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Glentress - Eowyn…
 

Glentress - Eowyn…

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Has anyone been down there today? What’s the trail network looking like?  Forestry website just says to keep a look out for fallen trees.

Cheers.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 6:38 pm
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I'm just back. Climb to Buzzards nest was fine, couple of trees down but easy to get past. Spooky wood climb was fine but there was a tree down at the start of Spooky wood and more on the fire road up to the mast. Spoke to one runner who said it was really bad. I pushed across to the old black descent and eventually made my way to 5 year plan which was all clear as was mild peril. It was relatively painless up Deliverance climb but there was lots of trees down on the link diversion which brings you to the Pie Run. Pie Run was closed and the fire road up from there was closed. Headed back to Buzzards nest for Jailbreak which has a couple of trees down. Blue down from Buzzards nest was closed and the old gt7 descent to the bottom has quite a few trees down.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 6:58 pm
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Not been there yet, I live at the other of the Tweed Valley. Went for a run earlier, some trees down locally, a few big ones, but nowhere near as bad as Arwen so I'm hoping the trails are mostly clear. I'll be heading round Yair with a saw over the next week or so, see if I can clear anything there.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 7:01 pm
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Posted : 25/01/2025 7:18 pm
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Also remember that going into closed trails can create extra problems and slow clearances down if they're already working there, best thing is if if they're left alone to do the quick jobs and the assessments and start to work out the harder stuff. Also I think a lot of people already know this but hanging trees can be bloody dangerous to mess with, lots of weight and tension all ready to mangle you. A bit of snow would be ideal tbh to pull some of the unsettled stuff down.

I think I'll be up there tomorrow, probably in the lower level offpistes so smaller/less dodgy stuff might mysteriously get cleared 😉 But I'm not going to mess with any big hanging stuff, I'll leave that for someone more qualified or more stupid.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 8:48 pm
mildbore, andrewh, mildbore and 1 people reacted
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I’ll be heading round Yair with a saw over the next week or so, see if I can clear anything there.

You might need a petrol powered saw.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/54286658451/in/dateposted/

You'll be too late anyway.

The local guys are well aware of the situation.

We cleared some small stuff with hand saws today but the big guns are aware and ready for action.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 8:52 pm
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Thanks Stu.

No chainsaw unfortunately, I use an 18V reciprocating saw with a 12" blade, much safer. It'll deal with ones that size but a big number of them would take forever . Might just stick to the Earlston Road trails here, been for a run up there today and that all looks doable, couple of larger trees down but nothing too huge


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 9:12 pm
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Any fallen tree clearing is welcome in my book.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 9:27 pm
andrewh and andrewh reacted
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Any fallen tree clearing is welcome in my book.

Yes. I kind of feel I should do something, given how often I ride trails that others have built. Not necessarily on the ones i ride a lot, as you say it all helps. A friend and I cleared a load at Cademuir last winter and still haven't got around to riding what we did. But I feel better riding the Golfie or wherever knowing that I've done something elsewhere.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 9:40 pm
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friend and I cleared a load at Cademuir last winter and still haven’t got around to riding what we did. But I feel better riding the Golfie or wherever knowing that I’ve done something elsewhere.

Exactly .

Every ride at Golfie I take the time to pile rocks up on the top climb in the open to try and stop the track getting wider.

Every other ride they've been ridden over and more heather destroyed.

It might or might not help it becoming more of an eyesaw but at least I'm putting of at least a couple of people while I'm doing it.

Rant over. : confusedface:


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 10:45 pm
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Not just my imagination then. I often do a bit of deberming on the climbs when at Glentress, it's an excuse for a breather. I may have done a little bit of pruning today.


 
Posted : 25/01/2025 11:22 pm
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 mlke
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Any update on the trails?


 
Posted : 30/01/2025 2:31 pm
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Ae, Mabie and Dalbeattie are a mess, with FC saying do not visit. Though its not as bad as Arwen they say, so could be open sooner than expected.


 
Posted : 30/01/2025 2:43 pm
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I'll think there's going to be a social media post tomorrow regarding what is open.


 
Posted : 30/01/2025 4:22 pm
a11y and a11y reacted
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I might head over to GT tomorrow and have a ride around to see what's open.


 
Posted : 30/01/2025 4:31 pm
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Yeah they are still in inspection and spot fixes phase at GT, there'll be an update tomorrow here but also on their socials

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/activities/mountain-biking/7stanes?fbclid=IwY2xjawIIqlJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSqYAFehQI-chqcmnyAN0JuLz2VuokIREZzgvtThZKdG40otaIta7So1cA_aem_hkJHceTkwyUsWaqxe-y9ug

Reading between the lines at least some of it is going to need chainsaw teams rather than quick fixes so that's going to mean some at least ongoing short term closures. I get the impression they're not expecting any really long-term closures.


 
Posted : 30/01/2025 7:58 pm
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I was riding down at Glentress today because I have the week off before starting my new job next week.

Most of the blue/red on the way up is clear, but Spooky Wood (and Climb) is closed. Hit Squad Hill and Blue Velvet was closed.

Given that Storm Éowyn only happened 6 days ago I was pleased to do as much cycling as I did.


 
Posted : 30/01/2025 11:49 pm
stu-ed and stu-ed reacted