Blocking the undesirable trails should be done the way we blocked the switchbacks on VTC: branches lashed together with bailing wire.

The new east/west reroute that bypasses the cave entrance is complete and open. Go through the orange flagged "gates". The new bypass is maybe 20 yards longer than going past the cave entrance and more fun. The crossing of the creek bed might take one day longer to recover after a big rain event is the only downside to it.

And it does make more sense to not go past the cave entrance. Even today there was a big group of cavers unloading in the parking lot. They would soon be all spread out at the cave entrance, blocking the trail, and causing user group conflicts.

The reroute from the Latta Drive metal gate, the one you pass dropping back in when you are coming from the Costco trails, to Mopac trail is now flagged for the cavers' (most likely) approval. That will happen soon.

Rode it. Liked it. Awesome job, guys!

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Is the Crank and Drank happening tonight or is it wet?

Originally Posted by notyal

Is the Crank and Drank happening tonight or is it wet?

There was lots of riding yesterday. Perfect conditions. Did anyone get any rain last night? Even if there was some it most likely wasn't enough to affect anything.

Crank and Drank, 6pm!

Originally Posted by The Tip

There was lots of riding yesterday. Perfect conditions. Did anyone get any rain last night? Even if there was some it most likely wasn't enough to affect anything.

Crank and Drank, 6pm!

I might actually make this one!

Originally Posted by The Tip

The new east/west reroute that bypasses the cave entrance is complete and open.

Dang, that was quick! Thanks to all involved!!

- Jason

We have an agreement with Texas Cave Management Association for the Whirlpool Cave Preserve trails. We will be cutting a replacement trail to the west that will stay mostly under Latta Lane bridge, the tien back to the existing trail to the north east and at south ends. This trail will take a bit more work that the reroute to the south east. Please bear with us while we make this happen. There is brush to be cut and rocks to be moved. When done, I think it will be more interesting trail without being too difficult.

Once the replacement trail(s) are open, we will block the old trails. Please respect the trail closure. And pass the word to others you may see trying to use the old trail. We would like to close the old trail so it keeps the natural look and feel. We will put up signs and such if needed but those do not look natural.

We need to thank several people who have done great things to turn what could have been an ugly situation into a win-win. I don't want to name names on this forum. But the Texas Cave Management Association has been great to work with. We owe them a big Thank You. If you see them out there stop and say thanks. Maybe even lend a hand if they need help. Our own Mojo 'The Tip' has done a ton of work to bring this together. We should buy him a beer when we see him. We should have already been doing that for all of the work he has done on all of the SATN.

Tip Tip, Hooray!

I'm really glad to hear that they've been receptive to letting us use their land in one way or another and even more happy to hear that they're nice people after all.

Southie/GB riders:

A guy from TC submitted a proposal back in January that the city investigate passing Mission Oaks (from Travis Country) through to Industrial Oaks (alongside Small Middle School).

Here is the proposal - go vote: Connect Mission Blvd to Industrial Oaks on SW Parkway to make a SW Parkway and Hwy 290 / US-1 connector. - SpeakUpAustin

Here is the followup (recommended council member harassment)
1.) Go to this link: Contact Us Form | AustinTexas.gov - The Official Website of the City of Austin
2.) Fill out your name and address: 3.Cut and paste this for Subject: "SW Parkway to Highway 290 and Loop 1 North Traffic Remedy Proposal"
3.) Cut and paste this in Message:
Need action on the following speakupAustin! link: Connect Mission Blvd to Industrial Oaks on SW Parkway to make a SW Parkway and Hwy 290 / US-1 connector. - SpeakUpAustin

It was good to ride with everybody this evening.

Hank, I think I left some gloves on the hood of your truck if you happened to see them. Giro camo gloves.

The new trails at Whirlpool Cave Preserve are taking shape. The one to the south of the cave is getting a lot of use and is looking good. I roughed the trail from under the bridge to the north this evening. It is rideable now. It still needs lot of work but you can see where it will go. I stacked some rocks but those will need improvement.

We will start blocking the old trails now. It looked like some of the blockage had been moved. We will start with minor blockage and increase as needed. If you see someone moving the blockage, ask the NICELY to use the new trails and leave the blockage in place.

Originally Posted by cxagent

The new trails at Whirlpool Cave Preserve are taking shape. The one to the south of the cave is getting a lot of use and is looking good. I roughed the trail from under the bridge to the north this evening. It is rideable now. It still needs lot of work but you can see where it will go. I stacked some rocks but those will need improvement.

I used the south connector yesterday and was amazed at the quick progress. You guys are awesome! Thanks so much for working put a solution and cutting the trails.

We rode the north connector trail that had only been roughed in. One of the ladies got there long before I did, saw the opening and tried it out. She said it was ridable up and down as is. I rode it down (north to south) but didn't have time to try the up (south to north). Maybe we don't need to smooth out the rocks as much as I thought we would. It was fun as is.

Originally Posted by Junior

Hank, I think I left some gloves on the hood of your truck if you happened to see them. Giro camo gloves.

He's not on MOJO, only on the SATN Facebook page. But I talked to him and he said he has them and he'll bring them Tuesday.

The new trails through the Whirlpool Cave Preserve are now complete. They now form a large triangle. The cave entrance and sign are in the middle of the triangle. Any direction a biker is going will now no longer come close to the entrance. All the reroutes are more fun. So the biking community has given up nothing and gained better trail. And the cave group will no longer have bikers zooming by while they are working around the entrance. It is a total win win situation for all groups involved.
The reroutes are mostly obvious. The hardest one to see is when you are coming north from Dick Nichols. To continue going north towards the Costco trails you will turn left while you are still under the Latta Drive bridge. There are only a couple of rocks marking it. We also spray painted "north" there, but that won't last long.
Please respect the brush trail blockages of the old trail. Also please pass the word why this was done so that riders will understand it was to keep access through that land.

The huge brush pile underneath the Brush Country bridge on the Williamson Creek Greenbelt trail is now cleared. So enjoy that trail.

Nice Thanks guys! Did the trails get any rain today? Status?

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Originally Posted by The Tip

He's not on MOJO, only on the SATN Facebook page. But I talked to him and he said he has them and he'll bring them Tuesday.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll contact him there as I will be out of town on Tuesday. See y'all the 20th though!

Originally Posted by kerryp

Nice Thanks guys! Did the trails get any rain today? Status?

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It started raining fairly hard on us in Bauerly Ranch this morning around 10. We decided to bail onto the streets and head home and got maybe a half mile and found the edge of the shower. Literally a 10 foot transition zone from raining to totally dry. We dropped back in to the Veloway trails and preceded to ride pretty much everything else under blue sky.

The new bypasses look fine to me as is. Thanks for the work y'all.