Trail Conditions

I rode at Valley Branch last night,  I have to say it was alot of fun,  there was no sign of any recent mountain bike activity.  I had the place to myself, rode 2hours, cleaned garys gulley including a 20" high downed tree.
Sure,  there were a few motorcycle ruts,  but they added to the charm and challenge and were not a distraction.  It's amazing how much different the feel is to BCSP (steep hills) rough trails, off camber.  I really appreciated having full suspension and gears, which are two things I've been down on lately.

So In all the place is in pretty good shape,  go,  you'll enjoy it.

Re: Trail Conditions

As noted, Nebo from the north to the south trail head is in pretty good shape since the trail work was done a few weeks back .  For those who aren't aware, you can easily access the Hickory Ridge system by heading west at the south end of Nebo on the paved road(1000 N).  Follow that until you come to a bridge on your left where the road splits (Maumee bridge over Littel Salt Creek).  Cross the bridge and then turn right immediately on the gravel road.  Follow this about a mile staying to the left while looking for a trail marker sign on the left hand side. The trail marker has a a map.  This is "20" in the Hickory Ridge system and T's into 18.  Take a right on 18 until you to come to a gravel road.  Ride gravel for a few miles and turn right on 19 which is a nice couple of miles of trail. Havwe to keep your eyes peeled for this, but it is marked. When you hit the gravel again, go to your left till you hit the bottom of the hill and turn right.  Follow till it T's at the cemetery and turn right.  You will end up back at the Maumee Bridge.  From there you can go right back to the south trailhead of Nebo or turn left and follow the gravel which will take you to Combs road/creek and will dump you out on Nebo just a little before the final decent to the North Trail head of Nebo. 

I ride this route quite a lot. Typically around 4 hours give or take depending on conditions and effort.  100oz of water and food needed on warm days.  Trails Illustrated has a nice topo map that you can get from USDA stations and I think that some of the bike shops have them.  Titled "Hoosier National Forest - Selected Trails".

I mention this because it's a good distance for many riders and the trails on the north end of the Hickory Ridge have very little horse traffic, and... the trail just needs more tires on it. 

Re: Trail Conditions

Mortimer (Ron) and I rode Hickory last night.  We kicked it old school and did a counter-clockwise "loop" around the Hickory trail system.  We parked at east end of Nathan Avery (19).  Rolled west on 19 and then down the road to 18.  West on 18 to 4.  Took 4 to 10 and then past Hickory Grove Church.  10 to 11.  11 to 3.  3 across the pipeline to 13 crazy climb.  Lightning and thunder.  13 to road to 15.  15 past Callahan Cemetery to 16/17 loop counterclockwise (more lightning and thunder).  14 climb out to road.  Road to 20.  20 downhill to road.  Gravel back to car through the rain.

Trails were in pretty good shape.  There were the usual mud holes and horse poop here and there, but overall, the trails were about as good as these trails ever get.  We saw a few other tire tracks here and there.

We didn't time it.  We don't know how long it was.  There were not heart rate monitors, GPS units, or computers utilized in this venture.  It was hard.  It was long.  My legs hurt.  Ron's legs hurt.  There were no racers pre-riding the course.

Re: Trail Conditions

I'd be happy to show you around Nebo, Hickory Ridge, or wherever.  I'm off weekends and Tuesdays and can be off on Friday afternoons with a few days notice.  The trail permit is a daily fee; a tag you hang on your bike to show that you've paid.  They're $5 daily or $35 for an annual pass.  Here's a link to all the info, including where to pick one up.  Beware that the list may not have been updated recently.

www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/recreation/trpermits.htm

Let me know if my schedule works for you.  I'm reasonably fit but not a racer-type either.

Re: Trail Conditions

Pilot, try this and feel free to add to it, but remember you still gotta get back on Nebo. Take  road 1050(end of Nebo) to the right ,go to Maumee Bridge and go left over bridge. Take a right on gravel road just on other side of bridge. Follow for 1/2 mile or so on left and pick up trail#20 near a pine forest. Up 20 to 18 intersection , go right to top of 18. Intersect road at top and continue out on 18 to 4 or 10 or take road to right and pick up 19 to complete a loop back to road to backtrack to Nebo. There are maps at the intersections so you can roll whatever. Nebo to 20/18/19 and back is 30 or so. The options are endless, you just gotta put up with the ponies and frigged up trails in Hickory.

Re: Trail Conditions

I road 18, 19, 20, and Nebo yesterday (7/19/09).  18/19/20 were in good shape, only a few soft spots.  I needed a pass and stopped to get one at Monk's - given that it is a horse camp I thought I might run into a little resistance, but he was very friendly, gave me some tips/suggestions re: parking, etc.  I know BCSP is great, and I really liked Versailles, but I don't think Nebo can be beat if you just want a good hard ride to clear your mind.

Nebo is the most slot car track like trail around. Big chain ring and high speed the whole way.  Hickory? We  first attempted to climb the right side of 3 but so many trees were down we abandon that, next we attempted the "pro loop" in hickory  but 10 was a mess even the equestrains were complaining about how bad it was reports were 4 was even worse. Still it was a great ride.

Re: Trail Conditions

Nebo=Great Fun!
Good ride today. On the first climb from the trailhead we all talked about past rides and pointed out the spots where we have crashed on the descent back to the lot.

Also good to see the local folk out on horseback loaded for the apocalypse. The lone rider we saw on Nebo had a holstered shotgun/rifle?, handgun and machete.

Re: Trail Conditions

he sounds like the goat man that lived in a holler near mine when i was in elementary and high school...but goat man only had a mule and not an actual horse...the mumbling and the weaponry sound eerily similar though...if he's like the goat man that getup is just a ruse so he doesn't have to interact socially...nice enough fella in all reality...or he may be about to off somebody so i'd continue to just ride away as soon as possible...good thinking

Re: Trail Conditions

Stopped in to Coyote Creek to get passes, ole boys out on the porch swattin flies with a red plastic fly swatter(whens the last time you were sportin one of those) and drinkin miller lite in the bottle, says itta rainned a good 4" last night boys. I was like 4? "ever things a wet". I decided based on an earlier trail report that BC was good, so I'd continue on down to Nebo. Little drainage at the bottom, the usual spots on the double track up, but not gooey peanut butter like.Once to the top it was all good. Couple more spots near Berry Ridge were slimey.The last 3 mile or so was it's usual smokin fast up and downs. On over to 20/18/19 and back up Combs. Lots of water in the creeks across the bottom of Combs, still it's always a good little climb up. The downhill back was good and firm with slick rock and roots thrown into the techy factor. Always a good day in the HNF on a weekday, not a sole in sight. It was AC's(transfer from Denver) first ride in HNF and his comments were " its a outback little Colorado out here in the big woods", sweet to hear that in the Flatlands of Indiana. RideOn.

Re: Trail Conditions

Valley Branch Trail Report

This coming Sunday is the annual Stoney Lonesome Enduro ride at VBR.  About 50 enduro riders will crunch down many of the leaves and make the route finding there a bit easier.  In all, I will say the south side trails are comparatively easy to find and navigate,  the north side trails are a different story.  Wipe out and Moots are gone for all intents.  the junction of crooked creek and easy out has had some logging, but is followable too.  Gary's Gulley and Beans Ravine still exist too,  but it just isn't the same.

Gnaw Bone Camp Trail Report

Actually everything is in pretty good shape,  Route finding may be a challenge on the trails further out but most all logs and sticks have been cleared from just about every trail,   with the exception of  the long loop of walker -> best -> middle to hoot and hollar,  but I hope to have those cleared by this sunday too.  Don't worry there are still plenty of log hopping opportunities,  just fewer hike-arounds.
There is still a cranky old man who lives off of the raccoon ridge loop  I think his name is bob or rob or something,  avoid him and you'll have a great ride.

Re: Trail Conditions

Todd - last weekend was the opening of hunting season for guns. I donned some blaze orange and went poking around on the gravel (no trails). It looked like a combination between a deranged Phish camping party and Apocalypse Now (plenty of dead dear carcasses hanging from trees). I'm thinking this weekend will be very similar (lots of hunters camping, shooting, whatever else they're doing) and carnage on display. Might be best to let the hunters have the woods for at least one more weekend. I did check trail conditions at spots near the roads and stuff looked pretty soupy (in Hickory Ridge). Nebo appeared very sloppy at the north trailhead, but it most likely was and is a mixed bag of mud and good. Best bet on Nebo is to park at the top (Berry Ridge) and ride the south half (dries the quickest). But again, I'd be wary with so many hunters in the woods