Mud Season

As Kurt mentioned on Monday, we're on the cusp of spring here in Boulder. While that certainly brings warmer weather to the Front Range, it also brings mud! Whether you're on foot or bike, it's always a good idea to consider alternatives to a muddy trail:  choosing a different trail, waiting a day for the conditions to improve, or maybe choosing another activity.

Here's some information about mountain biking specifically - taken directly from the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics Booklet for Mountain Biking:

"Riding on muddy trails is usually inappropriate and avoidable.  If you ride in mud, your bike will carry soil away, gouge the trail and speed the process of erosion ... If you come upon an isolated muddy patch, ride slowly through the middle of it.  Don't ride to the side, which widens the mudhole, damages vegetation, and creates more erosion."  

As you can see from the picture above, this hiking trail is getting wider and wider as users try to find drier ground.  If you're going to hike a muddy trail, plan ahead and bring durable hiking shoes so you can walk right through the mud easily.