2. Trail Build
  3. Munson Hills Area

Twilight Zone Trail 2007-2008

Scroll waaay down past this text for the maps and photos! JANUARY 2010 NEWS: Munson/TZ Trail Assessment from Trail Dynamics' Valerie Naylor. Optional experimental link to the same file. Please let me know if you have any trouble accessing the file via that experimental link. A few Munson Hills/Twilight Zone Trail links of interest: Ken Foster's Munson Hills blog. Dixie Davis, Linc Clay, and Ken Foster's Fans of Munson Hills/Twilight Off-Road Bike Trails Facebook page. Jim Schmid's Munson/Twilight Mtn Bike Trails blog. Official Munson/Twilight Zone map. My updated (12 April '08) Twilight Zone, Munson/TZ combined, and area maps are posted below. Imperial and metric, your choice. Unmarked GPS track maps are at the end of this gallery. Save 'em, print 'em, make your own map. SAFETY NOTE: 1) The gunfire you may hear year 'round is from the Tallahassee Rifle & Pistol Club (TRPC). http://www.trpc.net/ TRPC is a private gun range on 40 acres north of Oak Ridge Road. Barrels are pointing NNE. That's the best reason you may hear gunfire even while you're on Munson Hills Trail. Huge earthen berms prevent stray bullets from endangering those downrange. (I was an active TRPC member in the mid/late 90's.) 2) Hunting (during hunting seasons) is legal everywhere we run/bike/hike in the Apalachicola National Forest. http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma/2007-08/Northwest/Apalachicola.pdf It's wise to wear blaze orange! Send comments to http://myfwc.com/hunting/ My opinion on allowing gunfire and bowhunting around these trails? I can't guarantee your safety. I've been shot at - actually, over - on Cadillac Trail near the current #51C.. If you're uncomfortable, stay away. I have witnessed hunters shooting centerfire semi-automatic rifles (as distinguished from bolt-action magazine fed CF or rimfire) from an elevated vantage point into an area where children are allowed to play. I understand ballistics and second-shot accuracy. Draw your own conclusion. My guess is that FWC (and other firearm friendly organizations) may have a "no one's been accidentally shot" statistic. I'd like to see the pro and con on that, divorced from emotion and tradition. My blunt opinion (as an avid gun owner, non-hunter) is that hunters firing on public land will always give non-hunting gun owners a bad name. I think mixing gunfire/archery with more passive forms of recreation in this NE corner of the ANF is a bad idea. I also think restricting it will be next to impossible. But then I won't take biker/runner Safety-Nazis seriously until their organizations stop emphasizing and providing alcohol at official club gatherings. Twilight Zone Loop ("Munson Hills South," if you will) is a "sand mogul" filled trail with lots of bermed turns, making it really fun to ride. 29ers http://tinyurl.com/33zmfw are absolutely at home out here! Consider gears and suspension optional. The moguls may not be so much fun for runners with chronic hamstring issues. It's the type of trail you'll get when roostertailing motocross/enduro bikes create the trail. Lots of banked/bermed turns and whoop-dee-doos. Easier to ride fast than some sections of Munson Hills (north). 22 Dec '07 - photos 7-46: Trail marking day with Jim Schmid, Sherry Gaston, Bill Otersen, Dick Rogers, Janine Callahan, and uh - me. Thanks as well to TPRD's Chuck Goodheart for meeting with us earlier. I particularly appreciate Dick Rogers sending me info detailing the work party! USFS map scanned and sent in courtesy of Bill Otersen. GPS track showing the section "pre-marked" 22 Dec: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4630734 First job of the day was to get some blazes painted at the trailhead spur behind J Lewis Hall Park. On Bill's advice we next worked on the southeast section with the most "messy" crossings at clearcuts. 24 Dec '07- photos 47-51: A CLOCKWISE mapping/measuring ride. That loop orientation matters when I refer to a distance from the trailhead. This ride took 245 minutes, start to finish, with 74 minutes of actual moving time. The rest of the time was spent checking for the old trail, marking intersection distances on my map, and flagging some of the "lost" sections. Lots of walking around as the Pugsley lay idle. I took a roll of pink flagging tape in case I came across any difficult to follow areas, e. g. clearcut crossings. Glad I did, and I ran out. GPS track of the entire Twilight Zone Loop is here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4641383 26 Dec '07 - photo 52: Rode the loop in the reverse direction (anticlockwise) to check out trouble spots and areas needing a few more temporary flags. I am repelled by the concept that you repeat a course in the same direction till you memorize it. If that's what you're doing, I'm skeptical in your ability to pay sufficient attention to accomplish memorization. What is it that you plan to "input?" One missed turn and you'll end up out standing in your field. 1, 2, 3 . . . Should you continue wandering off track "lost," your major boundary paved roads are Oak Ridge Road #2204 (south), Woodville Highway #363 (east), Capital Circle #263/319 (north), and Wakulla Springs Rd/Crawfordville Hwy #61/319 (west). Congratulations Kerouac, you're "On the Road". If you'll bother to use the excellent USFS map, it's easy to use the many connector roads for shortcuts, bailouts, and variety. Eventually, there'll be signs and blue marks. Plan for no water nor facilities once you leave the J. Lewis Hall Park vicinity! 26 Dec '07 Anticlockwise loop GPS track posted here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4651734 28 Dec '07 - photos 53-61: Met Dick, Sherry and USFS's Sonny for another round of trail work. Everyone worked anticlockwise. Dick focused on trail cleanup, Sherry and Sonny painted blazes all the way to the north powerline crossing. 5M are now blazed out of 11M! Just a few hundred meters remain to be blazed east of the powerline's south crossing. Then the remaining trail west of the powerline - just over half the total distance. I flagged a few more confusing areas, fixed an area just east of the north powerline crossing I'd flagged incorrectly, did some cleanup, and moved my "halfway" flagging. 28 Dec anticlockwise loop GPS track posted here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4661923 The 28 Dec track includes that slight route correction just east of the north powerline crossing. Thursday/Friday 10/11 January workday focus was bypassing around three clearcut areas. Those three reroutes (and original routes for comparison) shown here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4755517 12/13 Jan weekend, Dick Rogers and I finished most blue blaze painting. Still need to fill in a gap or two. Dick has preflagged the little J-shaped connector just west of the north powerline crossing. My Sunday (13 Jan) work track, with entrance/exit route: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4779156 18 Jan '08 - photos 62-65: Two person workday. Bill Oterson and I blazed in the Gun Range Bypass across the south powerline crossing. GPS track showing the back and forth across the bypass, as well as the original track we eliminated: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4805218 Photos CIMG0380-0390 from the Thursday, 17 Jan '08 mini-workday. Dick Rogers and I worked a few hours with USFS's Sherry Gaston and Sonny. I painted blazes on the two reroutes we'd done just north of (anticlockwise from) the TH. Then pedaled up to meet the gang for Carsonite marker installation on the two big NE clearcuts. We then met at the N powerline crossing to walk in and place Carsonite markers at each end of the J-Connector. Next, headed over to the East gas pipeline crossing for decision making. No action taken there, but we'll look into a reroute around a sand wash just north toward Munson. GPS track of the areas we worked: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4800398 As of 20 Jan '08, Bill Oterson and I have cut in and painted the south gun range bypass. It straddles the trail's southern crossing of the powerline. GPS track showing the old and the new: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4805218 One man army Dick Rogers has painted white blazes on the J-Turn Connector, the NE Hare Scramble section (some call this Paper Cup) all the way up at Munson Hills near that parking lot, and (I think it was DR) Blue blazed the last sections of Twilight Zone leading up to Munson Hills Trail from "underneath." Jim Schmid has placed blue flagging tape all 'round the loop. It'll normally be two flags, on above the other. These mark potential/likely reroutes mostly due to poor previous design. Typically, you'll see these straddling areas with excessive grade. That results in areas of deeper sand, particularly with the amount of use the trail's now getting. Drought just exacerbates this, but doesn't cause it. Early-mid Feb: Dick Rogers, Bill Otersen, and Ken Foster have made more improvements. 13 Feb '08 - photos 66-78: Actual reroutes, discussion of more significant clearcut reroutes, eastside and westside connectors between Twilight Zone and Munson Hills, discussion of the future layout of the 4 Munson/TZ crossings. THIS SITE is private property, and doesn't necessarily represent any other individual or organization. You are welcome to download/use my photos for your private enjoyment, including printing them. Any other usage/linking must come from me in writing (email ok), with credit given. Questions, pre-scoldings, comments, ID, complaints? Thanks, John Kalin Email me "If I fall you're going down with me" - Trail running advice from my Dixie Chicks http://www.tallahasseetrails.com/
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  • Twilight Zone Trail Imperial Current as of 12 April 08. From this GPS track: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5377092 TZ loop (minus entrance, E-W connectors and J-Turn) is 9.92M/15.97Km. I set this up so it would print fine on a monochrome laser. Main TZ loop is solid black line; East and West Connectors, The Luge, and the TZ entrance segment are white; Munson is dotted black. Shows the main TZ Loop, TZ entrance behind J Lewis Hall Park, East and West Connectors to Munson Hills Trail, The Luge, and the Gun Range Connector, aka J-Turn. 1 mile = 1609 meters.

    Twilight Zone Trail Imperial Current as of 12 April 08. From this GPS track: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5377092 TZ loop (minus entrance, E-W connectors and J-Turn) is 9.92M/15.97Km. I set this up so it would print fine on a monochrome laser. Main TZ loop is solid black line; East and West Connectors, The Luge, and the TZ entrance segment are white; Munson is dotted black. Shows the main TZ Loop, TZ entrance behind J Lewis Hall Park, East and West Connectors to Munson Hills Trail, The Luge, and the Gun Range Connector, aka J-Turn. 1 mile = 1609 meters.

  • Twilight Zone Trail Metric Current as of 12 April 08. From this GPS track: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5377092 TZ loop (minus entrance, E-W connectors and J-Turn) is 15.97Km/9.92M. I set this up so it would print fine on a monochrome laser. Main TZ loop is solid black line; East and West Connectors, The Luge, and the TZ entrance segment are white; Munson is dotted black. Shows the main TZ Loop, TZ entrance behind J Lewis Hall Park, East and West Connectors to Munson Hills Trail, The Luge, and the Gun Range Connector, aka J-Turn. 1609 meters = 1 mile.

    Twilight Zone Trail Metric Current as of 12 April 08. From this GPS track: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5377092 TZ loop (minus entrance, E-W connectors and J-Turn) is 15.97Km/9.92M. I set this up so it would print fine on a monochrome laser. Main TZ loop is solid black line; East and West Connectors, The Luge, and the TZ entrance segment are white; Munson is dotted black. Shows the main TZ Loop, TZ entrance behind J Lewis Hall Park, East and West Connectors to Munson Hills Trail, The Luge, and the Gun Range Connector, aka J-Turn. 1609 meters = 1 mile.

  • A mashup of some current/official and abandoned/unofficial trails in the Munson/TZ area.

    A mashup of some current/official and abandoned/unofficial trails in the Munson/TZ area.

  • A selection of Tallahassee area trails. Shows the relation of Munson/TZ (bottom) to some other trails. Includes some "commute" tracks.

    A selection of Tallahassee area trails. Shows the relation of Munson/TZ (bottom) to some other trails. Includes some "commute" tracks.

  • 22 Dec '07: With USFS's Sherry Gaston and Jim Schmid overseeing, we meet up behind J Lewis Hall Park (just north of Woodville) to cut in a new trailhead for the ~11M "Twilight Zone" Trail.

    22 Dec '07: With USFS's Sherry Gaston and Jim Schmid overseeing, we meet up behind J Lewis Hall Park (just north of Woodville) to cut in a new trailhead for the ~11M "Twilight Zone" Trail.

  • Back of the J Lewis Hall Park ballfields. I know, very interesting, you're welcome. This is on Back Forest Lane, accessible from Old Woodville Highway and/or Woodville Hwy.

    Back of the J Lewis Hall Park ballfields. I know, very interesting, you're welcome. This is on Back Forest Lane, accessible from Old Woodville Highway and/or Woodville Hwy.

  • I've just pivoted 180 degrees from the previous shot. That's Janine Callahan and Dick Rogers taking a Saturday to voluntarily dig, scrape, paint, cut, lop, and generally break their backs so you'll all have a trail to ride.

    I've just pivoted 180 degrees from the previous shot. That's Janine Callahan and Dick Rogers taking a Saturday to voluntarily dig, scrape, paint, cut, lop, and generally break their backs so you'll all have a trail to ride.

  • Bill Otersen's BOB trailer. http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/trailers.php With the extended yoke, it even clears the Pugsley's 3.7" wide X 29" tall tire. Carry your trail work behind you on twisting singletrack. Great googly-moogly, I'm in love!

    Bill Otersen's BOB trailer. http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/trailers.php With the extended yoke, it even clears the Pugsley's 3.7" wide X 29" tall tire. Carry your trail work behind you on twisting singletrack. Great googly-moogly, I'm in love!

  • Janine clears a bit more headroom at the trailhead.

    Janine clears a bit more headroom at the trailhead.

  • Thanks to Dick Rogers for the trail build notification!

    Thanks to Dick Rogers for the trail build notification!

  • Bill Otersen does a series of ride throughs on his Ti 29er to wear in a bit of a line. The gang then flags and begins painting the entryway to the loop.

    Bill Otersen does a series of ride throughs on his Ti 29er to wear in a bit of a line. The gang then flags and begins painting the entryway to the loop.

  • We're a couple hundred meters back from the road on the loop. You might make out the somewhat faint singletrack. Trust me, you can fly on this stuff!

    We're a couple hundred meters back from the road on the loop. You might make out the somewhat faint singletrack. Trust me, you can fly on this stuff!

  • Endomorph-eyed view of the trail.

    Endomorph-eyed view of the trail.

  • Bill's tall enough that a 29er looks proportional for him. I don't care, I'd fit my 5'6" on those big hoops somehow. 29" BIKE FIT NOTE: I rode a Cannondale F-29, size XL (!?) at Higher Ground. Like this, but waaay bigger frame size: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8FS292.html It felt just about right! Probably due to my body type: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_monkey

    Bill's tall enough that a 29er looks proportional for him. I don't care, I'd fit my 5'6" on those big hoops somehow. 29" BIKE FIT NOTE: I rode a Cannondale F-29, size XL (!?) at Higher Ground. Like this, but waaay bigger frame size: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8FS292.html It felt just about right! Probably due to my body type: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_monkey

  • Dick gives P-Snoop a spin to continue wearing in the entrance.

    Dick gives P-Snoop a spin to continue wearing in the entrance.

  • DSC_1415

    DSC_1415

  • It's Janine's turn on the Pugsley as Bill flags.

    It's Janine's turn on the Pugsley as Bill flags.

  • Jim Schmid!! Without Jim's involvement, we'd likely never get these trails saved for recreation. Now. it's up to us, folks. Here's just one of a bazillion contributions Jim's offered trail lovers the world over: http://www.americantrails.org/resources/info/tools1.html

    Jim Schmid!! Without Jim's involvement, we'd likely never get these trails saved for recreation. Now. it's up to us, folks. Here's just one of a bazillion contributions Jim's offered trail lovers the world over: http://www.americantrails.org/resources/info/tools1.html

  • DSC_1418

    DSC_1418

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