http://sorbawoodstock.org/trail-status/ We'll have to keep the trail status in mind due to weather, rain and flooding. As I write this up the trails are actually under water...so let's hope the water finds its way to the river by the 20th. https://www.sorbawoodstock.org/olde-rope-mill-park This link is to the TAYLOR RANDAHL MEMORIAL TRAILS at Olde Rope Mill we will be riding ALL trails (starting on The Mill, then Explorer Trail, wrapping up on the Avalanche Trail) in absolute DARKNESS, minus the light of the full moon...which might provide some fun if we go full Avatar mode. LIGHTS ARE MANDATORY!! This is no where close to a beginners ride. Each rider is responsible for his/her own gear, equipment necessary for night riding, food, hydration and keeping pace. If you have to ask, it might not be for you...you might just want to check out the trails during daylight hours. I'm probably not the fastest night rider out there, as we all tend to ride different paces, so be prepared to night ride alone. It will be Wednesday, the 20th so main trail direction is to the LEFT or clockwise. It is a mixed use trail and hikers, runners and such are to give way...just expect the unexpected. Safety First! The Mill Moore's Pass – 0.5 Miles CLOCKWISE ONLY. A long, easy climb on single-track introduces you to the trails at The Mill and hints at the experience waiting over the hill. Moore's Pass takes you to the trail head for The Mill, an area we call The Knot. It returns down to the access road on a fast, flowing run downhill. Raceway – 1.8 Miles A truly accommodating trail that can be ridden at any speed, by any level rider. Wide and smooth, Raceway dips and rolls then zigs and zags. Push the tempo and hit the optional features and you’ll get a bigger return. Long, boardwalk style bridges span the gorgeous creek valley. Powerhouse – 1.8 Miles This is the signature trail at The Mill. Built with the same approach as Raceway, Powerhouse amplifies everything. It’s narrower, faster and higher. Serious air time is possible on the beautifully sculpted doubles scattered around the loop and rock garden alt-lines throw in some tech. You’ll likely want to take the return line and hit this again, and again. Turbine – 1.0 Miles CLOCKWISE ONLY. Tight, twisty single-track winds the spring as you head out from The Knot to reach the peak of the park above the Rope Mill historic site. Then things open up on the descent with big doubles and big berms and big speed. An optional armored rock drop marks the end of Turbine as it flows seamlessly into the return track of Moore's Pass. Explorer Trail Loop 1 – 0.5 Miles Welcome to mountain biking. This smooth, half mile trail is an excellent place to ride the dirt for the first time. A beginner will find a bit of effort is required to reach the high point on the south side of the trail but will thoroughly enjoy the trip back down on a wide and flowy singletrack. Two 28 foot long bridges keep things on the level above the creek bed. Loop 2 – 1.5 Miles Ready for more? Loop 2 ramps up the climbs and introduces some trail features to navigate such as switchback turns and some rocks and roots. Considerable speed can be achieved on several down slopes and there are some tricky corners to learn. The north side of this loop travels high alongside the Little River basin and provides a beautiful view, but you may want to keep your eye on the trail while you’re riding this section as it is very narrow and has a steep side-slope down to the river. Loop 3 – 1.0 Mile Cross the bridge and watch for traffic on the service road to get to the final loop. This loop is pretty straightforward, winding around in the woods without any substantial climbs or technical features. Experienced riders will find the Explorer Trail offers a lot of speed and flow and is an excellent warm-up for the Avalanche Trail. Avalanche Trail Loop 1 – 1.5 Miles No matter the daily direction, first thing you’re going to do on Avalanche is climb. The ups and downs are steep, but also fairly short. The single-track here is a bit narrower and at times quite twisty in and amongst the pines. There are some rough areas with some difficult rock and root combinations. Several tight switchbacks keep you busy on this loop. Loop 2 – 2.25 Miles Loop 2 continues the up and down, left and right theme that defines Avalanche. We’ve packed a lot of trail in a small area so there isn’t much straight ahead cruising. There are a few gravity drops in this loop which provide some speed and g-force as you run down into and straight back up out of a ravine. There’s also a great rock/boulder crossing feature on the high trail overlooking Little River that can be a fun challenge. Loop 3 – 2.5 Miles Across the bridges and out onto Loop 3 things settle in a bit and you get to stretch your legs. The single-track out here is more linear and stays smoother for the most part. It’s easy to get a rhythm going and you’ll find a bit more flow. The miles go by faster here and many of us enjoy doing this loop twice before heading back through the twisties to complete the trail. OPTIONAL - Post ride bite & brew at TacoMac across the way....details as needed. |