Trail Talk – April 2023

As this is being written, spring seems far away, yet we know it has to come around eventually… in all its glory. Pussy willows that bravely pushed forth in mid-January were caught in arrested development, and two months later are still uncertain whether to proceed. The lack of rain throughout our mid-winter season, coupled with colder-than-normal days and nights, resulted in frozen trails. As these thawed, sloppy mud appeared, which refroze and re-thawed with striking regularity. An early morning jaunt, in some remarkably-crisp temperatures, yielded rock-hard surfaces, yet as the day warmed into afternoon, those same trails became soupy mires. Then snow fell. And melted… and froze… and melted…Such was the late winter walkabout.

As the weather warms, and our local trails again become more crowded, it’s wise to remind ourselves of general trail etiquette. In areas with steep hillsides, remember to maintain a route of travel in the center of the trail. Please don’t cut across switchbacks; they are designed to eliminate high erosion areas or overly steep grades. Bikers, where allowed, yield to hikers, and all yield to horses where they are allowed. Generally, uphill traffic, by custom, assumes the right-of-way. Observe and obey all posted signage and be aware of speed limits in city parks. We’ve said many times that we are blessed to have so many trails to enjoy, and this awareness should deter us from activities that would cause trails to be closed to public use. And please, observe all leash laws, and dispose of dog waste in the appropriate manner.

There’s been a bit of confusion about the use of e-bikes in city parks. First, and foremost, no e-bike should be on any trail that is closed to bicycles. Period. Park regulations are clear that only non-motorized traffic is allowed on trails. If the bicycle has a throttle, consider it motorized, and stick to the roads. Spinning wheels are never welcome on trails built on sensitive soils. Our local parks have an obligation to minimize erosion into our watershed, and we’ve all seen the damage caused by careless riders.

Recently, many bicyclists have taken to riding loops in Jacksonville’s Forest Park. This entails some uphill travel on single track trails. Here, the custom of yielding to uphill traffic becomes more important to observe. A popular route for many cyclists starts at Parking Area P2. Whether riding up Boulder, Owl Hoot, then down Twin Peaks Trail to P5, or riding up Norling Rd to P5, bikers can then proceed on Canyon Vista Tr to Naversen Family Tr, then onto Steep Canyon Rangers Tr over to Granite Tr. Here, a choice is made to ride steeply down Granite, or cross Reservoir Rd to the eastern half of Halls of Manzanita Tr for the ride to P4 and down Ridgeview, Ol’ Miners’, and Ditch Tr back to P2. Depending on the route, it is an excellent, though challenging, couple of hours in the saddle.

Let’s enjoy some spring weather.