My experience is also that it has not been the disaster I thought it would be. I still encounter Rickys coming too fast through a turn (marked or unmarked, doesn't seem to matter) on my side and I wouldn't say the number of those occurrences is any different than before the change.
However -- and this is not a b*tch session, or complaint, or blaming anyone, it's simply an observation -- it seems as though we've regressed in terms of consistency in signage. Back when I started riding (mid 90's) some systems were well-marked, some were not. Over the years, the playing field leveled out and most systems were on par with each other. Not anymore. I've seen plenty of 90 degree turns that were not marked and should have been (in my opinion). I've seen some that were marked that didn't really need to be. Placement of the signs is inconsistent and often times in spots where they are hard to see.
The biggest issues I came across, however are these:
1. Several intersections being poorly marked (in terms of which trail was which and where it went). This could have been the work of vandals.
2. Several instances of trail direction not being indicated (i.e., when coming to a road, does the trail go across, or turn alongside?) Similarly, when the trail runs along the road, several instances of no indication when the trail suddenly turns back into the woods).
3. Open areas that were (in my opinion) low on confidence markers. I found it difficult on several occasions to follow the trail through a large open area when everything is white, looks the same, and there are no sled tracks to follow.
Even when traveling at reasonable speeds (I am by far not a fast rider) I found the aforementioned to be bothersome. I did not think #3 was part of the removal program so I can't explain why it's that way. Maybe I'm just getting old and my eyesight is not what it used to be.
The biggest problem with the new method of marking curves (or not marking them) is that it leaves too much to subjectivity. What I feel is a 90 degree turn that should be marked, may not appear the same to somebody else. And so on. Personally, I think they should either go back to marking them all or marking none, and letting rider beware.
FWIW, there have been 17 recorded fatalities this season. That seems to me to be on par with other years. Several incidents were not on marked, groomed trails. Of those that were, I don't know if there's any way to tell whether lack of signage played a role, there are no such indications in the accident summary and I'm certainly casting no aspersions or making any judgements.
