MTB Trailcare

 

Volunteers present: Michael, Anton, Aaron, Jack, Myself.

Thank you to all volunteers in attendance for your continued enthusiasm and support.

Safety for the volunteers and other trail users is our no.1 priority, by 8.00am the top trail section was closed with barrier mesh fencing and signage as per usual. Trail re-opened 1.00pm. Trail closure/opening is performed in a specific sequence, via UHF radio for quick effective communications.

Activities for the morning:

Designated rest area: As indicated in last week's report, we have installed a rest/recovery area on the western side of the fire road opposite the trail head. As mentioned last week, "there's now no need to trample thru the bush searching for a suitable tree to lean your bike against". This means, riders requiring a rest after pushing up the fire road should utilize and be confined to this designated rest area only. This area was previously full of Lantana plants as seen clearly in the photo. We did not do additional work here today, however it is useable.

Corner 1 (drop/jump to berm): This was a continuation of works from last week. Firstly the temporary log support structure was removed and replaced with rocks. This creates a solid foundation and footing. We then top dressed the berm face and back filled the outside face with soil. This corner is considered 100% complete, however may require a final detail fill with soil as it settles.

Corner 2: The riding line into this corner had exposed tree roots and minor erosion issues, we decided to slightly realign this corner and repair the erosion damage. In between corners 1&2, we installed a drainage point and small grade reversal. The erosion area was repaired and filled with sticks and leaf litter to promote growth of grasses etc. A temporary log corral was installed on the inside edge of the corner to protect this repair and to reduce the overall trail width on the realigned corner. The rider is now pushed up onto the berm face and off the inside edge of the corner reducing the effects of trail widening which eventually lead to erosion issues. This corner is considered 100% complete.

Corner 3: This is also a continuation of works from last week. Last week we realigned the lead into this corner 30cm upslope. Today we completed the outsloped benching works and top dressing soil application to the berm. 2x drainage points were added to the inside edge to assist with rainwater run off. We reduced the overall trail width in this location by installing a temporary log coral on the inside edge of the realigned trail. We returned the balance to nature by filling with sticks and leaf litter to promote growth of grasses, etc. We also installed an outslope drainage point at the bottom of this corner. The rider is now also pushed up onto the berm face with a defined riding line and off the inside edge of the corner, as per corner 2. This corner is considered 100% complete.

The below photo sequence is from corner 1 thru to corner 3. Please note the presents of Lantana in the background of these photo's. The trail minor repairs and upgrades from the start point to bottom of corner 3 is now considered 100% complete.

The first waypoint on our IMBA trail audit with a recommendation task is waypoint no.93, this is 610m from the trail start. As this trail is earmarked as a black diamond descending trail, our logical approach to commence the trail upgrades was to start at the top, addressing minor trail sustainability issues such as drainage, minor realignments, grade reversals, repairing existing TTF, etc. were required. By starting at the top working down the trail, we have a more accurate indication of installation points for drainage, grade reversals, etc.

Riders please note we are not installing any additional TTF (technical trail feature) on this trail. We are only servicing and upgrading the trail as it currently stands.

Current conditions at the top of Norco are wet, please avoid riding this trail untill conditions improve and trail is dry enough not to cause tyre rut damage.

Ride safe,

Mick