I know there is thread on NEK conditions but I thought I would update you guys. We left Wheelock went to West burke, condiotns were good until Simpsons field before you you get to Coles filling station. Conditions sfter that were terrible. We rode through East burke and around Burke Mt amd then hooked up on 2/5 into Lyndonville,my hats off to this club as theses trails where flawless. We left Vinny's in Lyndonville and jumped onto the railbed which has not been groomed. We then stopped at Marty's in Danville and proceeded on to trail 52 back towards Wheelock. Let me be the first to warn you as of 6:00 last night there has been no groomer through there. There are 4-5 ft. drifts in the field. I am not usaully one to complain about Vast or the clubs, but come on 3 days into the season(the best beginning I can remeber) and you don't pack them down or groom or anything. This does not sit well after asignificant increase on TMA's. I felt the increase was probally necassary to compensate for rising fuel costs, but guess what when the groomers to roll the don't use any gas. Let's get these guys out there and pack this base down.

Hmm... I rode some of that last night and I didn't see anything that wasn't groomed at least once. Passed the railroad bed this morning through Danville at 7:00Am on the way to Waterbury and it was groomed with tracks on it. 2/5 was awesome. Are you sure you don't mean 51 back to Wheelock? I didn't ride 51 though. I rode up to Coles and through too and it was fine. I'm not trying to start anything here, but I didn't have that same expierience last night.

YOUR RIGHT MADCAT,, IT WAS 51,IT WAS A MESS AROUND 5:00PM, Nothing groomed, 5ft drifts, IMPASSABLE. I think the groomers are waiting for the weekend crew to show. Anyway It can only get better, We got a good base going......See Ya out there

Madcat, if you went from Marty's through Coles Pond/Walden to Wheelock you must have hit 51 at some point before (south of) Ramsey Four Corners? If 51 was good between the Ledges Trail where you must have picked the trail up and Ramsey Four Corners, and seeing as how the Danville club parks at Marty's, I'm thinking 51 must have been packed/groomed AT LEAST once?

Too bad that stretch sucked Revved Up, but don't give up. My experience is that 51, although heavily traveled, is one of the most consistently maintained stretches that I ride all year.

hilltopper

No, I was up by Cole's filling station, Burke, Sheffield and Wheelock not down by Marty's, Walden, and Cole's Pond.

You are right it was 51. The first couple of miles where packed down and then no tracks except for two big tire ruts that go for about a mile and then turn off. I ride out of Wheelock and love this trail. It has always been groomed, hopefully this continues.

I can't speak for this club, but I know in Fletcher we opened trails Friday night and by Sunday you couldn't tell we had been there even before the storm due to wind. The trail you are refering to may have experienced the same....were there any trees in the way???

I also don't know if this trail is groomed by a VOLUNTEER or a paid operator, if their machine was down, or if they simply haven't had time to get back there yet. Give these guys a break or get off you ass and volunteer your time to help them. We don't have enough help on these trails period. And you are critcizing because they weren't groomed on day 3! If they aren't groomed on day 30 then maybe something is up but I'll bet it's not due to lack of trying...it will be due to lack of help.

There seems to be a lot of whining going on...and not much help.

Sign me up to volunteer. I will groom, no problem. I do think it is fair to expect the trails to be passable though. My buddy got stuck in the middle of the field in 4 ft drift and it took over an hour to get him through. But tell me where I sign up.

You start by working on the trails so you know every ditch, tree and other object in the way. But those work days were last fall. You can still cut brush anytime and fill in wet holes etc. Plenty of work to do. What local club do you belong to? I'm sure they can use the help. Better yet, help them organize a work day. I ask every member for four hours of time a year...this year I think we may get that from 40 or 50 people at the most.

Everybody wants and thinks they can run the groomer but that takes a little more skill and time than the average person has. Plus when you spend $100,000 on equipment, you better be sure the person operating it know what they are doing.

But please contact your local club...they all need help.