I see that Slaughterhouse Gulch was chosen for the Feb 22 club run. I fell responsible for this choice. Sorry I did not attend the planning meeting. I have concerns about the Feb 22 run on this trail. I suggested this trail for the club back in December when we were brainstorming trails for a run with the Rising Sun club. That was before recent snow storms west of Denver. I have concerns about this trial for a club run in mid February.
I have been on the trail twice, both times in the summer. It is a fun trail with nifty obstacles during late-spring, summer, and fall. But there are off-camber places where the trail could be difficult, even dangerous, with the snow and ice of mid-winter or early spring. Not to mention that the commute to and from the trailhead would be time consuming and no fun if the highways to the Bailey area were snow packed or icy in spots on the day of the run.
Could we get input from other club members who have been on this trail? Here is a link to a run made in January of 2008. It's the only mid-winter run of Slaughterhouse on the traildamage website. Some big wheel rigs, all with winches, had their share of trouble on this run.
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/report.php?id=537
Should we consider other, more suitable trails for the February run and save Slaughterhouse for a milder season?
I feel doubly responsible about suggesting this trail in the first place because I may not be able to go along on Feb 22 due to family responsibilities. However, if the club does decide to keep the trail scheduled for Feb 22, I will volunteer to reconnoiter the trail during the week prior to Feb 22 if at least one experienced club member with a winch is able to go with me for safety and to help determine the trail's suitability for a club run.
I feel real bad about putting the club in this scheduling pickle. But I would feel a whole lot worse if somebody got into serious trouble during the run or if it took us until 2:00 AM to get home.
Jim
I have been on the trail twice, both times in the summer. It is a fun trail with nifty obstacles during late-spring, summer, and fall. But there are off-camber places where the trail could be difficult, even dangerous, with the snow and ice of mid-winter or early spring. Not to mention that the commute to and from the trailhead would be time consuming and no fun if the highways to the Bailey area were snow packed or icy in spots on the day of the run.
Could we get input from other club members who have been on this trail? Here is a link to a run made in January of 2008. It's the only mid-winter run of Slaughterhouse on the traildamage website. Some big wheel rigs, all with winches, had their share of trouble on this run.
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/report.php?id=537
Should we consider other, more suitable trails for the February run and save Slaughterhouse for a milder season?
I feel doubly responsible about suggesting this trail in the first place because I may not be able to go along on Feb 22 due to family responsibilities. However, if the club does decide to keep the trail scheduled for Feb 22, I will volunteer to reconnoiter the trail during the week prior to Feb 22 if at least one experienced club member with a winch is able to go with me for safety and to help determine the trail's suitability for a club run.
I feel real bad about putting the club in this scheduling pickle. But I would feel a whole lot worse if somebody got into serious trouble during the run or if it took us until 2:00 AM to get home.
Jim
Last edited:
:
