I had a chance to get out there today with my buddy. Does anyone know which SORBA chapter takes care of that trail? Or if there even is one? There were several trees down across the trail that made parts of the ride miserable (on the bike, off the bike). I'd had cut them up, but I didn't pack my chainsaw for today's ride...i'm always leaving something behind!

I never even knew there was a mountain bike trail there. You have any links with info by chance?

http://www.mindspring.com/~keithmc/rides/ - i found this. gives a little bit of an overview...just scroll down

There is a chapter here, but not very active. We do try to get out and maintain the designated trails as best we can, at least a small core group of us. I know on the Ladyslipper/Sourwood trails I rode about a month ago and there were a total of 3 trees down out of the roughly 10 miles of trail, hardly on and off the bike, so I'd say that's not where you were. However, there could have been a lot more blown down that I don't know about. These trails are on the Cornelia/Mt. Airy side near the lake.

If you were on the Frady Branch trail system on the Stephen's County side off GA 184, I haven't had a chance to ride there since probably June. When my back heals up, I'll be going over to see what needs to be done. Currently the Frady Branch system is closed as the access road from the trailhead was washed out in the recent flooding.

This a not an urban trail system, more backcountry, and there are many old roadbeds that are not designated trails and not maintained. Most of them are littered with trees.

If you could give me more detail about where you were and some specifics, I'll try to get out and take a look. This weekend is firearm hunting and I will not be going. I was going to get the 3 trees I know of in the next couple of weekends, so if there are others I will try to get them too.

We have a very small core group of volunteers and often life gets in the way of us keeping everything clear all the time and the appropriate level of maintenance being done to the trail tread to maintain proper drainage, but usage is generally very light. I appreciate your help in locating these problems areas so we can take of them. Thanks.

just realized that this was supposed to be a pm...edited

Thanks, I will have to make a trip there at some point. Its a shame that the Sorba chapter in that area is not a big and active one. Sounds like they need some one or or a few to promote there chapter. I myself an in the GATR chapter and it seems we are now starting to really grow in members the past year. It all came down to promoting the club.

Trees down? "Miserable" "on the bike, off the bike" I'm with you. That's why I stay on the trails in the metro area. I ventured out to the wilder trails several times and it didn't seem like anyone was grooming them so I decided to stay closer to Atlanta. It's not worth it to have to deal with down trees, rocks and all. I like the Silver Comet Trail myself.

"Why do for yourself when others will do it for you."

Well I was informed that this was mostly my own fault. I did not realize that there was a "hiking" specific trail and then multi-use trails. I was using the hiking trail, and the trees are left there intentionally to deter bikers. There is actually a small SORBA chapter that occasionally works on the trails up here, but of course the numbers are low due to small pop numbers and a larger distance between trails. In the end, I was the uninformed biker who decided to ride somewhere that I wasn't familiar with.

shhhh. do not let the cat out of the bag. we just build over down trees.

the lake russel WMA is one of the best places to ride in Georgia... It is very technical and there is a ton of reclaimed single track...30 miles or so. Hit me up for more details.