reeve
GUTS Member
Posts: 81
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Post by reeve on Nov 2, 2009 10:03:38 GMT -5
Sope Creek trail system is getting a complete makeover! 10 miles total trail with 7 miles of mtn bike accessible trail at Sope Creek to be built and finished in 2010! To view the plans please look at the attachment or go to NPS link below to find the maps and more information about the plans. Sounds great, RIGHT? (maybe depending on who you are)NPS needs your comments on the plan so please go to parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkID=364&projectId=28627Review the documents, and provide your feedback. I am excited that we are getting some new trails and that there will be a maintenance plan in effect, however I am not happy about them opening trails that have been pedestrian only to mountain bikers now. I am all for having mountain bikers in the park, however since they have opened it up with the new trails there are many mountain bikers who have horrible trail etiquette, that will reach deeper into the park if these new trails are built and accessible for mountain bikers. Regardless of what your opinions are, please leave a comment for the park service so they have a more accurate view of the situation. The mountain bike community is well organized, has been very vocal during this process and seem to be making progress in the directions that they want. I am just not sure if it is the same direction that runners, hikers, or environmentalists want. Again, I urge you to check out the Park Service’s proposed plans and to leave your comments. We have less than 3 weeks to do so. Comments due on November 20th. Additionally please inform anyone who is interested in the park know about these plans as well. Attachments:
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Post by colonel on Nov 2, 2009 11:28:39 GMT -5
Why do they have to close so many trails?! Can't they make new ones and leave some of the old ones?
I've been trying to run alot of the side trails that I used to pass up. Now I have several new favorites out there .... just in time to have those sections closed. Doh!
For example:
It appears tons of trails are being cut out of the area closest to the Sope Creek parking lot. (but it also looks like they are adding some ... so maybe it will even out)
I guess the two sections on the block that stand out the most are the trail leading up the hill to the cemetery, from the main trail at the river; and the trail going up the hill from the creek near where one of the new trails hits the creek trail.
Oh well, too many questions to list hear. Hopefully we can discuss this over pizza on Tuesday! (or ... Reeve, Len, Tyson ... are y'all going to be running out there one afternoon this week? Maybe we can run some of these sections and discuss why they would be on the cutting block. Group run anybody?)
Some of the new trails look great though. Can't wait to try them out!
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raff
GUTS Member
Posts: 80
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Post by raff on Nov 2, 2009 15:21:43 GMT -5
Hey guys: I've never run on the Sope Creek area trails but have been on the southern trails from the Cochran Shoals approach a few times - I wouldn't be comfortable sharing some of those trails with mtn bikers at all! I'd be much more in favor of a plan that allocated trails to either hikers or bikers but not both. The Big Creek greenway in Roswell has a moderate section like that off of Old Alabama road and it works well - the hiking trails are marked as pedestrian only so I can run merrily along in my own world, only having to pay attention to roots and rocks, not bikes. I have nothing against the bikers at all and want them to enjoy the trails also but unless it's wide enough to accomodate both safely I don't think it's a good idea.
Thanks for the heads up - I'll see about commenting on the plan.
Charles Raffensperger
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Post by colonel on Nov 2, 2009 20:15:59 GMT -5
Raff, there are trails at Sope Creek which are designated as "non-bike" trails. There are posts at trail entrances which show what the trail is for (i.e. the non-bike trails have a bike in a circle with a line through it). That is one reason I have started exploring new trails out there. I've made a pretty good loop that is almost all on these type of trails. The problem is the bikers don't always follow the rules. (the vast majority do). In fact, when I ran out there on Friday I passed a lady and we were just saying how nice it was to be on a trail that we didn't have to worry about bikes, when three of them came screaming down the hill at us. The timing of her comment actually made me chuckle. "Sure is nice not to have to worry about bik... Argh! Look out!" LOL!
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JeffG
Stunned Runner
Posts: 70
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Post by JeffG on Nov 4, 2009 22:33:52 GMT -5
Anything that would improve the trail section right on Soap Creek would be a plus. I find that area virtually unrunnable now, with all the debris and rocks. I am not so concerned about the bikers - just have to keep your eyes open for them, and hope they are courteous enough to put on the brakes as they're passing.
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Dan B
Stunned Runner
Posts: 136
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Post by Dan B on Nov 5, 2009 6:06:09 GMT -5
I welcome more improved trails back there. The current "new "trails have been done really well. No matter what signs may say you always have to keep an eye and ear open for bikes etc..... I wish the side walks on lower roswell connecting too Azalea would get done......
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Post by colonel on Nov 5, 2009 7:46:32 GMT -5
Jeff - there is one section along the creek, the one which joins the main trail along the river, that was pretty damaged by the flood but only for a short distance. This is one of the areas that it looks like they are rerouting. I don't have a major problem with that, although I wish they would leave the old section open as an option, but I happen to love rocky, rooty, muddy trails! The more technical the better.
Dan - I agree, I wish they would go ahead with the sidewalk on Lower Roswell, but I wish it was a SINGLE sidewalk, not the crazy plan they are talking about now. (2 very wide sidewalks plus a super-sized bike path.)
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jasonb
Stunned Runner
Posts: 117
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Post by jasonb on Nov 5, 2009 9:39:37 GMT -5
however I am not happy about them opening trails that have been pedestrian only to mountain bikers now. back in the early nineties, all of the trails were open to bikes and it helped to spread out the congestion. i lived on the edge of the area and rode my bike every afternoon for a few years. many good [bike] trails around the boundary were lost to encroaching development/sewer line construction. it was about the mid nineties IIRC that the bikes were limited to the main out and back double wide trail. interestingly enough, that trail is the only one where i encountered hikers/runners with any sort of regularity. In the early 90s SORBA constantly offered the NPS trail work days, mtn bike clinics, route designation etc. and were ignored.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2009 9:55:53 GMT -5
i'm not familiar with how much/little the erosion along sope creek is a bad thing, but from an enjoyment standpoint, i think it would be a tragedy if that trail was off limits.... as someone mentioned, it's almost unrunnable......and that's why it's GREAT! (although it IS even less runnable since the flooding).
that's a part of my 10 mile loop there, and the only part i ever time myself is from the bridge down to the pink streamers where the trail crosses the culvert. GREAT FUN.
personally i won't mention anything to the park, because the more official that trail becomes, the more likely someone will fall off the rocks and hurt themselves.....and then they'll take it away for sure.
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also, it's surprising to me that it isn't mentioned that the main trail is BY FAR the worst eroded. from the little pond up to the top of the hill, all you step on are sharp rocks, the dirt is gone.
all in all, i like the place just the way it is, but if the powers that be feel that the erosion is bad.....go ahead and reroute, i'll keep coming back.
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