3 replies to this topic

[ErikI]

I was cruising the trails last night doing my usual figure 8 loops around trails 2, 5 and 6 (which is very easy to do each trail both ways and feel like youre not riding the same thing twice.  Usually I reserve trail 4 and 3 for getting back to the car, but I noticed something.  3 and 4 are awesome trails with super flowy lines and insanely fast!  How awesome it would be to get the same kind of "loop" out of them as you can 2, 5 & 6... 

 

So I thought about it some and it seems that if there were some way of getting across the gorge that separates the fire road (near trail heads of 1, 2 & 6) and the service black top that trail 4 crosses.  See the attached jpg that shows where I'm talking about.  If there was a way to bridge this gap I'd think a person could cruise 3 in both directions without having to turn around immediately at one of the junctions by way of finishing part of 1 and connecting immediately to 4 (and vice versa).

 

I'm confident I'm not the only one who's thought of this.  Also, I'm sure there are liability issues between GORC and SIUE that I'm not aware of that would concern this "bridge".  And who exactly would pay for all of it?  I don't know and I haven't ever heard a discussion about it.  I would emphatically donate my time, some amount of resources, and any professional services that could be applicable (I work in Architecture). 

 

To me, at least, I think this would round out an already nearly perfect trail system. 

 

Thoughts?

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[jamesh75]

I think it would come down to the cost and who would pay for it.  Why don't you just do what I do.  From trail 2, take the asphalt path down to trail 4, take 4 to 3, make a loop of trail 3, then head back down trail 4 to the asphalt trail.  And while you're on the asphalt trail, don't forget to ride trail 7 and 8.  Trail 8 is awesome and the more the trail gets worn in, the better it is.

[ErikI]

I don't disagree with you.  That is what I'm doing currently, but it's difficult to integrate all 6 trails on that side of the road and paved trail together.  I think it's pretty obvious that the location I'm pointing out would be a natural connection between that side of the trails to the other.  Beside adding new trails, it would create a multitude of new routes possible across the entire trail system. 

 

Also, you are spot on that 8 is wearing in very nicely!  Although the last time I rode 7 I got covered in sticky burrs.  Literally ruined a pair of socks.

[tooclosetosee]

I have thought about this as well that it would be a great point to hit trails 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 all at one point, but I took a closer look at it and that gorge is huge. Where would the money come from is another really good question. 

 

A place to check out would be the metro tri club. They have built some pretty serious bridges on the trail running trail across from the soccer field. They might be able to offer insight on the communication that went down and if the campus paid for any of it. 

 

For the most part it doesn't affect me (and probably most people) since when I ride I try to do big loops and ride everything both ways. It only seems like it would be nice if you want to cut your ride short and head back to the car or have a bailout route.