MTB Trailcare

None of us have been able to work on the trail for a while because of stormy weather etc. For that matter, none of us had even seen the lower part of Three Hills for over a week and we were keen to see what had changed. It was pretty encouraging, with the trail handling the recent storms and over 100mm of rain quite well.  

Starting at the top, here's some pics which show lots of fallen bark, as well as a fallen tree on the trail

Below the tabletop jump, water had been rushing down the old runoff line from the fire road, across the old Three Hills Singletrack and the new trail line, carrying loads of sediment down towards Casuarina Loop 

We were comfortable with the way the trail handled it, but will have to change the way the fire road drains to prevent this entire drainage line becoming a ravine over time.

Lower down the trail was OK after the rains, if covered with debris and looking obviously unfinished

No surprise, the signs at each entrance were pulled down again and the ribbons ridden down. It makes us a bit sad. We don't understand the obvious anger of some riders toward this incomplete trail. It's odd that previously they never rode that bit of forest and now they won't wait until there is a trail

I have not been well this week and did not feel up to digging trail, so I went down to Casuarina Loop and cleared the drains with a fire rake. They had worked very well, but allowing debris to accumulate in this flatter part of the trail system is putting the trail at risk. In the following pics you can seen the difference in the amount of accumulated debris compared to farther up on the new Three Hills line, starting with a before and after and then a before and some more after

Drains that drain are very important and so is clearing organic accumulation and silt barriers from the trail itself, especially where the sideslope lacks grade. Over time this sort of trail can become sodden without routine trail care.

Farther up the hill, Ashley and Doug were adding to corners. Time for the the real trail line to appear

Looking farther uphill the plan is a 6 pack of double jump rollers leading into a more subtle rolling jump and then into 4 flowing corners above the larger features already built

It is looking quite nice. Above the 6 pack we enter rocky terrain and it is not far from there to the walled turn and the junction with old Three Hills. While we are completing this project, Trailworx will start and complete professional MTB trailworks on the first and third hills of Three Hills Singletrack. Those trails will open when Trailworx gives the thumbs up, not necessarily when building finishes. With luck it will not be too long after that we finish our project.

Very soon riders will see a remodelled Three Hills trail thanks to money raised via the Friends of Parks grant and the Specialized Every Metre Counts raffle. Things look good for Nerang MTB Christmas 2014 thanks to the work of all parties involved in these fundraising and coordinating efforts.