MTB Trailcare

After seeing riders using the closed Downhill Track the other day a closer inspection showed materials moved and new lines being used wide of the closure.  I was thinking that recreational riders who only come out once a month may not know of the closure and it isn't signposted, so maybe they have half an excuse for blundering onto the trail.  However, that sort of rider does not move closure materials to try to re-open a trail.  Being diplomatic, it is a slap in the face for the developing relationship we, the MTB community has with QPWS.  

To get permission to work on trails, we had to accept the verdict of an independent umpire as to which trails remained and which trails were closed for revegetation.  We were lucky!  4 trails out of many to be closed and one of them is almost never used by anyone, let alone ridden.  No trails have to close before alternate lines are available either, which is something many other trail systems have missed out on.  

While I doubt that readers of trail news would disrespect everyone involved and the wider MTB community, we can circulate the message to riding friends and so the message is further passed-on.  Anyway, verbal rant over.  Now for the good stuff.  

Somehow we doubt Downhill Track will be a favourite anymore.  It had its day and now it's gone.  Soon it will be bush and that's a fair outcome after some years of progressive deterioration.

Some simple drains will remove lots of water flowing down the old trail into creeks.  In one spot a large log had long ago been embedded in the trail as a technical trail feature - in the line of a seasonal creek!  Cancel the rocket scientist; it's pretty obvious that an effective drainage line across the trail was blocked by that log, contributing to water flow and pooling along the trail.  Here's a simple drain.

It shouldn't take too long before nature takes back this old, falline trail.  

The best bit is that right next to it is a really fun, brand new trail that gets you to and from the same places the Downhill track did, so let's all promote it.