Reply to Recurring Trail Conditions

Was wondering since many are wondering about trail conditions when weather gets better to get back on the trail, is there a group like weather watchers who could post trail conditions to those who don't live close to the trail? I know DNR posts construction, post storm, downed trees and flooding but more actual trail surfaces for many who are day trippers or runners or walkers. Any ideas?

that would be very nice and appreciated!

That would be great. A place where you could get up to date trail information from trail users who have been on the trail and know what it's like. An archive of information that you could search to find information about the trail under varying weather conditions would be good too. Also it would be nice to have info available about things to see, places to stay and eat, etc.

Or...you could look at all the information available on this website.

Brilliant idea, huh?

Ray is good but he doesn't have daily or weekly actual trail conditions from people who are on the trail consistently. Especially for all the folks planning on traveling from longer distances and who have taken vacation time and booked hotels and b&b's and train tickets. You guys are pretty cynical. I thought you were encouraging out of state riders and runners.

Form a group to report here on a daily basis to accommodate the changing MO weather then. Be proactive. Or not.

So a couple from Germany have vacation, tickets, etc to ride the Katy next month and I report that the trail is mushy from rain today...would you expect them to cancel their vacation?

I don't think anyone posts daily or weekly. Why would you expect locals to post daily or weekly just because they live closer?

This site is pretty hard to beat for current info. When it floods, it's here. When there is a bridge closure, it's here. When there is a tree down, it's here. Plus you have the added bonus of our little discussion groups. Honestly, if Ray reorganized this site, some folks might like that, but most wouldn't look at it--they would do what they do now and ask a question on the Forum page.

If anyone inquires we'll just say ask the know-it alls, arky-kenny, mid-south and one of the many anonymous's, three amigos or three stooges?No problem, buddies.

Yes, glad to help, send them my way. Pseudio, just being realistic. If you think you can get anybody to make daily or even weekly updates, go for it. Even if you could get someone from say Windsor that rides to Green Ridge and back almost every day, and reports what the trail was like almost daily, that would mean very little for someone that is starting out in Augusta the very same day. Conditions are always going to be changing and descriptions for the same section of trail on the same day will vary by the reporter. There isn't even a real concensus on whether there are any hills or not between Boonville and Clifton City.

I don't understand the attitude of the regular and anon posters. The essence of Psuedio's idea sounds good.

For example, I rode in the Defiance area on 1/17/2015. There had been no significant moisture in quite a while. The day was warmer than usual than usual, and the trail was really mushy. It would have been nice to know that ahead of time.

If people would just post a comment on the forum after a ride where they found undesirable conditions indicating the location and date that would probably help many people considering a (relatively local)trip to the trail.

Did you post here on 1/17 about the trail being really mushy Dennis? If you did then the system is working because you let others know ahead of their ride. If you didn't, well, why not?

Attitude, what attitude?

Here is my view of trail conditions. The only time of year when the trail surface is poor is in cold weather when cycles of freezing/thawing weather give the trail a mushy and sticky surface problem. If soil moisture is medium to high, a thaw will give soft, sticky surface conditions where the trail will rut under bicycle tires and sometimes stick to bicycle tires. You don't want to be on the trail when a thaw has softened the surface. Otherwise, the trail is remarkably passable even after rain as water quickly percolates downward through the porous levels of graded gravel surface or runs off to ditches on either side of the trail. Continuous dry weather results in a fair amount of dust on the trail. This isn't a problem unless you are in a group and riding closely behind someone or possibly for recumbent riders who sit low and directly behind a front wheel. Riding in rain will get you a light dirt/grit racing strip up your front and back sides if you don't have serviceable fenders. Everything you carry on your bicycle will have this dirt/grit in/on it kind of like when you go the the beach and every single thing you took with you has sand in/on it. The trail surface is so porous to water that it doesn't take long after a rain for the trail to be perfect for cycling again--often only 15-30 minutes. January, February, March are the months you need to worry about the trail surface being soft and sticky. Otherwise, go for it.

I forgot to mention (in the above post) how long the trail stays mushy after a thaw. That varies according to conditions that would contribute to drying. Higher temperatures, sunny days, lower humidity, wind, etc. will firm up the trail pretty significantly in a couple of days if it doesn't refreeze overnight and recycle the mushy condition. Frozen water in the trail surface expands within the trail surface and then thaws and contracts leaving an otherwise hard surface significantly loosened until some of the water evaporates and lets the surface material pack down again.

That was as succinct a description of trail conditions as I've ever heard. It covered all the basic points plus the insight about winter conditions. Now we know what to expect and why. Thank you.

Yes. Thanks for that description of likely trail conditions.

Yates, the dry hot summer months (June-Aug) also leave larger cracks and crevices that cause unsafe riding for the typical trail tires getting wedged in them.

I have been riding the trail for years during Jun-Aug on typical tires like everyone else and never knew it was unsafe...glad I survived.

You must live alone Mid-south. You sound like a really nice guy.

This thread was started in hopes of helping people that are making plans to ride the trail. Your quote "the dry hot summer months (June-Aug) also leave larger cracks and crevices that cause unsafe riding for the typical trail tires getting wedged in them" does nothing but scare off uninitiated new potential cyclists by telling them the the trail us unsafe during the summer...the time frame that probably 90% ride the trail. And yes, I am a nice guy, many on this site know me personally. I am not anonymous.

Just as you said on 2/12 about the couple from Germany, people planning to come to the KT don't get scared off about the conditions. They just adjust with more accurate information. I know you are nice guy just argumentative. I can be NorthEast or SouthWest if you like. People and the animals know me too on the trail.

Been reading MidSouths posts for a long time, never thought of him as being argumentative, or a "know it all" as said before. He doesn't need some one else to stand up for him, but you are wrong to say he is argumentative. He knows a lot about the trail and has opinions and has added helpful posts about his experiences and is not afraid to express and stand behind what he says. He makes worthy contributions to this website and doesn't fill us with pretentious bs or "stir the pot" in hopes of getting a little attention like some do. And, he stands behind what he says.

I have been following this thread, among others, and I enjoy reading all of them. I do look forward to reading Mid South and others, because I believe their heart is in the right place. Which I believe is to support the Katy and provide information on current status and other info. I applaud each and everyone and thank them wholeheartedly!!

I believe Weather Underground or NOAA or one of those weather sights has history of weather along the Katy for anybody worried about the conditions from previous days, months or years. If that helps anyone?

What is the condition of the trail. Now?? After all the rain we were wondering.
Plans for riding it Sept. 2019

May 2019 end to end, trail conditions just fine even with recent flooding. Parts of the Rock Island Spur were a little soft but not muddy; the rest was hard-packed. A detour here and there for maintenance. Some spots rough for about 10-20 feet which is no big deal at all. All in all, it's in tip-top shape and a lot of fun.