MTB Trailcare

It has been an interesting week.  Apart from trail work, we have been discussing the trail system with committee members of the GC MTB Club (GCMTB).  In particular, we have been discussing trail work priorities and the division of maintenance and building.  There is renewed agreement on enhancing communications among all stakeholders and encouraging volunteers interested in lighter, maintenance tasks, rather than just to help with heavy digging projects.

In the last week and a bit, Doug, Elisabeth, Annie, Ash, new volunteer Ross and I have been progressing toward the hollow log on Three Hills.  It is odd how a location that looks more straightforward than the steep sideslopes and drainages lower down the trail can become heavy going.  

Limited vegetation on open grassland, combined with deeper, organic soil means water management has to be done with care.  There's not much point making a section of trail riders can attack if it is going to become a bog after every rainfall.  This part of the second hill offers ascending riders lovely views of the approaching hill three, plus some respite from a combination of steeper pitches and sightlines limited by trees and contours.  Descending riders will get to choose a log skinny or adjacent trail, before a small double jump onto a straight section of rollers and drains.

Since last week, monuments have multiplied

In the next pics you can see how easy it would be to have water running along the trail, rather than across it.    The soil here has a deeper layer of fine and organic soil over gravel and stone.  Here you must dig rolling grade dips carefully or they will be ineffective or too steep, encouraging either water accumulation or flow and erosion along the trail

The hollow log is on terrain that is almost flat.  There is a rocky outcrop where the trail goes above it, but this is going to be a place where riders prepare for what comes next, whether going up or down the hill

Our newest volunteer, Ross is from Singapore.  He "likes to ride Nerang when he visits and wanted to help"!  That's what he said yesterday and today he did just that.  I have no doubt I will have the camera out when he returns, but today you have to imagine the supply of rock he collected to construct a ramp onto the log for descending riders, just past Doug in the next pic

First we had to increase the depth and length of the grade dip before the "straight"

Then we did it some more and added a small double jump that is hard to see in this pic, to decrease water flow along the trail

The trail line up to the log will have nice flow, but not quite like you see in the next pics.  It does look nice though.  Nice until tomorrow when we go back to work