Ae, Mabie and Dalbeattie

Hey all,

Just a quick update!!

The massive diversion at Ae has been lifted!!!!!!

The bridge has been inspected and a few necessary repairs made, the trees have been removed and its back open again!! The guys in the Ae cafe and bike shop are still out celebrating!! The other diversion at Bran Burn Bash has also been lifted, and bar the very small diversion at the start the Ae trails are open for business!!!

The last of the diversions at Dalbeattie have also been lifted, both on the red and the blue so currently there are no diversions at Dalbeattie at all, nil, zero, zilch!!!

The snow that we had earlier in the week is clearing quickly and any icy patches are few and far between but I would still advise a little bit of care!! It could almost definitly save you from taking the knee out your tights!!

Enjoy!

Glentress Trail Conditions Update, 05/02/2010

Hello,

The fresh snow we had on Tue 2nd Feb has nearly all melted away again with the milder weather we got on Thursday. Some of this melted and refroze leaving large patches of sheet ice though - look out for these on the forest roads mainly, especially in sheltered spots. The older snow/ice remains as before – see below.

Here are the latest trail conditions for Glentress:

Car parks: 7stanes and Osprey car parks (at trailhead) are open. Red Squirrel and Buzzards Nest car parks and access road to them now reopen (but may be closed again if the road becomes icy again).

Green Route: All clear of snow except odd icy patch on forest road.

Skills Area: Most trails clear of snow but some icy/snow patches remain (e.g. around shelter).

Freeride Park: Majority of trails clear of snow, although large patches of icy snow remain in sheltered spots (e.g. start of the Essentials Freeride trail).

Blue Route: Lower loop from trailhead to Buzzards Nest and back down - most trails clear of snow with only occasional icy/snow patches. On Upper loop, climbing to post 25 then returning via Blue Velvet, the trails are mostly clear although bigger patches of snow/ice remain in places, especially on the forest roads.
The very top loop of the Blue Route still has a considerable covering of snow/ice with 3-6" sitting on Betty Blue and the following forest road descent back to post 25 - would recommend avoiding this loop.

Red Route: As per Blue Route to post 25. Still significant snow/ice on Spookywood Climb and Descent (~8" at top of Red Route, more where it has drifted). Trying to do this loop will be very hard work with lots of pushing - not recommended. Further down, Super G and Hit Squad Hill are mostly clear although snow/icy patches remain, especially on forest roads. Pie Run/Mushroom Pie/Magic Mushroom/Tourist Trap are clear of snow/ice, except very occasional patches. Falla Brae is clear.

Black Route: first half of the Black Route (from Buzzards Nest to mast) - expect lots of snow, especially on Kipps Climb/Britney Spears/Mustard Snake (too deep still to ride). On the second half, the Boundary Trail will still have lots of snow in places, less on Deliverance/Redemption Climb.

Take care – although better than a few weeks ago, the trails and forest roads are still very slippy in places, there's significant snow still on the highest trails and conditions are likely to change quickly.

Look out also for fallen/hanging branches, fallen trees and broken tops to trees. We've not been able to get out and inspect all the trails yet. If you do spot anything, please let us know on 07834 435380.

Kirroughtree Trail Conditions - 4 / 2 / 2010

We had a dust of snow yesterday but it turned to rain at lower levels and it's clear below about 200m.

The upper parts of the black route still had a dust this morning but it has melted now. There are some patches of ice to watch out for in places though.

Apart from these few patches of ice and the odd loose patch caused by the frost the trails are riding well and with a relatively mild forecast things are looking good for the weekend and the start of next week.

Enjoy!

Chris

Glentress Trail Conditions - Tue 2nd Feb

Just a quick 'un..

Fresh snow fallen in the night and earlier on this morning - around an inch or two at the trailhead at Glentress, more likely at higher elevations.

Glentress Trail Conditions Update, Fri 29th Jan

Here's the latest trail conditions for Glentress:

Car parks: 7stanes and Osprey car parks (at trailhead) are open. Red Squirrel and Buzzards Nest car parks remain closed to vehicles (ice patches on road).

Green Route: All clear of snow except odd patch on forest road.

Skills Area: Most trails clear of snow but some icy/snow patches remain (e.g. around shelter).

Freeride Park: Majority of trails clear of snow, although large patches of snow remain in sheltered spots (e.g. start of the Essentials Freeride trail).

Blue Route: Lower loop from trailhead to Buzzards Nest and back down - most trails clear of snow with only occasional icy/snow patches. On Upper loop, climbing to post 25 then returning via Blue Velvet, the trails are mostly clear although bigger patches of snow/ice remain in places.

The very top loop of the Blue Route still has a considerable covering of snow with 3-6" sitting on Betty Blue and the following forest road descent back to post 25 - would recommend avoiding this loop.

Red Route: As per Blue Route to post 25. Still significant snow on Spookywood Climb and Descent (~8" at top of Red Route, more where it has drifted) and also several trees down (we can't get up to cut these yet because of the snow). Trying to do this loop will be very hard work with lots of pushing - not recommended. Further down, Super G and Hit Squad Hill are mostly clear although snow/icy patches remain. Pie Run/Mushroom Pie/Magic Mushroom/Tourist Trap are clear of snow/ice, except very occasional patches. Falla Brae is all clear.

Black Route: first half of the Black Route (from Buzzards Nest to mast) - expect lots of snow, especially on Kipps Climb/Britney Spears/Mustard Snake (too deep still to ride). On the second half, the Boundary Trail will still have lots of snow in places, less on Delivernance/Redemption Climb.

With cold, clear conditions forcast for the weekend, the trails (even the snow free ones) maybe frosty and icy for a time and the snowy sections are likely to harden up. Take care - although much better than a few weeks ago, the trails are still slippy in places, there's significant snow still on the highest trails and conditions are likely to change quickly.

Final turn and jump on Spookywood Descent

Final turn on Super G. Trail mostly clear but snow still sitting on forest road (this one wasn't ploughed) that Blue Route uses.

Unnamed Freeride - top section to hip jump.

Skills Area - central part at Shelter

cheers,

andy

Ae - Capel Water Bridge

Here's some photo's of the bridge at Capel water. Just goes to show what the force of water can do!!

The diversion is in place so please do not ride the bridge!!

It was actually straight before the flood, just in case you think its not that bad!!

Cheers!!

Ae Diversion

Hey all,

Bad news for the Ae red route I'm afraid!!

During the recent floods we have witnessed a bit of damage, but unfortunately for the bridge over the Capel water (just down from post 17, before The Face) its all just been a little too much!!

4 large trees have been washed down the river and have collided with the bridge, bending the large steel supporting beams and breaking them off their anchor points. The water has also washed away the supports and damaged the small section of boardwalk at the other end, so basically DO NOT RIDE IT, its not safe!!

There is now a rather large diversion in place from post 17, down Mare Cleugh over the Ae water at Craigshiels and up the forest road to post 23. This cuts off The Face, Bran Burn Bash and the Edge and reduces the overall distance quite considerably. Engineers are inspecting the bridge in the early part of next week and we will hopefully look at getting things sorted ASAP!!

I'll post some photo's later!!

Cheers