If you're old/old school…
Went for an amazing reminiscent trip down memory lane yesterday. The original Powers Creek trail.
Big stunts, flat ladder bridges, roller coaster ladder bridges, tall skinnies, short skinnies, log rides, teeter-totters, teeter-totters on bridges, big gaps, big step downs, technical steeps, technical climbs, granite slabs. Amazing. Everything that riding used to be. Totally inspired by the Shore building style of the early 2000's, a nod to Digger, Dangerous Dan Mr. Simmons and everyone else involved in build
I was out of the game for about 10 years and I was shocked at what we found when we dropped into this old classic. First off, we almost thought it was the wrong because somebody had built a massive ladder bridge roll-in to step-down gap to second gap at the trailhead.
Too bad it's all been left to rot. I don't think that trail has been ridden in at least 3-4+ years and it definitely hasn't had any love in at least 6 or more (10 even?) years. Stunts are rotting and broken, bridges are missing planks, windfall all over the place, some of the rock even has moss growing on it already. Huge sections of ladder bridge fallen down and rotting back into the forest floor.
I can remember spending hours and hours on that trail doing some of the harder stunts over and over and over again to try and clean them. Now, basically nothing built on it was safe to ride anymore.
I plan to go back with a camera and document it, it's a fascinating picture of how trails can return to nature if they're built with natural materials.
We're thinking about going in with a chainsaw, rakes and some hammers. With a couple days worth of work, 80% of it could be made rideable again, but I'm not sure why it's in the state it's in.
Anyone know why that particular trail has been left to die? It's either a tragic loss or telling statement about the change in riding preference.
I ride bikes, when I can.
