So I dug this news article up from March of 2004 and thought it fitting to show all of our new comers/riders where we were with our trails just a mere 12 years ago and where we're at right now.  It's important to look back to the past to see how much progress we've really made both as volunteers and as an organization!

"This Thursday (April 1st) is a VERY important meeting concerning a load of happenings in our trails system..We have three of our current four parks facing trail loss.  This is significant.  1) Catawba faces the proposed white water park 2) Renaissance, the loss of half of the softball loop, and now 3) Francis Beatty is going to be annihilated with an 18 foot wide, 5K running trail, that the mountain bike trails will not be able to cross...This means loss of trail to a majority of the park... 

We ask that you arrange your schedule to attend our meeting and get on board with us...We are hopeful of laying groundwork to devise a plan of attack providing a unified front to Charlotte Park and Rec.  We hope that we can rely on a strong presence and your support!"

The 4th trail system then was N. Meck which in the Fall of 2004 was hit with a horrible amount of rain necessitating several reroutes and a ton of armoring.

We have continued to loose trail at Reni as of late but the bleeding stops there as the remaining trail is 100% on park property.  Catawba has now become the ever popular USNWC.  Beatty was spared it's fate, but even better we have added more than twice as many trail systems and over 5 times the mileage!

We have come a long way not only with available trails but also the club's relationships with local land managers.  We've gone from "Red Headed Step Child" to "The Golden Child" where land managers come to us with trail opportunities.

But with that success also comes responsibility to care for these trail systems and we need EVERYONE'S help!  It only takes volunteering for a few work days a year to help maintain the trails if more people help out.

Please check our homepage, forums and Facebook page for upcoming volunteer opportunities!

Big thanks to everyone that has made the trails what they are today! I only started riding a little less than 2 years ago, so I take for granted the fact that I have a vast selection of awesome trails to choose from.

My new years resolution... DO MORE TRAIL WORK! 

Time to start earning my keep.

Although I have only been riding for 3 years I have to say that I have never been involved in a sport/hobby that endorses such a sense of community. I am grateful for all the hard work that has gone into our trail system and feel it is only appropriate to give back in the form of trail work to maintain our awesome trails whenever I can. I know this time of year is particularly frustrating with the amount of rain we can get but if you can't ride then go help maintain your trails. There is a reason why at least 10 of the top 100 of Singletracks.com's best trails in the WORLD are less than a 2 hour drive from Charlotte. 

Keep up the good work and thank you!

Auto Doctor (Dead...very cool trail.....miss it)

Cane Creek  (not well maintained now.... much better in 1988)

Poplar Tent  (Dead)

UNCC          (still hanging around....missed opportunity to fully integrate into school's master expansion plan....could have been great).

Crown Point (Dead...not really a trail just washed out fire/construction road)

Renni (hanging on....not sure it was a legit trail in 1988 but you could ride it ........keep fighting to stay alive Renni)

Sam Wilson (now USNWC.......back then the most tech climb was not goat hill......Success now..... but it wasn't looking good in 2007.)

These were your local choices in 1988 when I started riding.  Yes things have changed.....we are VERY lucky!  Wish we still had Auto Doc and PT!!

Right were 485 is now.....near the Hy 160 exit.  Similar story to PT.  This guy raced 4 wheelers/motocross and had a practice course on his land.  Got out of the sport and into MTB.  He and a car repair business call the Auto Doctor.  Let people park next to his business and ride the trail.  Had a few creek crossings that you had to bunny hop into or you would endo....no bridges.  Good climbs...."Rockin Root" lots of fun.

you also left out Reedy Creek Park, the Duke Power steam plant as well as Macadenville (now posten) in the first couple years of the 90's