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Trail Maintenance
What's going on with the trails
Last year our goal was to increase our membership base and become sustainable. This year we turned our focus back to why we started this club in the first place...the trails. One of the things we did was form the trail committee which is made up of officers and other SMBA members. Through this we were able to bring in a few new faces and really get some quality trail work completed. The adopt a trail program is also back this year as a way for members to adopt and maintain a portion of their favorite trail. We are also keeping metrics on trail maintenance and trail building to help us track our progress throughout the year.
New trails
In addition to the new trails we cut or started last year, we have three new ones.
Swam Pass - The trail head is located just after the water crossing and intersection 7 on the carriage trail. This trail is a shortcut to about the middle section of Bee. It features a rather long bridge which allows us to get over the swamp now.
Twizzler - The trail head starts at the end of Bee and the beginning of Dam and connects to the Dam Extension. Lots of switchbacks here and should be fun once it's broken in.
Here to There - Trail head starts across from the intersection of Bee and Ridgeline. This is our newest trail. The trail features switchbacks and straight sections with some areas of exposed rock and should be real fun once it's broken in.
Thanks to all who helped build these trails and further expand the great trails we already have. These trails will be added to the map and marked with signage before next Spring.
As always we will continue to improve the existing trails as well as improve wet areas and make them sustainable.
New trail features
Navigating the trails was sometimes an issue, so we added signs at the beginning and end of almost every trail as well as number the intersections. These numbered intersections correlate with numbers on the map so that less experienced riders have a better idea of how to navigate the trails.
We built several bridges, some with rock and others with wood, with more planned. There is a new wood bridge on the connecting trail that goes out to the middle of the Bee trail as well as another on High Noon to replace the original one. We also built a rock bridge on a section of trail that was always wet on Ridgeline.
Along with the bridges, there have been several sections out on the trails that have either been rerouted or raised to avoid or improve wet areas. These trail improvements help make the trails sustainable and in good working order. This also helps the trails flow and makes them safer for both you and your bike.
What we still need to do
What we want is a sustainable trail network that is "The best technical trail riding in the Northeast!" Unfortunately, we can't do that without your help. What we need are volunteers to help us make our good trails better and our better trails the best. Currently, 90% of the trail work performed this year was by an officer of the club or a member of the trail committee. There have been a handful of of members that have come out and have really made an impact. All we ask is for a few hours of each members time. Think of it as an investment in your riding future. Even coming out to rake a section of trail to clear leaves and twigs would be a tremedous help. That would at least leave the rest of us free to improve and add to the existing trails. Less than 40 members have done all the work on the trails this year...just imagine what 200 could do.
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We ask that each member participates in at least one trail maintenance event per year. If you own equipment, feel free to bring it along - a rake or a bow saw is always a good idea. SMBA does own a chainsaw and a few rakes, but the club currently lacks the resources to supply trail maintenance equipment of it''s own for all members who attend a maintenance.
Also, the person who attends the most trail maintenance's will win some great mountain biking products. Details on prizes to follow.
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