Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association

[Jon Sundquist]

Reply to this message to post your observations on trail conditions and/or your thoughts on pending Wilderness Designations which would limit bicycle access

[Marlin]

I rode on some trails in Onoville, Ny near the PA line. I don't know what they were but there were a few other mountain bikers on them. I don't know if they were nation forest trails but they did have red tags that said DEC TRAIL on them. All in all, the trails were steep and wide but lots of fun. They were fairly dry even after the 1/2 inch or so of rain we got.

[Jon Sundquist]

This forum is going to be one of the trail conditions forums, and will also be linked to an advocacy page that I am putting together regarding the National Forest and threatened Wilderness Deisgnations.

I started putting this together but went out riding instead. What a weekend for riding!!!

Anyway, the forests over behind Onoville are state forests like in Ellicottville (that's in NY). The DEC told us that a group local to that area had gotten an adopt-a-natural-resource agreement (like we have with the DEC) to get permission to build some trails. We really need to get info about these trails available to WNYMBA members, onto the web site, etc. One of the many to-do items, just like getting the Allegheny NF stuff up here, which has been on the to-do list for about a year.

I finally started to do the Allegheny NF web stuff this past weekend because alternatives were just released last week, and there is a public workshop this Thursday. Read about it at this link.. The Wilderness advocates have their web page here. If you look at the links to the maps of the citizen's groups proposed Wilderness areas you'll see that most of these areas are the sections of the forest closest to Buffalo, like this one, this one, this one, and this one.

Why is this important? Wilderness is good, right? Well small-w wilderness is good and is what we go out in the woods for, but Capital-W Wilderness (officially designated) means no bike, no exceptions. We would support Wilderness if Congress would remove the automatic exclusion of bikes from Wilderness areas.

[Jon Sundquist]

It's at

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/projects/forest_plan_revision/DEIS-LRMP/index.php

I haven't read it all yet, but Wilderness Recommendations are limited to the areas just south of Allegany SP, along Rt. 321 so I have heard.

[Jon Sundquist]

More on the recommended Wilderness areas :

Q19: How much wilderness is identified in the preferred alternative? Why weren’t all areas considered for wilderness?

A19: The preferred alternative recommends two wilderness study areas: Tracy Ridge (9,033 acres) and Chestnut Ridge (5,063 acres). If these areas were established as wilderness, this would almost triple the amount of land managed as wilderness on the ANF as wilderness would comprise slightly less than 5% of the ANF. All areas of the forest as well as all areas suggested by the public were considered for wilderness in a detailed appendix (Appendix C) that is part of the DEIS. However, the results of that analysis indicated that only 3 areas (Tracy Ridge, Chestnut Ridge and Minister Valley: total 23,241 acres) had the appropriate characteristics for wilderness. Supervisor Morse did add one area for further wilderness evaluation (Allegheny Front), due to public interest and the fact that the area met many of the desired characteristics for wilderness.

Tracy Ridge:



Chestnut Ridge:

[Jon Sundquist]

[EDIT: phpBB didn't print my subject line]

*Forest Plan Goes Final*

Still just two Wilderness areas recommended, although one includes more land closest to Buffalo.

Here's an article on it: http://postgazette.com/pg/07090/773985-113.stm

and the press release: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/projects/forest_plan_revision/documents/ANF_FEIS_press_release.pdf

The wilderness close to Buffalo is the "Chestnut Ridge" area (not to be confused with Erie Co. Park):



While the "Tracy Ridge" proposed wilderness wasn't included in the recommendations, the trails there are already closed to bikes.

[fat guy]

[The Todd-ler]

Conditions; excellent.

Morrison trail hurts so good.
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2008 Asheville MVP. J2DB. Ride Matador Fiore Ride! El Nino! Chunky Monkey!

[Edge]

The link to the Morrison map not valid. Here is the updated one below. I'm sure the others are similar.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/maps/brochure_maps/morsn98.pdf

[The Todd-ler]

Nice, thats a great map! (saved on computer)
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2008 Asheville MVP. J2DB. Ride Matador Fiore Ride! El Nino! Chunky Monkey!

[NAMBA]

Current conditions on the Allegheny National Forest

Rocky Gap is open to bikers and hikers and is dry and clear of most debris.

Open trails near the Hearts Content area, including Tanbark, Toms Run Ironwood and portions of the NCT have been recently cleared by the AOC and a few members of NAMBA.

Come on down and Ride.

www.ridenamba.com

[SlowPoke]

Would this trail be a good one to ride the first week of Nov?

I am coming in from Grand Rapids MI and have time for one ride at night and one in the morning before pressing on to a meeting in Rochester.

Anyone have advice on what trails to avoid or try for an early Nov ride?

Also looking for advice on camping in the area. Thanks.

[Jon Sundquist]

Skip Allegany and Allegheny. You want to ride in Ellicottville.

[Joker]

Probably wet and muddy
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Why...so...serious?

Carolina Blue Skies, Baby!

[Bodacious]

ANF IS PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE TO RIDE. ITS A HIDDEN GEM THAT IS LIKE 30000 SQUARE MILES.
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No Goal, Wide Right, I'll just go ride my bike