Franklin/ Marion Trail Conditions Here - everyone post!

[twolfcon]

Use this thread to update conditions at Franklin/Marion


Sewanee Weather

[Tall Steve]

Thinking about driving driving down to FSF. Has anyone been there in the past month? Please post up with any recent information. thanks! Steve

[Maintainer]

Steve I have not been riding the trail lately but have been working up there on the trail regularly and all of the trail is in good shape, there is a lot of horse use on some of it but it is dry and not chewed up.

[Maintainer]

I worked on the trail today and there has been a lot of rain up there since last week and there are some wet, sloppy spots along the trail.

[homer]

Reckon it'll be OK this Saturday?

[Robert]

I worked on the trail today and there has been a lot of rain up there since last week and there are some wet, sloppy spots along the trail.

Thanks for all the work you do on this trail, Denny. Hope to get up there soon.

[Maintainer]

Gary, there is a 30% chance for thunderstorms Saturday so does that mean there is a 70% chance it will be OK? I don't know. Thanks, Robert, the trail needs more mtb riding.

[Scottrc]

Trail was in excellent shape Saturday. This trail needs more riders. Ride it and you will love it!!! Thanks Denny for the continued trail work up there.

[B.L.]

Rode Sunday and it was great as always. Thanks to the guys who keep this place running. There's a lot of woods and many miles of trail to maintain, they do a great job. Go ride this trail, you'll like it.

[homer]

Great day at FSF! The rain was threatening on the ride down, but thankfully petered out before it got there. Special thanks to Denny (maintainer) for all the work he's put in there. Epic trail! Now to get rid of the horses... This trail would be a great case study on the difference in terrain damage caused horses and bikes. No contest.

[Robert]

anyone ridden here lately? Just wondering what the trail is like. Hope to make it down there soon. Thanks for any information.

[homer]

We did on the 5th. It was great...counterclockwise. Horses have done their thing at the ends, but other than that, exceptional.

When ya goin'?

[Robert]

I rode two loops there today, one in each direction. The trail is in good shape. Only two things down that required a walk-over. I think it was in R and I cannot remember the other. This trail is fun to ride if you like back woods riding with some hike-a-bike but not much. Thanks to Denny and all the people who make this trail possible. Hardly any horse traffic today. I will be back.

[Maintainer]

John Kunz, the Forester, and I have cut brush along the trail, 4.5 miles, from CCC Rd, LetterT, to the camp site at letter Q and the .5 miles from Letter G to the overlook at Letter H. We cut the tree that Robert reported near Letter R.

[Robert]

Thanks for all the work you do on a great trail. I will be back this Summer.

[Maintainer]

Monday John Kunz, the Forester, discovered that a storm had passed through the forest along the West Side Trail and left some large trees down in a random pattern. Yesterday he and I worked cutting several trees between Letter L, the tower base Road and Letter N, the Cross Creek bridge. There are still a cluster of trees and a single tree down south of the power line crossing between Letter L and M. If we are unable to safetly cut and moved those we will make a bypass around them. In the meantime if anyone knows of other trees down on the trail either post the locations on this forum or send me a PM.

[Maintainer]

I just talked to John Kunz, he and Kevin Brewer, the FA at the forest, hiked in and cut out the two large trees this morning. John and I will continue north from the Cross Creek bridge, Friday, checking the trail.

[Robert]

anyone ridden this gem lately? Just wondering what the conditions are like. I wish it was closer to Nashville.

[homer]

I talked to a friend/guide yesterday, in hope of meeting him today. He said that he hadn't ridden it in some time. The horses had torn a lot of it up and Denny is out for two weeks assisting his son's Appalachian Trail hike. So, no word but likely windfall. Do Defeated. It's perfect! And now clear!

[Robert]

Gary, thanks for the heads up. I appreciate it. I had thought about two times FSF tomorrow. I emailed Denny and he said none of the horse people had complained about anything that was impeding their progress. I may do 2 times Full Monty tomorrow or head somewhere else.

[Maintainer]

Although I have not been to FSF lately I talked to John Kunz, the Forester, this morning and he and some of the crew have cut all of the trees that they knew about that were on the MTB trail. If anyone rides up there and finds any trees on the trail either post the locations on here or send me a PM as to the locations and we will get them cut.

[GARRETT]

Sewanee is in good shape .. We rode Sunday before and during rain.. Was good to go. If don't want to risk fsf same area any way.

[PPMTB]

The West rim trail at FSF was a great place to ride in the late 90's. And even better after Denny completed the loop on the West side of Hwy 156. He re-routed several sections and built numerous bridges. It's sad to see all of his hard work get demolished by horses.

[homer]

It was great a couple of years ago! The first few miles at each end was typically fluff or sludge, depending on the rain (thanks to the horses). As I understand it, it hasn't been ridden or maintained since then. Real bummer. Great, great trail.

[Maintainer]

I checked several sections of the trail on 10-18-2016 and as suspected, due to a lack of trail maintenance, there are trees down all along the trail, some to the point that they are not riding horses on the trail. I did ride 19 miles that day on gravel and dirt roads and did not ride all of the gravel roads so if you are into gravel grinders FSF could be a place to ride.

[homer]

Thanks, Denny. How much work is there, in clearing…how long do you think it'd take four men?

I hate the thought of losing the trail. I'd be willing to work a few weekends this winter if I could crash on Scott and Tara's sofa!

[Maintainer]

Gary, from what I have seen at various points along the trail all 20 miles would have to be walked carrying chain saws, fuel and bar oil. There are multiple places where the trail can be accessed by vehicle so it could be done section by section and since deer gun season starts this week end and runs through Jan 15th it would be best to wait until it is over to tackle this. It would be like eating an elephant, one bite at a time and it would certainly be worth taking a week end and giving it a try. If we get some people who want to do it we could camp at the forest overnight and expedite it. To make it worth the time and effort there would need to be an on going maintenance effort to keep the trail open in the future.

[Cotharyus]

Where is this trail? Can someone post a link to a pin drop on google maps? For a 20 mile trail, y'all might be able to talk me into bringing a saw and some tools to help out. No sense letting go of a perfectly good trail.

[homer]

Oh, Drew. This is the most epic trail this side of Chatt. On the east rim of Monteagle Mt. Opposite the Sewanee/St. Andrews trails. Similar terrain, but all woods and no neighborhoods or road jogs. Epic. I don't have the pin-drop savvy, but will see what I can do.

[homer]

Well, shoot. The Franklin State Forest pin on the TN Bike Trails Maps on our Trail and Conditions thread send me to Woody's cycles, with no map for this trail, in spite of it being tagged for it.

Denny, do you know of a place for Drew to find it?

[homer]

I emailed Woody's for help with a map.

[ScottG]

I would be up for working to getting this trail back open. I think Denny's suggestion of clearing after hunting season would be best since it does get a lot of use by hunters. Count me in.

Scott

[homer]

Where is this trail? Can someone post a link to a pin drop on google maps? For a 20 mile trail, y'all might be able to talk me into bringing a saw and some tools to help out. No sense letting go of a perfectly good trail.

PM me your email address, here or on FB, and I'll forward a topo trail map from Woody.

[PPMTB]

It'd be great to ride there again. FSF has the potential to be the best trail in Tennessee. All it needs is some TLC and a lot of MTB traffic. Let's plan on a work party the weekend after deer season closes (Jan. 14-15).

[PPMTB]

Thanks to Denny and company, the cabin side of the trail is clear all the way to the South end. It's a good ride other than few low areas holding water. It's 16.5 miles round trip, if you ride the double track back to the cabin.

[homer]

Is the trail loop not cleared, coming out across from the cabin?

[PPMTB]

No. I'm meeting Denny Friday morning at 6:30 at the cabin if you want to join us.

[PPMTB]

More progress with clearing the trail today. Riding Sunday if anyone is interested.

[homer]

Thanks, guys! Hope to get up that way soon!