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[RC] Lake Carl Trail Improvements - paulWhen it was announced that the 2009 AHA 100 Mile Championship ride was to be held at Lake Carl Blackwell, several members of Ozark Country Endurance Riders contacted Ride Management. We were familiar with these trails, and most of us felt they were very unsuitable for a 100 mile ride. In my short Endurance career, I have smashed a knee into a tree three times. Two of those were at LCB. I felt the trail at Lake Carl was more dangerous, after dark , than Tevis, or the old Old Dominion trails. When the trails were originally done, many areas just had cedar branches trimmed back to give a 5 -7 foot path between them. Over the course of years, those trimmed trees grew, and the gaps between them narrowed drastically. In places you were riding around sharp turns with only 3-4 feet clearance between sharp branch ends of 2-5 inches in diameter. Think of a gauntlet of spear ends, and trying to ride a horse through them, and you have a fairly accurate picture. Besides the cedars, there were thorny locust trees. You don't have to hit one of those at a great speed to hurt yourself or your horse. There were also many places where tree roots of 1-4 inches in diameter had come loose from the soil and were acting as trip ropes. Adding to times damage to the trails, the clay soils of Oklahoma had eroded to leave deep ruts in some sections. All of these factors would add danger to the equines involved. During daylight hours, riders could see the bad areas well enough to slow down, but at night it would be a different situation. We have held many successful LD and 50 mile rides At LCB. We have never held a 100 mile ride there. Ride Management came, and looked at the trails. They worked with locals and the park ranger to correct these issues. Their efforts made this ride much safer. No horses or riders were impaled on a tree branch, or had their necks broken from being tripped by a root. This is a good thing. Riders told me that the White loop in particular had stayed very technical. The trails were repaired using a bulldozer in sections, as well as many hours of hand work. It was a small bulldozer. Bigger than a Tonka Toy, but smaller than a Cat D-6. It did a nice job, without raping the land. The bottom line is that a safe and scenic ride was held. Those who enjoyed rides at Lake Carl Blackwell will appreciate the small changes that were made. Those that have never been there and come for the first time will not believe that any place that far into Central Oklahoma can have trails that pretty. Paul N. Sidio VP Ozark Country Endurance Riders =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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