The Meadows, now multi-use.

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Wed, 05/18/2011 - 3:03pm

Chuck U

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The Meadows, now multi-use.

Hey everyone, you may have noticed that there is a lot of work being done in Houston Meadow, some of that work leading you directly into the meadow, which was previously off limits to bikes. There was also a thread about a month ago asking about meadow access, even before the legal loop was closed.

So....

It is now official: Houston Meadow is multi-use approved!

I urge anyone who rides through here to tread lightly and be extra respectful to other users - some of whom may not know that this decision has been made. In other words: if someone approaches you, upset that you are riding your bike through the meadow, please be respectful, informative if need be. Plenty of people are protective of this area and might not know of the changes.

Also, the trails are still in a construction phase, so they still will be changing slightly over the next few weeks. Just something to keep an eye on.

Finally, I have attached a PDF of official notice from the city.

-Chuck

Houston_Meadow_Trail_Designation.pdf

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 3:53pm

vegancheesesteak

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Lots more trail. Full loop

Lots more trail. Full loop just got longer.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 4:03pm

RollinRox

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Nice!

So does this mean we can legally take the right at the top of monster into the meadow, or is there another access point?

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 4:05pm

chunter

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Right on! I'm not much for

Right on! I'm not much for climbing, but good to know we can add that now.

Anytime...

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 4:05pm

Chuck U

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Yeah, that's the right way.

Yeah, that's the right way. The sign needs to be updated, which should happen somewhat soon.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 4:14pm

vegancheesesteak

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The long flowy section makes

The long flowy section makes the climb worth it. Very scenic too. Not many open spaces in the park, so its a nice change.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 4:34pm

fishnchips

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Looks great. I can't wait to

Looks great. I can't wait to roll thru the meadow when the sun is low. Hopefully it will be similar to how it used to be, (but better!)

Will the climb up twisty turny still be the same, or what's the plan there? That's the highest and one of the toughest climbs in the park so it'd be nice to retain the challenge.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 5:27pm

dherman951

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I rode the new trail a few

I rode the new trail a few weeks ago. It's not better or worse, just different. Takes you to the right now through the meadow with a lot of turns which are fun, versus the old trial which was through the middle.

BUT it does change the twisty turny trail. It cuts off the beginning because it now routes you around to the right and you come in close to where that big tree fell. Not as fast or technical IMO. Don't know if we would be able to cut over earlier to catch the beginning section - will have to explore next ride.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 7:04pm

dannmer

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Climb up twisty turny

@Jesse

Only a small section of the climb on twisty turny has been closed. The newly constructed trail has the same elevation gain as the closed section of twisty turny and the replacement trail is twistier and turnier than the closed section of twisty turny. The closed section is mostly smooth straight line doubletrack at the top of the hill.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 8:23pm

#10

vegancheesesteak

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I dont think it cuts off any

I dont think it cuts off any of the technical portions of twisty turny. It starts above the harder part where the gully was near where it got easy before the top. The only part that you can say that was technical that was removed was the crappy gravel downhill gully on the other side.

If you havent been out there for a few weeks there is quite a bit more. The trail goes through the meadow, re-enters the woods, out through the north meadow, and over to the top of the monster. Its a really nice trade off for a short closure.

Also, please be considerate and dont ride the closed trails. Especially the little social trail ones through the meadow. Things have been planeted there and more planting will be happening soon to control erosion.

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:18pm

#11

Chuck U

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To clarify, all of the trails

To clarify, all of the trails that existed previously in the meadow are now closed. This includes the very top of twisty turny - the wide top part, with a small gully before that first sharp turn. The new trail enters/breaks off right at that sharp sandy turn.

The city plan also closes the washed out straight downhill that was full of gravel, bricks, rubble, and glass.

Both the top part and the brick washout are already partially closed and blocked. They will be further blocked by deer enclosure fence (by the city - in about two weeks). This fence will cross both old corridors, hence the real need for an alternative.

As for the meadow trails, there will only be one route through, with spur trails to the hockey rink and to the stable (for the time being). EVERYTHING else is technically closed and will be even more so once the deer fence goes up.

There should be better signage on the ground soon to help explain it all. As well as further trail work to finish some of the new trail (north meadow especially). I know a lot of it is confusing in it's current state, especially the status of the spiderweb of old trails in the south meadow. Hopefully not for much longer.

Most importantly, the new trail is legal and you will no longer be damaging MTB reputation in the Wiss by riding (responsibly) up there....

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 7:08am

#12

jomissa

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Props

Good work folks. The Meadow is transofrmed for sure. Way better than the past, great flow....and wonderful to have a multi use accomplishment in the park.

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 9:59am

#13

Chuck U

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Not to take away from the

Not to take away from the Nockamixon work day but - FOW will be holding another trail day in the meadows this Saturday, starting at 10. If you have time to stop out, the official meeting spot is at the playground. If no one is there when you arrive, we should be easy to find just below the hockey rink - on the new trail.

Thanks to those who already came out to help!

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 10:15am

#14

Sage

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Map

Hey Chuck, do you know if there is a Map available with the new route you are referring to? If not, can you modify the latest version of the trail map PDF to show me the new entrance, route and exit. Sorry, I know I should know the name of the spots in the Wiss by now, but I am a slow learner I guess. I was just really curious because this redirect definitely has an effect on my now infamous full loop. Thanks

I break for fires

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 10:23am

#15

Chuck U

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Dan is working on a map.

Dan is working on a map. Should have it done today or tomorrow....

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 10:51am

#16

dannmer

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Map of Houston Meadows

@Sage

Here is a map of the current open trails and two of the closed trail sections in Houston Meadows. The trail segments between the orange arrows are now closed. The northern part of the closed trail (the one that crosses about 7 contour lines) will have an 8 foot high metal deer fence running across it in two locations.

The dark blue trails represent bike-legal trails and orange indicates horse-hiker only trails. The southern section of the Yellow trail between the bottom of twisty turny and the northernmost closure point remains horse-hiker only.

Hope this clarifies the situation for you.

Dan

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Houston Meadows map.jpg	181.05 KB

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 11:23am

#17

Sage

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Idiot

I do not know how it is possible but I am more confused now than before. I guess there are some people you just can't help. Thanks Dan and Chuck, I think I just need to get there to see what you guys mean. It has not rained since the night, hopefully if the afternoon stays dry I will try and check it out later. Thanks again for the help. Sage

I break for fires

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 12:10pm

#18

dannmer

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Revised map of Houston Meadows

@Sage

Here is a revised version of the map. The orange arrows show the old bike-legal path that you used to take through this area. The black dashed lines show the closed trails in the meadow. To access the meadow from Bells Mill Rd just turn right at the top of the monster.

From the south access, is no problem since the new trail is directly connected to the old trail where the southernmost section of the dashed lines intersect the dark blue lines.

The orange arrow that has an "A" next to it represents the trail section that I believe you were refering to as the monster in the shoutbox several weeks ago.

Hope this helps. If not, let me know.

Dan

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Houston Meadow v2.jpg	242.1 KB

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 12:13pm

#19

Sage

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Cool

Thanks Dan, I think I know the right you mean at the top of the monster. I am excited to check it out. The map is awesome, thank you again for taking the time to lay this stuff out. Sage

I break for fires

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 1:56pm

#20

RollinRox

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Dan

If I understand your map and explanation correctly, there are 3 bike legal options after climbing monster...1) Go to the right into the meadow 2) Go to the left but bail down to FD at the next hill down to it 3) Go to the left to the point where the the blue trail is now closed or where the orange trail starts and then turn around. If this is correct, then it is kind of weird that there is an out and back bike trail. Is there a plan for the future to change the user status of either the orange section to all users or the blue section north of it to the monster to hike/horse only?

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 2:13pm

#21

dannmer

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Bike legal options

@RollinRox

It is correct that there are currently three bike-legal options at the top of the monster. It is strange that option 3 is an out and back trail. I have attached yet another revised map showing labeled trail segments. There are essentially two options. Section D becomes multi-use and then both upper and lower lines between Bells Mill and Cathedral Run become bike-legal.

The other option is, as you said, to change the status of section C to horse-hiker only. I am not sure what the FOW and PPR will decide but I suspect that sections C and D will become horse-hiker only. Section C has some nice rocky sections that will a shame to lose access to but it is likely that most/all of the rocky sections would be eliminated during a future trail reroute since these sections are all on a fall line section of trail.

Dan

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Thu, 05/19/2011 - 2:15pm

#22

Chuck U

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@RollinRoxSadly, the

@RollinRox

Sadly, the decisions on usage are lagging the actual project, hence the loose ends. However as to your numbers:

#1 - This is for sure. That will be the prefered route and it was the only way to still include twisty turny in a bike legal route. The alternative was to dump us on the lower line only, with a significant loss of trail and climbing.

#2 - Will most likely stay multi for connectivity. Either access to the upper line from the covered bridge or as a alternate bail option to FD as you mention.

#3 - Will most likely revert to the orange, or hiker/horse to match the section it dead ends into. The opposite of having it all "blue" or multi, is less likely but not yet written off completely.

Temporary signage should be up as soon as tomorrow to make it all a bit more clear.

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 2:16pm

#23

Chuck U

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Nice timing Dan...

Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:37pm

#24

DrSaw

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Damn that trail is sweet

I take it the other way most of the time - up "Death Climb" (the loose ass crap at the bottom of twisty-turny), then left up to Meadows. Flows and looks like out West. Adds appx .7 miles to my usual full park loop.

Sweetness

Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:15am

#25

kochjg

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Just rode this trail for the

Just rode this trail for the first time ever and it was great. Good work. I can tell that it will develop into a killer trail.

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