Ringwood State Park Conditions
- Thread starter pixychick
- Start date
Mr.Moto
Well-Known Member
Surprisingly solid in a lot of places. Probably 80 to 90% rideable up to pierson's. Fast and grippy in a lot of places. But where it is soft especially on trails with southern exposure, it is tough riding. Will likely firm up again overnight. Go early in the morning.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Mmmm, later in the day lots of water and mud, lines need to be chosen carefully on the snow to get traction (I was on the el mariachi with 29x2.6, not the fat bike) and avoid a Kerrigan's performance.
Regardless, the biggest hazard out there is dog poop, hands down! Never seen so much on the trails. Yesterday I hiked to Warm Puppy with the wife and it was a poop-a-looza festival, especially near the school. I guess dog owners expect their pets' poop to dissolve on contact with the white stuff, a-holes!
If the dogs would poop off trail in the middle of the woods no problem. On the trail where people walk, pick it up!
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
I don't have a dog, you pick it up!
Cannonbill
Active Member
Still about a week away, at best in Ringwood. These were taken yesterday. Sunny spots are bare, shaded spots are still surprisingly deep. I bet is it is 90 percent gone by end of the weekend, and then some time for the trail to dryout.
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serviceguy
Well-Known Member
I've been hiking the race trail and warm puppy yesterday with the wife. There are still wet patches but mostly nice, the wind and temperature dried the heck out of it. Stay on the upper trails, lower fire roads are a wet mess still.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Did what I could with my big boy, the two trees left are way over my skills (and frankly, energy level). Lower crossover white trail at the sewer line.
Mr.Moto
Well-Known Member
Rode from the schoolhouse trail out to lot c, over to crossover then to shepard's lake, up the race trail, skylands, warm puppy and back on schoolhouse. I would say 95% good to go. Very few muddy spots. Rocks actually felt grippy. Surprised how dry it was.
It seemed like half the bikes at the school were fat. Who said fat bikes are dead. Although you didn't need one today.
It seemed like half the bikes at the school were fat. Who said fat bikes are dead. Although you didn't need one today.
onetracker
Well-Known Member
IMO Ringwood seems pretty fragile. I hiked today by Shepherds Lake and saw lots of grease, ruts and freeze thaw. Some spots were fine but many were not. I would wait until things dry out a bit more. One blow down just below Shepherds Lake Rd.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
I know the first spot, where did you get the second picture?
onetracker
Well-Known Member
Race course, just above shephards lake boathouse.
Those muddy sections on the race course are due to being new, and on a slope that gets the least sun. Everything else at Ringwood was in much better shape. The higher stuff like red and yellow heading toward TOS were perfect. Skylands had a few soft spots, as did the bottom of white, but everything else was pretty great. Doesn't matter much now with the rain coming tomorrow though.
You mean like forever? Like is Ringwood going to wash away?
I need to see if Pat is just deleting things everywhere or just the 1 thread.
He deleted my post that was just straight up facts that anyone could Google. I think the power has gone to his head.
onetracker
Well-Known Member
I respectfully disagree. Those sections are not at all new (some of the oldest trails in the park; I know because I helped build them with RVCC in the 90’s) and were quite representative of the conditions on the Shephards Lake side of the park. People keep saying the RSP has been mostly dry but I did not see that beyond some of the trails over by Ryerson. What I did see were a ton of ruts created by bike tires which is disappointing. But you are right, the 1” of rain forecasted for tomorrow will delay drying progress.
I agree that the trails between Rwood and TOS are some of the rockiest in the state and face south. I also agree those always dry out first. These trails are my go to after rain storms. Those trails do not get ridden by a huge portion of riders because they are hard with no real bailouts. So when folks indicate that Rwood is good to go, folks drive up there and ride despite the trails being wet and frost heaved. Just my opinion.
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onetracker
Well-Known Member
One more note: in photo #1, not far from the Alligator, look at how greasy the dirt is...my hiking shoes were totally caked with mud. I saw those same conditions in many spots. I want to ride as much as anybody BTW.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Condition are changing, when I was there cleaning up those fallen trees (it was worse) the trail was pretty solid, I was actually surprised, it may have been colder though.
First time on a forum?
we've all been there and made the same stupid mistakes that can be avoided by heeding the advice in this video. welcome to mtbnj and the intermaweb. http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting
I can probably find the post/rules where @Norm outlines that posts must be on-topic, and contribute to discussion...
Was considering turning on moderation for that thread, that way all posts need to be approved.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
what thread are we talking about now?First time on a forum?
we've all been there and made the same stupid mistakes that can be avoided by heeding the advice in this video. welcome to mtbnj and the intermaweb. http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/postingwww.mtbnj.com
I can probably find the post/rules where @Norm outlines that posts must be on-topic, and contribute to discussion...
Was considering turning on moderation for that thread, that way all posts need to be approved.