Defeated Creek Conditions Here (Bear Wheels Trail) - everyone post!

[twolfcon]

Use this thread to update trail conditions for Defeated Creek


Carthage Weather

[kikapuj]

I've been thinking about a lunch time trip out to this trail today. Anyone know how this trail held up after the rains Wednesday?

[gszman]

I know they got a significant amount of rain on Wednesday and they had flooded roads. It might have dried by today unless they got some rain yesterday.
If you go, please post the conditions because I plan to ride there tomorrow morning. If not I might head to Fall Creek Falls.
Thanks

[Fuel]

Yes, please post. I might be interested in a Saturday trip if it's rideable.

[kikapuj]

Aww... sorry guys! I didn't post before your rides, but if you went out this morning I'm sure you had a good time. When I went on Friday it was really slick, not muddy but awfully slick, and lots of downed trees. One really big one on Black Bear that is going to take a lot of work to clear. Oh, and lots and lots of spiders. Grrrr....I hate spiders.

This was my first ride at DC. For a while I thought it was a pretty comfortable ride considering I was climbing. The trail is really smooth, although off camber a lot. Considering it was slick I took it real easy. I have to say, it was good to challenge myself, but I got a little anxious after 5+ miles of climbing. I finally got to mi 5.5 or so and thought I was at the top. It leveled off a bit and I was looking for the DH payoff. Alas, it was not to be. A short reprieve and then more climbing, and climbing, and good grief...mountain goat territory! That climb to the pinnacle by the boundary is just ridiculously sick. I got to thinking it was named Defeated Creek b/c it defeated the laws of physics. Apparently what goes up doesn't always come down.

After a lot of hike and bike, there finally was a payoff, but it seemed like it was over too fast compared to the time it took to get to the top. I agree with Homer. I think I will try it backwards next time.

[homer]

Doing it the first way is a training monster. Makes the back-asswards a piece of cake!
My first trip was like you, Jeff, had heard about the killer climb, got past the 5+ mile teasers and thought, "that wasn't so bad", then the climbing started... Yeah, the last boundry climb takes some getting used to. Best suggestion is to get in a gear that you can stay on top of and gut it out. Granny-ing will kill you. My first ride, I thought I was having a stroke or something. 90 degree weather makes it niiiice, huh?

[gszman]

Jeff, agree with you. I climbed it to the top 4 times during the last few weeks. Last time I rode all of it until the very last climb on top by the boundary. It does take getting used to.
Gary,
I am going to try what you suggesting next time.
George

[gszman]

Trail is in great condition with the exception of a HUGE tree down between mile 1 and 2 and some rocks that washed into the trail from the last heavy rains. Told the rangers about the tree which will probably require a bulldozer to remove.