Raccoon Mountain Conditions Here - everyone post!

[GRiD]

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[Scottrc]

Trail was in great shape today, dry and fast!!

[kevkizer]

awesome! I'm actually headed there in about 15 minutes!

[codydog]

Rode yesterday before any of the rain moved in, the trail was in great shape.

[GARRETT]

heading to this trail in morning does it have an address. or anyone have directions to get there.. thanks

[homer]

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...698,-85.385384

I-24 exit 174 (hwy41/72). If you get to the Tiftonia exit, you passed it.

[RobWoods]

I think there is a trail running event there all day today. I was going there but changed it to Defeated Creek instead.

[GARRETT]

thanks homer, leaving lil bit and hope to have great ride.. 1st time going

[RobWoods]

I'm tellin ya Garrett, I think there is a trail running event there today from like 8-3. You may be wasting a trip.

[cooper58]

Found on a local Chattanooga site...

RUNNING

* Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race: June 18-20, 18-22 miles daily of trail running on Lookout, Raccoon and Signal mountains; benefits Wilderness Trail Association. Register at www.raceit.com/register/?event=921 for one or more stages.

[GARRETT]

thanks guys.. there was a running event but they had no problem with us riding at same time so workd out great. only met few runners then took another route and never saw one again, all we did see where cool and gave us right away with no issues.runners are doing a 3 mountain in 3 days running event they did 22 miles yesterday and 19 today, and have run 20ish tomorrow all on different trails...... was great ride wish i had gone to this trail sooner. even after a 30 min down poor trail was wet but no real mud and stayd fast and fun.. def go back soon..... thanks again for everyones input... and thanks to anyone who helps maintain this trail was perfect...

[cannonf600]

first ride here trail was great very dry.

[kikapuj]

First time at raccoon mtn today...but I will be back soon. What a great trail! Fast and flowy sections all around the reservoir. Only section I didn't get to was Small Intestine. Weather and trail were perfect. Loved the downhill section and jumps (Lower Chunky?)

Extra special thanks to Jeff for the talk and hydration and Mike for the watermelon half way thru. Man that was soooo good and much appreciated!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMZuHCgETyg

[mbh1013]

Small Intestine is one of the best sections. Make sure and get to it next time!

[kikapuj]

Thanks for the tip. Will do!

[graham722]

Originally Posted by mbh1013

Small Intestine is one of the best sections. Make sure and get to it next time!

spent a long day at Raccoon on Monday. Small Intestine is second only to that screaming downhill past the overlook. It's like 'chain reaction' at MB only 3-4 times as long. One of the most fun sections of trail I've ridden in TN.

[Tall Steve]

Road all the way to Raccoon from Murfreesboro this past Saturday for my first ride. Started out with 3 other riders that were definitely better and more experienced on a mtb than I. I noticed that I was closing fast on them not 5 minutes into the trail ride. That was because there was a 90 degree turn. By the time I saw this, it was too late. Hit a tree after my front wheel collapse from the oh sh&! braking. Probably more embarrassed than hurt. Maybe next time...and it sure looks like a lot of fun.

[SafetyBreak]

Conditions are dry and hot!!! Just got back from hitting everything at Raccoon, well everything but Chunky. We didn't have time to mess with it this trip. Not many other cars in the parking lot today, but we had a great time.

Very sandy, and Megawatt is getting sketchier but even more fun. Thank God for full susp.

[GARRETT]

how is trail doing? couple of us plan to head down late morning ish and just making sure trail good to go, had some rain on off all week here in boro

[BikerGirl]

Rode yesterday and the trail was extremely dry! Almost too dusty dry! Other than that, trail was in great shape!

[Daniel]

Anyone hot racoon lately? Thinking of heading down Monday

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Anyone hot racoon lately? Thinking of heading down Monday

I was down there today. Rode two laps plus a little. It is dry and very loose and I washed out once on a slight downhill. Just some minor abrasions. Still hit my helmet. If you see anyone not wearing a helmet, tell them to get one. My fall was not dramatic and I wasn't even close to hurt and yet my head still hit the ground hard enough to put two good dents in my helmet, enough to buy a new one on the way home. If I hadn't been wearing it a nothing crash would have been a concussion or worse. I think it should be mandatory on any trail or anywhere.

Now back to the trail. Be careful in the corners and don't trust any rocks you are going over not to move.

Other than that I had my best two lap time ever. 3:34:33 pedal time and 3:40:00 total time out there and didn't feel like I was racing. It was the weather. Not even sweaty when I finished. Sweet. The full loop is 17 miles if you do the intestine clockwise because you will go over some of the same trail twice if you are running it clockwise from the east overlook. You have to go in like you are running it counter clockwise and take the first right and run all of that loop above that parking area to get 17 miles. There are still 3 sections that I dismount on and will continue to do so. Too much information. I got a lot long-winded. Trail was amazingly barren of many riders today. I rode my 29er SS geared at 32x21.I usually run a 20 but wanted to stay seated more today. I love most of this trail. It is showing some signs of erosion from the bad weather this spring and so much use.

[homer]

Glad you got to get out, Robert. Go, dude!