Mountain Biking - Trail Building is Awesome!!!

I was out on my first real trail building day today. It was kick-ass! I was an assistant Crew Leader, and basically just watched and tried to learn something while doing the digging. We worked on a spur trail that is going to be part of an existing trail system, cutting a full bench through the woods.

The trail is a rolling contour trail, right out of the IMBA guidebook. We used some natural choke points to keep the speeds reasonable, and to add a little technical difficulty. We only got done about 50m, but it was looking pretty sweet. I wonder if I can just quit my job and build trail for the rest of my life? :love:

What trail were you working on? I was thinking I should help the guys out on Moose because I can't ride but I can't really dig or carry much either so I'd be useless.

What trail were you working on? I was thinking I should help the guys out on Moose because I can't ride but I can't really dig or carry much either so I'd be useless.

I know this is not what you are saying(it just reminded me of this), but this dude who works at the shop claims to race(road) every weekend, but when asked to vacuum(pardon the spelling if wrong) the showroom, he says he cant because he has back problems:cry:

Word. It's satisfying work.I've never done any trail maintenance that was specifically mtb related, but I spent 3 months over two summers of high school doing trail work, first in Alaska, then Hawaii.Besides the awesome locales, it's pretty fun once you get into the design/problem solving aspect of it.

trailbuilding is indeed awesome

What trail were you working on? I was thinking I should help the guys out on Moose because I can't ride but I can't really dig or carry much either so I'd be useless.

We were working on the Highline trail just east of the Nordic Centre. It's going to connect up to Riders of Rohan via the Powerline. I think.

With your wrist break, they immobilized your thumb, right? You can still cut bench trail with a Pulaski or mattock, you just won't go as fast. Raking, some light shovelling maybe? I'd ask the guys - I'm sure they could use your help, and you can probably do more than you think.

pictures will be necessary :)

Pics or it didn't happen. :notamused:











;)

We were working on the Highline trail just east of the Nordic Centre. It's going to connect up to Riders of Rohan via the Powerline. I think.

With your wrist break, they immobilized your thumb, right? You can still cut bench trail with a Pulaski or mattock, you just won't go as fast. Raking, some light shovelling maybe? I'd ask the guys - I'm sure they could use your help, and you can probably do more than you think.

It's not the wrist I'm worried about, it's the ribs. Up until yesterday, I was having a hard time doing anything other than sitting...even lying down was painful. The pain has become much more tolerable over the last two days so I think I should be more useful next weekend.

What is Rider's like right now? It was supposed to be in need of repairs a few weeks ago. I thought Highline was done last year?

I soon might be helping to totally rebuild a trail, maybe.

The Arrowhead trail at Lake tobesofkee (sp) was hit directly buy the storms. over 90 percent of the trees are damaged... The state is talking about buldozen everything last I heard.... means we'd loose the whole trail!

It's not the wrist I'm worried about, it's the ribs. Up until yesterday, I was having a hard time doing anything other than sitting...even lying down was painful. The pain has become much more tolerable over the last two days so I think I should be more useful next weekend.

What is Rider's like right now? It was supposed to be in need of repairs a few weeks ago. I thought Highline was done last year?
Oh crap - I forgot about the ribs. Gin and tonic with lime and aspirin... ;)

RoR is "no worse than usual" according to one girl I know who has been on it this year. So yeah, it probably does need work. The Highline trail was 99% done last year, but some tweaks needed to happen at the East end. To be more precise, I was working on a spur trail that connects to Highline on the West side in the berms section. It will connect to RoR eventually.

Trail building is awesome.

Rib injuries suck. I think it's only separation for me this time though. Props to Rockgardn.

Pics or it didn't happen. :notamused:











;)

There should be photos soon - I was helping one of the local cycling clubs (http://www.spinsisters.ca), and they got some shots of the trail building activities. I'll likely end up leading that group later on this summer. They were pretty keen and are good diggers.

W00t!

Just got back from trail building on the Colorado Trail, section #1. It was Crew Lead Rachel, her hubby Nate, Dominique, and my buddy Don with me. We built a bunch of waterbars, so if you're out riding that trail - watch out on the downhill to the Platte River. There were about 85 volunteers, and we had yummy beer and hot dogs afterwards. :D

Sounds like a good, productive time.

There should be photos soon - I was helping one of the local cycling clubs (http://www.spinsisters.ca), and they got some shots of the trail building activities. I'll likely end up leading that group later on this summer. They were pretty keen and are good diggers.

A WOMAN's mtb club!! :thumb: Coolio!

i watched a crew reinforce an area that could potentially be prone to erosion. it was cool how they did it with heavy flat rocks to essentially "armor" the ground. :beer:

*is going to try this*

i watched a crew reinforce an area that could potentially be prone to erosion. it was cool how they did it with heavy flat rocks to essentially "armor" the ground. :beer:
It's called.... armoring.

It's called.... armoring.

I think feathers is canadian so its armouring...;)

I think feathers is Canadian so its armouring...;)

Noo doot aboot it! :beer:

i watched a crew reinforce an area that could potentially be prone to erosion. it was cool how they did it with heavy flat rocks to essentially "armor" the ground. :beer:

My local trail Used a long pice of thick carpet, they just flipped it upside down.
Couldn't get the rocks into the area lol.

I had another great day trail building yesterday. We worked on the Highline Trail in Canmore again. We did a 30 m re-route of the east connector, and continued the work on the spur trail that will eventually hook up to Riders of Rohan. I need to start taking a camera to capture before vs. after shots. Is there anyone else actively building/maintaining trail?

Is there anyone else actively building/maintaining trail?

Our sanctioned group built 4.5 miles of new trail this winter/spring. In fact, the official opening was only yesterday. I was active in both the design/layout and construction phases. I had to be, really - it's less than a mile from my house. Nothing's more gratifying than to ride something you've had a role in creating.

oh, and our unsanctioned group has been active as well... :innocent:

Our sanctioned group built 4.5 miles of new trail this winter/spring. In fact, the official opening was only yesterday. I was active in both the design/layout and construction phases. I had to be, really - it's less than a mile from my house. Nothing's more gratifying than to ride something you've had a role in creating.

oh, and our unsanctioned group has been active as well... :innocent:

Sweet! I understand the sanctioned vs. unsanctioned thing. There are loads of beautiful unofficial trails in the area. It will look really bad when I get caught riding them after they're closed... :o