Railbed Danger

[yamadan700]

Personally/selfishly, I don't mind people running closed trails as they are packing the trail down instead of us beating up the groomers.

However, don't call the clubs when you do get stuck in a deep water/mud hole or swamp! We won't save you! ..lol..   Call CAA or a friend!😉

[stoney]

8 hours ago, Blackstar said:

 

It will always be a problem when a small section of trail is open .

And because of a complete lack of financial pain if you get caught. 

2 hours ago, yamadan700 said:

Personally/selfishly, I don't mind people running closed trails as they are packing the trail down instead of us beating up the groomers.

However, don't call the clubs when you do get stuck in a deep water/mud hole or swamp! We won't save you! ..lol..   Call CAA or a friend!😉

This used to be a normal thing and a welcome activity, over the years it’s become a bit of a stigma, but you do need to know or understand where you are riding and packing the trails. 

[PISTON LAKE CRUISER]

15 hours ago, stoney said:

And because of a complete lack of financial pain if you get caught. 

This used to be a normal thing and a welcome activity, over the years it’s become a bit of a stigma, but you do need to know or understand where you are riding and packing the trails. 

I'm involved in getting trails open. From what I  have seen around here, many of the "self appointed trail packers" ride down the same path as the sled before them made.

[stoney]

2 hours ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said:

I'm involved in getting trails open. From what I  have seen around here, many of the "self appointed trail packers" ride down the same path as the sled before them made.

So what you are saying is afterwards the trails are well “packed” In that case!

 

if I’m not mistaken you are mostly dealing with farmland, so a region like that would require some additional thought before doing so…but thinking and thought can be hard at times. 

[Strong Farmer]

27 minutes ago, stoney said:

So what you are saying is afterwards the trails are well “packed” In that case!

 

if I’m not mistaken you are mostly dealing with farmland, so a region like that would require some additional thought before doing so…but thinking and thought can be hard at times. 

Farm land trails build base good when sleds ride down the trail and pack snow and wind blows it back in. We can build some good base by taking advantage of wind blowing snow in. Lots of times wind gets to strong.and blows it all to fence line 😡. Under right conditions you can pack and hold snow where trail is. I can remember righting in conditions where there is little snow in fields but trails are mint, because of this. Sure keeps people on trail 😎. 

[95rxl650]

4 hours ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said:

I'm involved in getting trails open. From what I  have seen around here, many of the "self appointed trail packers" ride down the same path as the sled before them made.

If riders are packing by riding  in  a staggered pattern as mentioned,  then yes I would agree. I'd be confident in saying 90% of what I see are people turning off an open trail on to a closed trail and tearing crap up. No help what so ever. 

It certainly does not lend a hand to keeping private farm land open. And then there's the people who go around bad sections or race to the wind line to bust the snow drifts while doing damage to potentially sensitive crops beneath. That is exactly how we loose land owners. 

Years ago I used to throw the kids in the van and do a spring clean up of a trail section leading to a local club house. While doing so we were approached by a family on foot inquiring about our effort to clean up the garbage both along the trail and at the shack. They thanked us for our effort and explained that they were the new owners and kindly asked us to leave their property. One winter and they had enough. It wasnt safe for the kids or dogs due to the speed people travelled after dark. It was close to the house and outbuildings. 

Had alot of good years in that shack.

I may have passed out in front of the fire after a long night of riding a few times. Gibby's and good times.😏

[stoney]

2 hours ago, Strong Farmer said:

Farm land trails build base good when sleds ride down the trail and pack snow and wind blows it back in. We can build some good base by taking advantage of wind blowing snow in. Lots of times wind gets to strong.and blows it all to fence line 😡. Under right conditions you can pack and hold snow where trail is. I can remember righting in conditions where there is little snow in fields but trails are mint, because of this. Sure keeps people on trail 😎. 

My point was more along the lines of riders packing trails on farm land that should not be riden yet requiring some thought ahead of time to avoid damage, risk of land owner upset, etc…

 

whereas there are other trails in different regions that don’t have those same considerations and risks…so self appointed packers are a bit more welcomed. 

[PISTON LAKE CRUISER]

3 hours ago, stoney said:

So what you are saying is afterwards the trails are well “packed” In that case!

 

Yes, well packed but usuall only in the centre of the trail.  When we go out with 3-4 sleds to pack trail we try to stagger where we are riding so my track/ski is packing snow beside the area the sled in front of me packed. If 3-4 sleds do that riding both directions on a trail the whole width of the trail gets packed instead of just 4' in the middle of the trail.

[Blackstar]

With everything stated above, there are many reasons why a trail may be closed, thus why the rule is "Don't ride closed trails".

But...

What I was pointing out was that, when a club decides to open a small section of trail, (for instance the railbed from Shelburne to Owen Sound or the trails around Hanover and Chesley), once a rider has riden all the open trails, but sees that the groomer has gone down a side trail not shown open then you won't keep them out. "If the groomer can go down then I can go down." And if he gets caught he'll just say "Oh I didn't know."

 

And this year is worse than ever. I see some clubs thanking riders for breaking trail and packing areas up north. Then I see that they don't have signed documents yet.....lol

 

 

 

[yamadan700]

5 hours ago, stoney said:

 

whereas there are other trails in different regions that don’t have those same considerations and risks…so self appointed packers are a bit more welcomed. 

 

 

6 hours ago, 95rxl650 said:

 

It certainly does not lend a hand to keeping private farm land open. And then there's the people who go around bad sections or race to the wind line to bust the snow drifts while doing damage to potentially sensitive crops beneath. That is exactly how we loose land owners. 

 

It's all about the geography of the area.

I was part of the Orangeville club for several years and understand the farm land perspective. If they can't stay between the stakes then just stay off. It will cost the club with crop damage payouts.

However, my area now is 95%+ hills and valleys in the bush and swamps on the Canadian Shield and I, personally, don't have any issue with sledders wanting to pack down the trail for us. If they are willing to potentially damage their sleds, feel free. It helps freeze the swampy areas faster and it makes it much easier for the groomer to climb or go down a solid rock hill when it has a somewhat base under it. Trust me, it's no fun getting your fillings rattled being the first running down our trails in a groomer. The trail looks smooth with the snow on top but you feel every rock outcropping underneath and punch through every swampy area.

The only caveat is when the groomers are out trying to establish a base, please stay off so it can set up. JMO.