiting, Orange County Register Metro columnist. Anyway, wrote a piece about bringing mountain biking tourism to OC and another on the awesome Ride for Rwanda. Working on trail closures. Interested in your thoughts about this stuff. Here or email [email protected] Rwanda here: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ride-714520-mile-hartstein.html
Nice article David. Your topic for this thread references trail closures, and it is timely. We could use an advocate down here in Ladera Ranch with a recent trail closure very close to the trails used for the Rwanda ride. There is actually a meeting tomorrow night at Selma's Pizza in Ladera to discuss the recent trail closure where Rancho Mission Viejo strong armed the OC Parks to close a lonely single track up Oso near Tesoro High School. Many residents in this area are not happy with these actions and RMV has not been a good neighbor. If there is any way you could attend the meeting, we really could use a voice. Here is a link to the thread http://www.socaltrailriders.org/index.php?threads/save-las-flores-ridge-ladera-ridge.65451/ Unfortunately I cannot attend the meeting tomorrow night due to other commitments, but I hope it is a productive meeting. Additionally, there is not a lot of activity on So Cal Trailriders and there is another MTB website where you might want input as well. Try visiting www.imtbtrails.com , they seem to have more active users in So Cal.
We are the eyes and ears of the wilderness, our local rangers always like my input on the local renegade. I ride late so I have rescued many a wayward traveler I find in the dark with no lights. I do not understand the OC policy of closing trails at sunset.
I agree, keep getting out, keep reporting about it. There is something magic when you see the hikers eyes, returning down a nasty trail, and you are coming up, cleaning the nasty tread and giving them a sly smile as you pass. They do not understand the intensity until they see you CLOSE UP.