What time ?? I might just have to go with.

 

I'm not sure yet, Matt. When I find out if I can get away I will shoot you a text.

 

Well, I did make it out to Walker Valley yesterday afternoon. The rumors about possibler closures due to logging are all BS. Everything was open except for the part of Upper mainline that is closed due to the trail erosion at the little mud pit that mysteriously developed just before the switchbacks.

I started out by trying to get into the Upper mainline at the lower end just past the pit. The gate right there as you turn off Peter Burns road and head up the hill was closed and locked. I could see where guys had started going around it. I could have but I didn't as I don't want to ruffle any feathers with the DNR. I headed out to check out Lower Mainline and to head up the Easy Valley Connector so I could go check out the upper part of the Upper Mainline. All sections of the Upper Mainline trail were open for business....and I might add it was VERY wet and muddy. Looks to be a good time when we head up there on the 14th.

 

I found my little type error after I already had pushed send. All sections of the Lower Mainline Trail are open for business and quite muddy. Now, here is the really fun new thing I found. Check out these pics of the rock at the top of Lower Mainline. This little mud pit/pool that is now above the rock is new to me. It wasn't there when I last ran the trail. You can also see how it has gotten very dug out on the left side of the rock. I think I can get by the rock without winching, now. I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

 

Next, I checked out both ends of Ron's Run. The trail is totally open. I didn't run it as I was by myself and this was just a recon run. It appears to also be quite wet, muddy and challenging. Humps and Bumps trail was also open, as well as, the "Shortcut" trail. The upper rock pit still looks the same. If anything there are more fun things to do and play on there.

 

Next I went into the upper end of Upper Mainline. The last bit of Upper Mainline between Chris Rock and the top has really gotten hairey. You guys who, like me, have not been up there for a couple of months will really like how much more challenging it is. I'm still pissed about the tree being cut down and the new "highway" that was paved around Chris Rock. Heaven forbid they require a guy to have a rig capable of going over the rock or stay out of the trail!! Okay, heading down the trail just past Chris Rock is the other long skinny rock that you also used to have to go over. It too has a highway paved around it. That highway was paved a couple of years ago so I've gotten over that one...LOL...BUT! there is also a tree that has fallen in there and is broken up into pieces but still makes it a challenge to get through.

 

Next I drove on down Upper Mainline. I went past the Rock garden that heads up into Expressway. It all looks pretty much the same. I love playing in that section of the trail. As I went through the slick rock frame twister heading toward the bottom end of Expressway I had to snap a couple of poser pics. Then, I took a pic of the jeep at the entrnace to Expressway so you guys could all see that it is in fact still open.

 

This is where my recon story gets a little sad. They had this blockade made of cemented in steel posts just past the entrance to Expressway on Upper Mainline.

 

Okay lets try this again only with pictures this time. Notice how they left it open so the Bikes and ATVs could get through...just no evil tree killing and dirt hating 4X4s...LOL.

 

About a half mile on down the trail is where the little intersection is. They really could have put the main blockade here and let guys in Jeeps and 4X4s come down the trail this far. They even have this other trail block built. My guess is somebody broke through this block once before is why they made the bigger stronger one closing more of the trail. See how a couple idiots can ruin things for all of us. That is why I ran this Recon run. When everybody comes up to Walker for the Big Birthday bash Run. WE....meaning anybody who is wheeling with me...WILL STAY ON THE MARKED TRAILS!! I donnot want to risk Walker Valley ORV area ever being closed permanently.

 

This is where the guys who built the trail blockades got a little stupid in my opinion. They cut down these trees I'm guessing to ensure nobody could get through the trail. This section of the trail "USED TO BE" very narrow and winding. it was a very technical spot where you had to really be careful and skillful with your rig to get through without hitting the trees. I'm sure many guys just always bashed their way through this section of trail as indicated by all the bark being stripped off the trees and them having big gashes all over them. Myself, I took it as a challenge to get through everytime without touching the trees with any part of my Jeep. Can't have that fun anymore.

 

Here is what is left of the fun little mud pit that started it all.

 

This is the section of trail you actually roll through just before the mud pit when you you are coming up the trail from the bottom. This is where the trail actually washed out and you can see in the picture that this big flow of mud, clay and rocks just started flowing down the hill through the woods and to Walker Creek. The flow does go from the trail, about 200 yards down through the woods and all the way to the creek. There is a new sand bar in the creek from all the crud that flowed down from the trail.

 

Great pics Buck, definitely wish I had gone with.

 

So there you have it, guys. It sucks that there is a small section of one of our favorite trails that is still closed due to erosion. The good news is that it will be open again soon and all of the rest of our favorite Walker trails are open, wet, muddy and ready for our BIG BAD BIRTHDAY BASH RUN. I'm pretty stoked obout this run. It was so hard to not run the trails when I was there yesterday but I did not so they will all be just as new to me as they will be to all of you.