Geoweb is a versatile material. In this project, we used geoweb to create a raised turnpike in a muddy area next to a pond. It's not cheap - for this 4 x 40' section of trail, the materials would cost about $500. But sometimes it's the only solution if you can't reroute the trail or build a boardwalk. It keeps the trail looking natural and mud-free. Unlike throwing into a puddle rocks and corduroy, which would just disappear into the muck, this is a permanent solution.

Materials: 6x40' sheet of geotextile fabric, 8x20' piece of geoweb (cut in two), gravel to fill geoweb, 3-4" of duff (from surrounding landscape) Tools: loppers, mattocks, shovels, wheelbarrows, rakes Time: This took approx 8-10 people 4.5 hours to complete.

Kurt and Ryan spread out the geotextile fabric. The fabric keeps the gravel from sinking into the mud, but allows water to pass through.

Geoweb is stretched out accordion-style to make a large honeycomb structure. The "pockets" hold the gravel in place, and the material is perforated to let water pass through.

Kurt holds the geoweb open while volunteers take turns filling the pockets with gravel. Once you get the first few pockets right, starting from the end (critical!), you can just dump it by the wheelbarrow-ful.

After the geoweb is filled and the edges smoothed out with the rest of the gravel, we cart in extra dirt and rake duff from the hillside onto the trail to conceal the materials. (If there is a big problem with water running across the trail, you might use another sheet of fabric before covering it.)

Look, ma, no mud! Brian rides the trail.