Glentress Trail Conditions Update, Fri 26th Feb

There's still snow on many of the trails at Glentress. As of late Friday afternoon it's clear at the trailhead (above) in the valley bottom but progressively more snow the higher up you go (see pics below). There will still be old snow/ice underneath this newer snow on the highest level trails (e.g. Spookywood Descent, Black Route).

Red Squirrel and Buzzards Nest car parks and access road to them are currently closed due to snow and the Long Duathlon race due to take place on Sunday at Glentress has been cancelled.

Note: conditions are likely to change quickly from this - please phone the duty Mountain Bike Ranger for the latest (07834 435380)


Exit of Admiral on Blue Route (near ponds)

Bottom of Freeride Park/Buzzards Nest car park

Top of Freeride Park

Start of Spookywood Climb on Red Route

Have a good weekend!

Andy (MTB Ranger)

Still Raining in the South West 26/2/2010

At least it's continuing to shift the snow which has mostly cleared at lower levels.

Some cover still though higher up in the Galloway Hills and at Ae.

The forecast is for a bit more snow on the high ground tonight then brighter with slight night frosts at the weekend so watch out for ice early in the day.

As usual this winter we seem to be missing the worst of the snow and keeping the best riding conditions in Scotland.

Chris

Rain In The South West Today 25/2/2010

As it says, we had rain today and it has melted a lot of the snow at lower levels and the remainder is quite soft (until we get a frost) and patchy.

There is still a lot of snow higher up though.

Probably best to avoid Ae and the Big Country route at Glentrool for the moment.

Kirroughtee clear of snow apart from the higher parts of the Black route which still has snow patches in the open.



Chris

Demo Day at Glentress, Sat 6th March

This year several top bike brands have teamed up with the British Mountain Bike Series to create demo days at each round of the series. 7stanes Glentress isn't a round of the series, but they picked Glentress to put on an extra demo.

No pre booking is needed (2 forms of i.d req., over 18's) and the demo route will be open from 10am to 4pm, based up at the Buzzards Nest car park. If snow/ice means the Buzzards Nest car park is still shut on the 6th, the demo will use to one of the lower car parks instead (7stanes or Red Squirrel), with a demo route using trails lower down the hill.

More info at: www.britishxc.com

Snow at 7stanes trails in the East

It's been snowing here in the Scottish Borders in the night and this morning. There is fresh snow at all levels at Glentress, Innerleithen and Newcastleton 7stanes centres.

Here at Glentress there's currently a couple of inches or so at the trailhead, more likely at higher elevations. The 7stanes and Osprey car parks are open. The Red Squirrel and Buzzards Nests car parks and access road up to them are closed.

A decision on whether the Duathlon Race at Glentress on Sunday 28th Feb will go ahead will be made by the organisers on Thursday night. The new snow's not helping! Revised routes and further details can be found at http://www.glentressduathlon.com/

Snow in the Southwest 24/2/2010

The forecast was right, it's snowing.

As of 9am this morning the cover varies from a dusting of wet snow in Dalbeattie and Newton Stewart to 4 inches higher up.

All the car parks at Ae, Mabie, Dalbeattie, Kirroughtree and Glentrool are currently still open.

If you're looking to ride today Dalbeattie & Kirroughtree red routes will be the best bet.

The forecast is for the snow to turn to rain at lower levels later today so Mabie, Dalbeattie & Kirroughtree may clear fairly quickly.

Chris

Kirroughtree 23/2/2010 - Winter on the way back?

Sundays snow showers has left some snow and ice patches on the black route but most of the ride line on McMoab is clear.

some of the trail in the open has patches of snow and ice that were soft this afternoon but may become icy if it freezes.

The red and blue routes are clear of snow.

More snow is forecast in the next 48hrs so it may be a different story by the weekend.

Watch this space.

Chris

Glentress Trail Conditions - Sat 20th Feb

We got a fresh dusting of snow at Glentress on Friday night at all levels. Lots of tyres over the trails today has polished the ride line making things decidedly slippy. A frost is forecast again tonight so this new dusting of snow is likely to hang around for a while unfortunately.

Because of the snow the road up to the Red Squirrel and Buzzards Nest car parks is currently closed, sorry about this.

For the latest on the trails or more info please call the duty mtb ranger on 07834 435380.

cheers,

andy (mtb ranger).

Kirroughtree 19/2/ 2010 - Summer Comes Early

Well not quite, but so long as you wrap up warm the trails are riding as if it had.

No snow or ice problems to spoil the fun - do watch out for frost on the rocks if your out early or late though.

The hose for the bike wash may be frozen but the trails are riding so clean your not really going to need it any way.

Chris

Glentress Trail Conditions Update, 12/02/2010

Here are the latest trail conditions for Glentress. There's a risk of black ice at present (it was very slippy in the car parks/forest roads this morning as it rained then froze last night) and a fresh dusting of snow is lying at Buzzards Nest height and above (old snow mentioned below is snow/ice that's still hanging about from the big snowfall we had over Christmas and New year).

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

Green Route/Skills Area/Freeride Park: All clear of old snow/ice except odd patches. Fresh dusting of snow in places.

Blue Route: Lower loop from trailhead to Buzzards Nest and back down - most trails clear, only very occasional old icy/snow patches. On Upper loop, the trails/roads are mostly clear although old snow/ice remain in places on the very top loop (Betty Blue).

Red Route: Mostly clear of old snow/ice except Spookywood Climb and Descent - where it's still lying in many places with icy ruts.

Black Route: Old snow/ice still lying in places, especially on higher elevations: Kipps Climb/Britney Spears/Mustard Snake/Boundary Trail/Deliverance.

Please look out for fallen/hanging branches, fallen trees and broken tops to trees. We've got round and cleared most of these but have not yet been able to inspect all trails. If you do spot anything, please let us know on 07834 435380.

Have a good weekend!

Kirroughtree - MBR Man Made Trail Of The Year

Following on from this award in the December issue, top freelance snapper Andy McCandlish was here this week on a photo shoot for an article in the March edition.

The weather and trail conditions resulted in some great images.

The trails are really riding well so get out west and ride.

Chris

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.