Mt Watatic mountain biking

[k...@braukaiser.com]

Does anyone here know if mountain biking is allowed on Mt Watatic trails?

I have been biking there a few times and I want to get these trails on MTBProject. On the Friends Of The WAPACK site I found a comment that biking is not allowed on the WAPACK trail (http://www.wapack.org/faq.html#5). That might be true for most of the trail but Mt Watatic and the start of the WAPACK trail are on public land and that particular restriction may not apply to that section.

I may check the kiosk when I pick up my daughter from camp this afternoon but maybe some of you here know more. 

Mt Watatic is a fun place for biking. Lots of climbing and challenging trail riding. 

Kai

[Dave Burnham]

Mtbing isn't allowed on the Wapack trail but is allowed on sections on the mid-state trail,both of which are on Watatic. I've ridden from Temple to Watatic many times without hassle,not saying its legal.  

[JC Ferguson]

some of those trails are beat up pretty bad.  i don't recommend riding in there.

---

From: mtn...@googlegroups.com [mtn...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Dave Burnham [TATTO...@YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 13:34
To: mtn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: (MTB) Re: Mt Watatic mountain biking

Mtbing isn't allowed on the Wapack trail but is allowed on sections on the mid-state trail,both of which are on Watatic. I've ridden from Temple to Watatic many times without hassle,not saying its legal.  

--
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups NDO Mountain Biking group. To post to this group, send email to mtn...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to mtnbike+u...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit www.ndomountainbiking.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NDO Mountain Biking" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mtnbike+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

[JC Ferguson]

And, don't forget the risk advertising trails bring: more riders, more people, and if someone starts to not like it, it'll become off limits...

---

From: mtn...@googlegroups.com [mtn...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of k...@braukaiser.com [k...@braukaiser.com]
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 13:50
To: mtn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: (MTB) Re: Mt Watatic mountain biking

JC, yes, the trails are not your typical mountain bike trails. But technical challenge is part of what makes mountain biking fun for me. I tried riding up the trail from Rt119 to the summit but had to walk in a few sections. I think it can be ridden downhill. There is this awesome rocks and root section (http://www.mtbproject.com/photo/3764918) that would be a nice challenge. 

I'm also reaching out to the Friends of the Wapack and the Wachusset Nemba chapter to get a definitive answer on this. I don't have an issue with riding there once in a while but won't be able to advertise riding these trails if they are officially off limit for bikers.

Kai

[JC Ferguson]

One big case and point is the Ossipee ring dike in NH.  It is in largely private lands, beautiful place to hike, etc.  someone decided to do a whole trail map, advertise it, etc.  and I believe the landowner shut it all down from all hiking because they didn’t want all those people up there.    It is also one of very few ring dikes in the world,…

 

 

 

 

From: mtn...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mtn...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of k...@braukaiser.com
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 14:11
To: mtn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: (MTB) Re: Mt Watatic mountain biking

 

That's an important point an discussion to have. More riders don't just bring trouble but they also bring potential business for local businesses and whoever owns the land can decide what policy works best for them. MTBers are a minority when it comes to general trail use but their negative impact on trails can be significant which is why we do have to be careful. 

 

Similar discussions exist in the rock climbing community. There are many areas where landowners asked that these climbs are not put up on the internet or into guidebooks while still allowing climbing there. I think that such agreements should definitely be respected no matter now nice the climbing , or in our case the riding, is.

 

 

When I'm away from home and look for places to ride I welcome good information I can find on the internet.

 

Kai

 

 

On Friday, August 9, 2013 1:53:42 PM UTC-4, JC Ferguson wrote:

And, don't forget the risk advertising trails bring: more riders, more people, and if someone starts to not like it, it'll become off limits...

 

--

[k...@braukaiser.com]

I don't like to see this either and sticking to public land that allows MTB would be the solution. BTW, unlike other MTB trail sites out there, MTBProject is done in association with IMBA and they are very much against listing any trails that don't allow MTBs or have questionable ownership issues. They actually ask contributors to do their homework which is why this discussion started.

 I noticed the Ossipee dike on the map. Impressive feature.

Kai

[JC Ferguson]

yes, the ossipee ring dike is very interesting remnant of the volcanic phase of new england.  i am glad to have been able to hike it several times prior to the closure...

---

From: mtn...@googlegroups.com [mtn...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of k...@braukaiser.com [k...@braukaiser.com]
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 14:28

To: mtn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: (MTB) Re: Mt Watatic mountain biking

[Paul Funch]

Just want to throw out there that Watatic has been ridden in the winter snow by Steve Miller at least.  I think there would be far less objection from the Friends of the Wapack, et al., on mountain bikes using the trails in the winter.  They are quite nicely “groomed” by the snow for some nice fast downhills and still an incredible challenge as well.

[k...@braukaiser.com]

BTW, I checked the sign at the trailhead while I was in the area and it is does not prohibit mountain biking on Mt Watatic reservation. It only prohibits motorized wheeled vehicles.

Kai