MTB Trailcare

Doug and Ash and Shane put in a lot of work of the big turn this weekend.  I took some snaps today as our turn started to come together, now looking like it belongs and is not just a building wasteland.  A bit different to the last pics I posted, today I arrived to this, starting from the top

The lads had added a bit more wall at the top end where there was a difficult terrain transition past the severed trunk.  As part of this process, water running from above the corner should impact the back of this embankment and deflect into the creek, rather than run onto the trail; a good thing.  What was not good was how the new section of walled turn increased the radius of the turn nearly a full metre (90cm), therefore changing the corner from one with a consistent radius to one with a sharp angle in the middle. Check this next pic and ones later for a very simple fix based on sightlines.  I will post it again with the end result

When you build a turn of this size it must drain in a way that preserves the trail.  Out of necessity you have to create "waves" in a long corner where water is encouraged into the drains.  While the outer edge of the turn can have a consistent radius and banking, it doesn't quite look that way as your eye always confuses radius and other line variations created by drainage features.  In the next pic the visual effect of the added wall extension is obvious.  It changes the line of the turn.  Actually it doesn't do that, but your eye says otherwise

 

To ensure riders "accept" the correct riding line, we first added a visible barrier on top of the embankment, starting with salvaged post and rail and complemented by landscape leafwork.  It's weird making a turn for riders when there is no trail.  However, it has to be test ridden to be made right and therefore even our test pilots need the trail to look right.  Here's the after and the before 

At the top of the turn, shaping the drains and the transition into the trees above produced lots-a diggins

Some diggins will sprout back with grasses and some will not

Regardless, if you cannot see a mother grey kangaroo with baby in her pouch in the next pic, then there may be a bigger picture.  Look above the lower end of the log

Test rides were a success with plenty of room to spare if you want to go wide all the way

Ash transported some spoil up to the current trail line.  For now it's just a token toward the future trail closure, but it will increase in size when we get back to completing the link with Three Hills and Exit Trail.  We will need a fair bit more to slow the water flow on this bit (alone)

Apart from review work, that will not be for months though, as we will now move back down to the lower part of the Three Hills reroute.  That vulnerable and flatter section needs to be completed before it gets too wet.