BUMP

If anyone is interested, Casey and I will be headed out to Swayback (near Wetumpka) on Saturday to console ourselves over the canceled North Carolina trip. Anyone is welcome to join- we haven't really established a start time, so if you would like to join us and have a time preference, let us know.

 Come out, come out, whereever you are!

What happened to the NC trip?

Sucky weather.

Really? Forecast looked ok. Cold? Trail closings from previous rain? If I hadn't already made plans, I would have gone down with everyone.

I may do this ride, it's been awhile since I rode there. If my son will go I will plan to start at 9AM.

Trail conditions as reported by the local bike shop to Jay.  Report said they would be nearly unrideable.

Im heading to swayback this saturday. Im new to the sport and this will be my first actual trail ride. Looking forward to it!

Here are just a couple of examples of what has been going on up there (scroll down in the links for pictures).  Not only have they been having freeze/thaw issues, but feet and feet of snow.  The trails are mostly unridable even for the local die-hard mountain bikers.  Anyone venturing out has been limited to hike-a-bike fun. The amount of deadfall on the trails is severe also.

Adventures in Pisgah

MTBR North Carolina forum post

Hey, that's my mountain in the picture.  We moved south to Ashville (Arden actually) when I was 4.5 - my parents told me they named Mt. Mitchell after me.  They also told me that when the ice cream truck music starts playing it means the last ice cream has been sold.  My parents are the best!

Mitch.....that is hysterical!!! 

I wouldn't mind trying another trail, has anyone  come up with a time frame. If so would anyone consider car pooling, my truck gets horrible mileage, I hate to drive solo  that far if everyone is going to the same place.

Okay, we have made the executive decision (aka we're bums who don't like to roll out of bed early in the morning) to meet at the Swayback trailhead at 12:30. It's a little under 2 hours to get there from Birmingham. I already convinced Casey to drive my bike and I there, so her car is already filled up, but if you want to meet someone to carpool maybe ask some of the folks who were posting on this forum. Word of warning: I've been there once, Casey not at all, so if you're looking for leadership and an idea of where we're going...well, you're going to be sorely disapointed. We just wanted other people to get lost with. Come join us!

That's part of the fun . Really wish I could go. In the past we've usually met at the Cracker Barrell on 119 and loaded up from there.

I wish I had known about the explanation for the music on the ice-cream truck when my kids were younger  When I was a kid, Roy Rodgers was popular, so my parents told me pork & beans was "cowboy beans" and it was all that Roy Rodgers would eat. So I ate beans 'til I wanted to throw up! 

I love Swayback and wish i could join you but I am working tomorrow afternoon. Check out trailoflegends.org for printable maps.  the trail is marked pretty well and has different mileage options.  It is a stacked loop trail and can get a little confusing in a couple places, but all of the loops will join up and bring you back to the parking lot! Have Fun!! The black loop ( the longest one) will bring you through the zipper i believe.  lots of fun! dont miss it!

Yep, if you want to ride it all, just follow the black arrows.  I'd join you guys, but I've been roped into following all the LA (that's "Lower Alabama") folks for a ride at the Lake Howard Trail in Sylacauca.  Swayback has suffered with this awful winter we've had & was a bit of a mess for a while, but hopefully it's dried out in the last week or so.  Post up a trail report when you get home!

I'll swing through the parking lot on the way home from Sylacauga (we're heading out at the butt crack of dawn) just in case Micky saved me a brew!

Oh, and here's the link to the map;

http://www.attackonswayback.com/sub_domains/tola/support_docs/07-Swayback-Map.pdf

Ed

I rode though the trailhead about 2 pm on my way home from Sylacauga but I didn't see anyone I knew or any "1A" tags.  How was the trail?

Swayback wasn't to bad, a little muddy in a few places but  nothing to messy. It was my first time there and I had a blast. It's no omsp, but I'll make trips there in the future. We left the trail head around 1:30 so you just missed us.

what was up with  the grave marker out on the  trail? born 56 died 02

You just missed us. 

Allen, Mary, Casey and I rode together.  I have been there several times and I can tell you, the trail was in great shape.  Wet and soft in the usual places but nothing bad.  Actually all around the lake was perfect,.. well packed, damp and sticky.

How was the Lake Howard trail? 

LH was in fine shape.  Like you said, just damp in the usual spots.  I took some pics, but my camera quit working (OK, so I forgot to put the memory card back in before I left )

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z205/xray_ed/Sylacauga%20Feb%202010/