Hello fellow mtnbikers;
There's a lot of good things about to happen at Sweetwater, some agreements are being work out between US Fish & Wildlife and SDMBA/Bonita Bikers that will bring legal singletrack and that includes Rockhouse, unheard off at a Federal Preserve!! It will take lots of work from our part and help from all of us that ride there so that's is the reason I'm posting a copy of an email I got today from Ranger Terp regarding the closed downhill trail near the Steele Bridge, please help spread the word, thanks.

"Hi esteemed cyclists:
We would appreciate any help you could provide in putting the word out that trail signage and closures on San Diego NWR must be observed.

We have seen bike traffic again on the closed Serpent Trail (drop down from top of Millar Ranch Road), and have had folks moving boulders installed to close redundant sections and adding jumps on the Sweetwater River Trail.

Your regular SDMBA folks would never do these kinds of things and we hope to enlist their help to spread the word to other riders that this kind of unauthorized activity threatens continued cycling access to conserved lands.

We deeply appreciate your support and involvement - and your help on this specific matter.
Thanks, Jill"
*****************************************
Jill Terp, Refuge Manager
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
US Fish and Wildlife Service
14715 Highway 94/PO Box 746
Jamul, CA 91935
619-468-9245 x226 office

You can also send me a pm if questions or want to get involved.
Thanks.
Jose

Freaking downhillers. Hahaha.

So none of the other parts of Sweetwater trails were affected by the NWR Planning process/outfall?

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Department of Good Times

Yes some will be affected but is too early to tell. Unbelievably the Rangers are listening and cooperating with Rockhouse being the first area to be worked. It might take some rerouteing to avoid private property and other issues but it will be a legal singletrack. The goal is to keep All the existing trails even if it takes some changes, we'll see

Awesome news, Jose. Too soon to count the chickens but good things-a-happening around the county. Time will tell.....

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

Nice. Yeah, it's good that Jill is still involved. She kind of gets it as far as why we mountain bikers do what we do. Her son is (or at least last I interacted with her in 08) also an avid mountain biker/shredder.

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Department of Good Times

ok so for the record is there a legal way up the Rockhouse?

No, there's no legal trail up RH as it today.

Really? Has that always been the case or is this something that happened recently while I was asleep at the switch?

And thanks for your involvement Jose.

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Obama's America: Our enemies don't fear us; our allies don't trust us.

"TrailBurner" in the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge(Sweetwater for us) there's only ONE recognized or official trail in the books. The trail that runs along the lower fence near the reservoir. From the Summit campground to the lower Tiki Hut and then all the way to the Steele Bridge in Rancho San Diego, that's it, that's the only trail. Everything else are either fire roads(SDGE's) or illegal trails including all in Mother Miguel(Rockhouse), Rattlesnake Ridge, ADD to name a few. We will have some of them become legal(asking for all of it) but don't known what yet.

what we get to become legal, hopefully most, will it be a dawn to dusk type of enforcement?

I don't known what the Rangers would do but knowing why is in effect right now I doubt it that will change. This is a wildlife preserver and their job is not provide recreation facilities for us but to protect the animals and plants, the Preserve is close to visitors at night for that reason, for the nocturnal creatures. It sucks I know but there's always Otay Lakes or the Bonita/Chula Vista trails among other places for night riding.