Wastrel
02-25-2008, 10:21 AM
Well, this past weekend my brother and myself decided to go check out Barnwells, just outside Gilmer Tx. This is an 1800 acre offroad park run by TMTC boasting trails for 4x4's, ATV's, and motorcycles.
This all sounds a bit intriguing, to us it certainly did. However, shortly after unloading and setting up camp it quickly became apparent that this park has a VERY heavy leaning towards the 4x4 and ATV crowds. That's not to say you can't take your motorcycle here and have a good time. You absolutely can. You will have to be aware of a few things tho. First and most important thing to know is that the trails are not all marked appropriately. The trails, when marked at all, have a diamond system with 1 diamond being for the novice, all the way to a 5 for the most difficult, and yes I do mean almost impossible. My brother and I decided to check out a 2 diamond trail for our first run, not knowing what to expect we figured we'd start small and work our way up.
We find what looks to be a promising 2 diamond and head in. Now, part of what follows is my fault as I was really expecting something along the lines of a rutted fire break trail or something similar. What I got was a 80 foot 60 degree downgrade covered in loose gravel and large rocks with sharp left and right off camber turns. OK, that's not to bad, I can do this. Then when we bottom out it becomes apparent that this is deffinately not any 2 diamond trail either of us have ever ridden. Facing us now we have a choice, a 60 ft clay bank deeply rutted and in several places having 3-4 foot sheer faces, or the bypass. I opt for the bypass, a 50 ft marginally better surface. Once we top the bypass we are greeted with 2 more choices, neither of which branded with any markers of any kind. Do we go left up a loose scree face overlaying red clay, or do we go right, thru a draw, and up another 80 foot clay face. We look at the loose scree over the clay and decide thats just not an option, so we head right. This it turns out was a huge mistake as we are now unknowingly on a 4 diamond 4x4 only trail. After dropping the DR 4 times we finally make it to the top of this nightmare and back to the main road. Looking back, this is what we see.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2848.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2851.jpg
While assesing the damages, these guys happened along to show us the way this trail is supposed to be handled, and with what equipment.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2844.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2843.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2841.jpg
Now, we both figured this was our mistake, the path was obviously marked and somehow we just both missed it. We take a short breather and head for the next trail head. Again, we start down a #2, which promptly drops us down a cliff face for lack of a better word, winds us thru the woods, gives us several unmarked options along the way and of course dumps us finally onto another jeep only trail. We decide to backtrack at crawling speeds to see if it's us, or if for some odd reason these people delight in torturing us for no reason. Sure enough, at each junction there is not a single marker, not a trail marker, not a ribbon, not a little arrow, nothing. Now at this point I should mention, when you check in, they give you a xeroxed map of the park. This should be a big help right? Trust me, it's not. It is a black and white image that would be difficult to read if it didnt have contour lines all over it. Add in those lines (about 40 of them per inch) and the map quickly turns from difficult to almost impossible. Then add in the factor that the trails that they do show on the map aren't labelled at the trail heads, but at some random point along their length, then just to make things fun, toss in a bunch of crossings that arent marked either on the map, or at the crossings themselves, and you get the picture.
Now, at this point we decide to disreguard the diamond system and just ride whatever looks interesting. This is what we should have done from the beginning. In our wanderings thru the park we did stumble across (yes I do mean stumble, its not marked on the map or on the trail itself except for 2 locations that we later found) a 1 up bike trail! Here we go, finally! Buddy, let me warn you now, if you plan on riding this path you had better be on a full blown stadium bike. Most of it is pretty tame with moderate to intermediate challenges thrown in to keep you on your toes. However, there were several locations that in my opinion would have required a lifeflight helicopter and a pack of sherpas to get me out after the inevitable.
You might think I am bad mouthing this park. Really I'm not, and my brother and I both bought memberships. I think we need more places like this, and anything I can do short of physical work I will, hehe. What I am doing is making you aware. If you are looking for a nice path thru the woods with some scenic views, the occasional blip on the throttle for the sheer pleasure of it, and the occasional rut or twist just to keep you honest, stay off the trails. The access roads and pipeline right of way are for you. If you are a he man and think you can handle the trails, there are some nice hidden spots to play.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2853.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2862.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2863.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2864.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2865.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2869.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2870.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2871.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2876.jpg
Know this much tho, you will have to work to get to them.
Towards the end of the first day we came up with the theory on the trailhead markers that we needed to go by the 4x4 rating rather than the bike rating. Upon exiting a trail we would always look at the marker to see what it was rated. In almost every occasion the trails that were rated as a 3-4 were far easier than the trails marked as a 2. Now here is why we think that is. The trails that were marked as a 2 for the bikes were marked as 3-4 for the 4x4's. The 4x4's would get back in there and struggle, the trail would deteriorate to the point it was now a true 4 for the 4x4's and a 4-5 for a bike. The trails that were marked as 3-4 for a bike would be marked as 2-3 for 4x4's, consequently they were in much better shape and actually turned out to be the easiest trails to ride.
Should you decide to visit this park you will deffinately not be bored. You will have your hands full tho, that I promise. This park is not for the novice rider!
This all sounds a bit intriguing, to us it certainly did. However, shortly after unloading and setting up camp it quickly became apparent that this park has a VERY heavy leaning towards the 4x4 and ATV crowds. That's not to say you can't take your motorcycle here and have a good time. You absolutely can. You will have to be aware of a few things tho. First and most important thing to know is that the trails are not all marked appropriately. The trails, when marked at all, have a diamond system with 1 diamond being for the novice, all the way to a 5 for the most difficult, and yes I do mean almost impossible. My brother and I decided to check out a 2 diamond trail for our first run, not knowing what to expect we figured we'd start small and work our way up.
We find what looks to be a promising 2 diamond and head in. Now, part of what follows is my fault as I was really expecting something along the lines of a rutted fire break trail or something similar. What I got was a 80 foot 60 degree downgrade covered in loose gravel and large rocks with sharp left and right off camber turns. OK, that's not to bad, I can do this. Then when we bottom out it becomes apparent that this is deffinately not any 2 diamond trail either of us have ever ridden. Facing us now we have a choice, a 60 ft clay bank deeply rutted and in several places having 3-4 foot sheer faces, or the bypass. I opt for the bypass, a 50 ft marginally better surface. Once we top the bypass we are greeted with 2 more choices, neither of which branded with any markers of any kind. Do we go left up a loose scree face overlaying red clay, or do we go right, thru a draw, and up another 80 foot clay face. We look at the loose scree over the clay and decide thats just not an option, so we head right. This it turns out was a huge mistake as we are now unknowingly on a 4 diamond 4x4 only trail. After dropping the DR 4 times we finally make it to the top of this nightmare and back to the main road. Looking back, this is what we see.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2848.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2851.jpg
While assesing the damages, these guys happened along to show us the way this trail is supposed to be handled, and with what equipment.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2844.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2843.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2841.jpg
Now, we both figured this was our mistake, the path was obviously marked and somehow we just both missed it. We take a short breather and head for the next trail head. Again, we start down a #2, which promptly drops us down a cliff face for lack of a better word, winds us thru the woods, gives us several unmarked options along the way and of course dumps us finally onto another jeep only trail. We decide to backtrack at crawling speeds to see if it's us, or if for some odd reason these people delight in torturing us for no reason. Sure enough, at each junction there is not a single marker, not a trail marker, not a ribbon, not a little arrow, nothing. Now at this point I should mention, when you check in, they give you a xeroxed map of the park. This should be a big help right? Trust me, it's not. It is a black and white image that would be difficult to read if it didnt have contour lines all over it. Add in those lines (about 40 of them per inch) and the map quickly turns from difficult to almost impossible. Then add in the factor that the trails that they do show on the map aren't labelled at the trail heads, but at some random point along their length, then just to make things fun, toss in a bunch of crossings that arent marked either on the map, or at the crossings themselves, and you get the picture.
Now, at this point we decide to disreguard the diamond system and just ride whatever looks interesting. This is what we should have done from the beginning. In our wanderings thru the park we did stumble across (yes I do mean stumble, its not marked on the map or on the trail itself except for 2 locations that we later found) a 1 up bike trail! Here we go, finally! Buddy, let me warn you now, if you plan on riding this path you had better be on a full blown stadium bike. Most of it is pretty tame with moderate to intermediate challenges thrown in to keep you on your toes. However, there were several locations that in my opinion would have required a lifeflight helicopter and a pack of sherpas to get me out after the inevitable.
You might think I am bad mouthing this park. Really I'm not, and my brother and I both bought memberships. I think we need more places like this, and anything I can do short of physical work I will, hehe. What I am doing is making you aware. If you are looking for a nice path thru the woods with some scenic views, the occasional blip on the throttle for the sheer pleasure of it, and the occasional rut or twist just to keep you honest, stay off the trails. The access roads and pipeline right of way are for you. If you are a he man and think you can handle the trails, there are some nice hidden spots to play.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2853.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2862.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2863.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2864.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2865.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2869.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2870.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2871.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m156/SCOTT_GODDARD/Motorcycle/100_2876.jpg
Know this much tho, you will have to work to get to them.
Towards the end of the first day we came up with the theory on the trailhead markers that we needed to go by the 4x4 rating rather than the bike rating. Upon exiting a trail we would always look at the marker to see what it was rated. In almost every occasion the trails that were rated as a 3-4 were far easier than the trails marked as a 2. Now here is why we think that is. The trails that were marked as a 2 for the bikes were marked as 3-4 for the 4x4's. The 4x4's would get back in there and struggle, the trail would deteriorate to the point it was now a true 4 for the 4x4's and a 4-5 for a bike. The trails that were marked as 3-4 for a bike would be marked as 2-3 for 4x4's, consequently they were in much better shape and actually turned out to be the easiest trails to ride.
Should you decide to visit this park you will deffinately not be bored. You will have your hands full tho, that I promise. This park is not for the novice rider!