Trail Maintenance and Policies

[millsbiker]

I am trying to get the ball rolling with my chapter on setting up guidelines for fixing singletrack issues. In particular, the widening of trails as a result of technical areas, new trail protocols (design and review) and non lethal ways of keeping ATV's out of non-motorized areas. If anyone else has worked on these issues or knows where I might find information on the web, I would be very apprciative. Thanks

[minkhiller]

www.imba.com and order Trail Solutions: IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack. It's on the home page and is a great book.

[millsbiker]

Thanks for the reply, I guess I need to be a little clearer, I am looking for ideas on the whole group process of coming to those decisions and how other chapters go about for themselves in resolving those issues. Do other groups, for example, have one person flag a trail and then others review and make suggestions for changes? Is it ok to choke off with brush the paths less skilled bikers use around a rocky section which is now 8' wide instead of 2-3'. What defines what singletrack should be?

[C.P.]

Thanks for the reply, I guess I need to be a little clearer, I am looking for ideas on the whole group process of coming to those decisions and how other chapters go about for themselves in resolving those issues. Do other groups, for example, have one person flag a trail and then others review and make suggestions for changes? Is it ok to choke off with brush the paths less skilled bikers use around a rocky section which is now 8' wide instead of 2-3'. What defines what singletrack should be?


This is a tough one for us new englanders, since so many of the trails we ride have rocky technical sections, that get widened by users who dont know the concept of singletrack. It is an easier thing to tackle where trails flow and dont have as much rock to deal with (like out west for example).

I picked up the IMBA handbook and it has some super great suggestions and alternatives. each one can have different results, and may not work with multiuser trails.
I highly recommend picking it up (if you haven't already)It has so many sections devoted to some of these trail design challenges.

[minkhiller]

As far as what I have done with flagging you are right on, I flagged the new trails and then had it reviewed and made changes based on the recommendations.

[millsbiker]

Any one else have an opinion?

[MissJean]

In particular, the widening of trails as a result of technical areas, new trail protocols (design and review) ........ and non lethal ways of keeping ATV's out of non-motorized areas.

I have found that the following to work…..
If you are laying out a new trail, sometimes it is a good idea to just put a “cheater” line around the technical area. Those who want to avoid the tech stuff will see the cheater line and use it, that way you avoid the creation of multiple lines. (one hopes anyway)

For established trails it is more difficult to close off multiple lines. I have found that making the area that you want to close off look as natural and undisturbed as possible seems to work best. Roughen the soil up a bit, spread a layer of leaves & duff down, strategically some place some logs and/or rocks and artfully toss some branches around. Try to make it look like no one ever rode a bike through there. Sometimes it works the first time, sometimes you gotta keep going back. In Mine Falls Park, we've even planted bushes in the center of illegal trails in an effort to make things look undisturbed.

ATVs are going to go where they want. You can try to keep them off your trail by snaking it through and over as much difficult stuff that you can find. Like through closely spaced trees, and rocks, over fallen logs, narrow trails through thick stands of bushes, tight turns etc. If it is land where ATVs are not allowed, you can ask the city/town to post signs. Not that that will keep them out, but you will have something to point to when you tell them they are not allowed.

Laying out a new trail works differently for different people/chapters.
When I was working on the layout for the trails I’ve done, I did most of the initial work on my own mainly because I was easier for me to just head out to the woods and tromp around when ever I had a spare hour or so. Whenever anyone else had the time, we would go and look at what I had done and they would offer suggestions, point out stuff I missed, etc.
On other trails, a small groups have gone out and knit together all the different features to make a great trail.
Usually it seems one person knows the lay out of the land best, and they spearhead the effort.
I hopethat helps and read all the books the others have recommended. :)

[MTBME]

"Any one else have an opinion?"

I definitely have an opinion on this after having cut 6 new trails in two years. Around these parts, the ranger / land manager has the final say on how we cut the trail. That eliminates the local members from haggeling over certain details. We discuss up front, get a feel for what will be allowed, go in and flag accordingly, get the land manager to inspect, make suggestions / recomendations, get back in and rework if necessary. Remember, those trails will be used by other users besides mountain bikers. The land manaqger is usually looking at the bigger picture.

[millsbiker]

Thanks to all for the discussion and I am looking forward to reading my new IMBA trail construction book, as soon as it arrives. See you on the trails!

[radair]

One suggestion that the Old Broad hit on (and IMBA discusses at length) - locate control points before you start laying out. Control points can be good features and bad features.
Good features: boulders, logs, view points, ridgelines, etc. - things you want to include.
Bad stuff: swamps, property lines, eroded slopes, etc. - thing to avoid.

I like to bushwack all over the place and really get it figured out where to go and what to avoid. If you can do this 2 or 3 times before doing any layout, your result will benefit from it.

[Superb Man]

I'm not sure there is a non-lethal way to keep atv's out once they take a shine to your local trails...especially with today's machine's and the today's kids (who bring a lot of skill at getting over hard lines to the table).

[millsbiker]

The one thing I have found that words is choke points at the beginning of trails, this works best of course where the understory shrubs are dense.

[BigMac]

I agree with the choke points at the start of a trail.
Or lots of large rocks or logs.