Trail condition at Jack Rabbit

[Russ]

Does anyone know what the trail conditions are at Jack Rabbit. Last time it was very muddy. I hoped to ride it tommorow since it will be warm outside.

[Russ]

Trail at Jack Rabbit very muddy. With the weather we have been having someone might consider closing the trail for a while. You don't really think it is that bad and when you get in there a ways it really has some bad spots.

[joanna]

Russ,
We have already cancelled the routine Sunday weekly ride (see the post on the Mtn Bike Rides). It's hard to close a trail that is not officially open, and won't be until there is 1) signage, 2) the USFS does a GPS of all trails and puts it in the official data base for trails (and this won't be done until all trails are completed).
It's difficult to reach all the people who already use the trail, because a lot of them are not SABA members nor do they read the message board. There is a lot of hikers as well as bikers using the trail (not to mention the hunters). We can't officially put up barriers or gates (that would be a USFS action) to a trail that isn't even open yet. It is a dilemma- and we just hope people will act responsibly.
When hiking it, you may think it is not that bad (although on new sections of trail I have had to hold on to trees to keep upright). But, when you ride it, you slide off the trail, create 1-2 inch ruts and it is doing a lot of damage. This freeze-thaw effect (which seems to be worse this year than compared to past years) is happening to the old JR hiking trail as well, it's just not getting as much bicycle use so it's not as evident (but I did see some very deep paw prints and shoe prints from the hikers).
We appreciate your input and concern.

[joanna]

If the low temp stays above 30 degrees, the trail will be good to ride/hike. The rain does not bother it (it drains off very well), and if it rains one day, it's good to ride by the next day (please don't ride it immediately after a heavy rain). It is the freeze-thaw that is making it a muddy mess. It is only the beginning of March, so I suspect we will have some good freezes before it stays warm. As of this past week, the trail was in very good condition (temps of mid-upper 50's to 60's and lows above 30).

[joanna]

As of this date, the trail is very dry. Of course, it hasn't rained in quite a while, but no freeze-thaw either. The white/blue and yellow-blazed trails are ridable (totaling 6.5 miles if you ride them all). We are still doing some finish work on the yellow-blazed trail(removing some big knobby stobs/roots) but it is ridable-just keep your eyes open.

[joanna]

The ferns are out, the wild flame (orange) azaleas are just now in bloom, more trees and such are greening up and the weather is perfect (along with the trails). Can't get much better than this!

[joanna]

Trail still in great shape. Few scattered showers have helped the dry conditions. Will keep everyone posted as the temps fall below freezing to see if the 'freeze-thaw' effect will be as bad as last year. Hope not.

[joanna]

As of January 15, 2008, SABA is requesting all trail users to avoid the Jackrabbit Trails due to the extreme negative impact from the freeze-thaw effect. Please be a responsible rider, as negative impacts such as this creates an enormous amount of time doing repair maintenance, and can potentially close a trail.
I will continue to provide reports on trail conditions.

[joanna]

As of March 6, 2008, the trail was in good shape. Only a couple of soft spots; one of them on the Central Loop near the entrance to the new green blazed trail (not open just yet) that is probably a underlying spring at this site, and on the SABA Beach trail off of Burrell Cove. I know we still have some freezing weather in March/April, but right now the trail look good.

[joanna]

Even after two days of torrential rains on Friday and Saturday, by 1pm on Sunday the JR trails were in great shape. Thanks to good planning and, oh yeah, great professional trail construction (hate to boost Mikes already swollen ego!) we have some awesome sustainable trails. The water will roll right off the trail as it was designed to do (it's the freeze-thaw we don't have control over). Still recommend people not ride wet trails- give it a few hours of sun and wind to dry out.

[cmack1383]

Saw a special on Jack Rabbit on UNC TV about a month ago and had to try it out. I do bike but mostly like to trail run so this is ideal. My wife and I have a vacation house on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee which makes it even more convenient. Anyway, GREAT TRAILS!! I ran the Central Loop today and added the blue blazed trail as a kicker. About 5.1 miles all together.

I wanted to give some condition news and hopefully I don't offend anyone since I'm a newbie. There were very few wet spots or puddling along both trails. Very dry. It started to rain a bit when I finished so I did 100 push ups in the parking lot as "punishment" LOL! The only places I came across that may need to be tended to were a few fallen trees. On the blue trail there is a pretty good sized oak that fell over the path and sits about chest high. I'm estimating I was about half way through the trail when I came across this. There's another one just past that but it's low on the ground. Not sure if they fell as a result of the strong storms that rolled through the general area recently. Just thought I'd pass it on.

My wife and I will be visiting again this weekend or early next week. I look forward to showing her the wonderful treasure that is Jack Rabbit!!

Craig from Eastern NC

[joanna]

Craig,

Thanks for the input. Yes, I had just been informed a couple of days ago about the tree down on 'Yotee's Run'. We hope to take care of that this weekend. It is volunteers that do trail maintenance (as well as clearing, etc, etc,) and much of this is on weekends or after work. We try to get to these sites as soon as possible, but many factors play into this (patience is a virtue- please bear with us). I think the blowdown was the result of the high winds last Sunday. It was just the week prior that we took care of two fallen trees on the same loop. Oh well, it is a mountain bike trail, in the woods- tree's fall.
I wasn't aware that Jackrabbit was on UNC-TV- awesome!!!!! Thanks for the nice compliments. And we do hope you return and tell all your friends about our trails.
Joanna

[cmack1383]

Joanna,

I completely underdstand how you guys keep the trail maintained. There are quite a few short hiking trails (not many for biking) in Eastern North Carolina that are volunteered maintained. When I ran up to the fallen tree I thought to myself that "it's too bad I didn't bring my chain saw"! If the tree was smaller...or I was Hercules...then I could have moved it along! I have no problems with helping out when I see things that can be taken care of...not sure what your policies are on that issue. As I'm only up here a few times each summer I can't say when I'd be able to come lend a hand but if we happen to be there when y'all are doing some work I'd love to help.

I'm pretty sure it was UNC-TV. It was late at night...could've be GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting....I think?).

Thanks again!!

[joanna]

We have gotten some much needed rain in the past few weeks, and are forecast to get more this next week. The trails sure could have used the moisture this past summer! As of right now (mid-December) we are beginning to show a little freeze-thaw effects. Most of the trail is in good shape, but certain spots are mushy, especially sites were the trail had to be built up, or others such as the spot on the Central Loop just before the intersection to Burnt Tree Peninsula (mushy area on a downhill curve could spell a wipe-out!)

Also, there has been construction on the bridge on Sneaking Creek in the past couple of days. Weather permitting, this construction could be completed within a week or so- hopefully before Christmas. Go check out Jackrabbit's one and only bridge!

The parking lot is also still in the works. You can park at the very entrance of the new section that has gravel (stay behind the yellow tape), but still continue to go below the silt fence and hike-a-bike over this to get to the trail entrance so the area of construction is not disturbed. We appreciate your cooperation.

[joanna]

As of Jan. 24th, 2009, the trails are experiencing some major freeze-thaw effects with very muddy, slippery conditions. Large ruts are being caused by even the easiest of riders. Myself, John-Mark and Fred went to the trails today to put up cowbells on low-lying trees and/or branches. We took it very easy and still had problems staying on the trails and upright (and created more ruts than we anticipated). As much as I love promoting trail use,it is advised to avoid riding the trails at this time.

[joanna]

The freeze-thaw conditions are resolving with the warmer temperatures. As long as the low temps do not fall below freezing for more than a couple of days in a row, trail conditions should remain in great shape. Few ruts on the trail from bike use during the muddy conditions, but this should improve with foot and bike traffic going over these spots. A few trees are down- one on SABA beach, one on Burrell Cove, and also on Sneaking Creek (with a couple of snags that are of concern). Most of this will get taken care of within the next week or so.

Also, the grass seeding around the parking lot is scheduled to take place in the next couple of weeks. We are preparing the sites and ask that people use the gravel path to the trailhead instead of riding over the slopes.

The daffodils are blooming in the usual spots (some in the trail itself), and it's a great time to get out of hibernation and out on the trail!

[joanna]

GREAT-GREAT-GREAT!!!! Trails in perfect condition- watch out for acorns and squirrels (and hunters through December!-no hunting allowed in NC on Sunday's). FS plans a controlled burn in mid-latter part of November, but will hopefully let me know the week prior so I can post this.
Great fall colors will persist through mid-November. Perfect riding conditions!

[joanna]

Snow/ice/freezing then thawing and now rain every 3-4 days or so- doesn't make for the best trail conditions. I did do a trail run this past Saturday mid-later morning on the Central Loop to assess trail conditions. Temperatures had been colder so the trail was pretty much still hard/frozen except for areas already getting sunlight. If using the trail, it is recommended to do morning rides/runs and avoid the latter part of the day when it just becomes mushy.

Even if the tempteratures stay in the freezing range, it will thaw where it gets sunlight.

With the bike/foot traffic in wet conditions come ruts. Ruts collect water/moisture and create puddles, that become larger/ deeper puddles when people ride around them or through them (hence, the Tsali effect). This creates a lot of maintenance issues down the road.

If we can get through Feb., conditions start to improve in mid-March.

[joanna]

Rain, snow, more rain, more snow. Trail is mushy in several spots, especially on the Central Loop and where there is more clay in the soil. Not good for the trail to ride in these conditions.

[joanna]

This has been a particularly bad year for freezing conditions. With the rare nice day we have now, it is bringing out a lot of people to the trail. But, the conditions are worse than I have seen for the past couple of years. It used to be that the Central Loop was the worst for the freeze-thaw conditions, but this year every trail has sections that are in bad shape with very muddy conditions and deep ruts caused from bicycles. Me and Fred cleared one downfall on Sneaking Creek a few days ago, and the trails were horrible in sections at that time. These ruts will continue to hold water and all these sites could very well turn into deep mud holes in the future (not to mention what this much mud can do to your bicycle). I realize that temps in the mid-upper 50's is hard to pass up, but please avoid using the trails until the low temps are consistently above 30 degrees.