MTB Trailcare

After all the upset of our conflict with riders last weekend, we have further increased the messages seen on site. Up top there is a barrier of logs and soil (which will be used to close the old Three Hills line), plus the two signs that were already there, plus pink flagging tape indicating the closed area, plus a new sign. Down the bottom the new sign has been added to similar pre-existing closure indicators and signs.  

Although the latest signs do offer an explanation of the project, to be honest it looks like a dog's breakfast and is a sad reflection of the entire poaching issue. Having said that, it did seem to work this afternoon. Anyway, that is not why we are here.

This afternoon Ash and I went out to work on the tree jump feature. Although it has looked OK for some time, it was never complete. The lander was too short, the exit drain too shallow and the exit from that drain neither harmonious with the landing transition, nor with where the trail will go after that. In addition we have heard comments of nervous concern about the challenge this feature presents.

The definition of challenge is not what "you" find thrilling and everyone else is incapable of handling. It is something that provides challenge to everyone within parameters of safety and in this case, the IMBA definition of a blue trail. Given we had to dig out soil from the drain below the jump, it made sense to use the spoil to make the tree feature look more safe. Therefore today we made it wider, especially on the lower side. Now it looks safer and shorter, whereas it is longer and equally challenging. It just looks less threatening as the following pics demonstrate.

Here's the before and after

It is better to end the day thinking about the trail, rather than the hassles that come with making it. Happy days.