Originally Posted by outashape
Well, I have biked in Colorado and Arizonia and find them boring. I love to go the Smokey Mountains, my favorite. Out west, I get tired of only running rivers and rock. Everything is pretty for a while, but I need green. The Michigander I have not done. I ride a road bike and have heard horror stories about that ride. 500 people on a limestone or sand/dirt rail trail and all you get is dust.
You bring up a couple good points. There are these jerks think that they should "lead the pack" and hold up 50 people on these trails. As you said, dust gets everywhere, and people are miserable. Also, loose sand slows everybody down. I am the only one I know of that uses downhilling tires on that ride, so I easily handle sand while all sorts of buffoons get in my way. Last year on the worst day like that my brother and I left very early and were among the first 20 people to arrive that evening. Its a good idea to leave early and haul ass on any day of long riding on unimproved rail trails.
On the subject of out west being to dry, thats why I go to The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia in the winter. Everything is green.
By the way, are the people who told you these horror stories among the 50% or so yearly washouts?