Hi there, thanks for asking about the trail conditions at Black Oak Ridge. I was just up there last weekend and the main loop is in really good shape, not too muddy and the markers are all fresh. The side trail to the old fire tower is a bit overgrown in spots but still passable if you wear long pants. I would recommend starting from the north parking lot because the south lot has some washout near the entrance. The elevation gain is steady but not punishing, maybe 800 feet total over the full loop. There is a nice stream crossing about halfway where you can refill bottles if you bring a filter. I saw a few deer and a lot of birds but no bears or anything troubling. The weather was cool and breezy, perfect for a long walk. Let me know if you want the GPS file or more details about the campsites along the ridge.

About the garden layout you asked about, I think the raised beds along the south fence will get the best light for tomatoes and peppers. I tried a similar setup last year with the beds running east-west and the results were decent but the taller plants shaded the lower ones too much. This time I am spacing them a bit wider and using cages from the start rather than waiting. The soil mix I used was one part compost, one part peat moss, and one part vermiculite and everything grew well except the squash which seemed to want more nitrogen. I will add some aged manure to that bed before planting. The drip irrigation system worked great once I adjusted the pressure so the lines did not burst. I can send you the parts list if you want to build something similar. The whole project took about a weekend to set up and the harvest kept us in vegetables through October.