17-18 Oct
Sat: 9-3
Sun: 9-1
Meet at the KDWP Area Office, in the Hell Creek Area of Wilson State
Park at 9 AM.
We will then drive to a location nearest to where the trail work will
be.
If you arrive late, please turn on the dirt road turn off South Shore
drive just West of the Park entrance. Follow the dirt road until you see
cars. From there you'll walk north. Follow the pin flags to the work
area, if you don't see anyone. In general the area of work is south of
the west end of Hell Creek bridge. If you like mountain biking, this new
section will definitely get your juices flowing.
Bring your own gloves and water. Your Camelbak is ideal. Wear jeans and
boots - steel toe if you have them.
Bring trail tools if you want, but not necessary. KTC will provide
plenty of equipment.
Bring a tent. Camping is free. Showers will be available. The closest
motel is Russell. B&B in Wilson. Cabins at the park.
Bring your bike or running shoes if you want to use the trail afterward.
A group ride is definitely planned. Bring lights if you feel like night
riding.
Lunches will be provided both days by The Hub Bicycle Shop in Hays.
PLEASE REPLY to this email if you think you'll be there: Sat, Sun, or
Both
We are planning a Dutch treat group dinner Saturday night at the Ranch
House in Sylvan Grove.
There is also the Made From Scratch restaurant in Wilson. Or you can
cook if you are camping.
Poison ivy is in the area, but there are plenty of places to work to
avoid exposure.
Forecast:
Saturday: Mostly clear. Lows 30 to 35. Highs near 60.
Saturday Night and Sunday: Mostly clear. Lows near 40. Highs near 70.
Call for info, questions, etc. 785-623-8919
Hope to see you there.
Bob


Designing and Building Sustainable Trails
Presented at the 2006 IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference
Three goals when designing and building trails: 1) limit environmental
impacts; 2) keep maintenance requirements to a minimum; 3) avoid user
conflicts.

Building sustainable contour trails: A contour trail is a path that gently
traverses a hill or sideslope. It's characterized by a gentle grade,
undulations called grade reversals, and a tread that usually tilts or
outslopes slightly toward the outer edge. These features minimize tread
erosion by allowing water to drain in a gentle, non-erosive manner called
sheet flow. When water drains in thin, dispersed sheets, dirt stays where
it belongs - on the trail.

Contour Trail Tips:
Do everything you can to keep the water off the tread, and users on it
Build on the contour and use frequent grade reversals - surf the
hillside
Follow the half-rule: A trail's grade shouldn't exceed half the grade of
the sideslope
Maximum grade should be 15 percent (except for natural or built rock
structures)
Average grade should stay under 10 percent (with grade reversals)
Route trails to positive control points (viewpoints, water, other
attractions)
Use bench-cut construction, and excavate soil from the hillside
For reroutes, reclaim old trail thoroughly - the visual corridor as well
as the trail tread
For highly technical trails where grade will sometimes exceed 15
percent, use natural rock, rock armoring or other rock features to add
challenge and improve sustainability.

Two Critical Trailbuilding Tips

Avoid the Fall Line
Fall-line trails usually follow the shortest route down a hill - the same
path that water flows. The problem with fall-line trails is that they focus
water down their length. The speeding water strips the trail of soil,
exposing roots, creating gullies, and scarring the environment.


Avoid Flat Areas
Flat terrain lures many trailbuilders with the initial ease of trail
construction. However, if a trail is not located on a slope, there is the
potential for the trail to become a collection basin for water. The trail
tread must always be slightly higher than the ground on at least one side
of it so that water can drain properly.

An ideal trail will simultaneously incorporate all five sustainable trail
principles.
The Half Rule
The 10-Percent Average Guideline
Maximum Sustainable Grade
Grade Reversals
Outslope

Here are 2 of 9 short YouTube videos on trailbuliding by IMBA and the US
Forest Service. Please watch these if you are planning to attend this
weekend. Thanks!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrrK3oSqkIc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akebkRuG56k