SMCC trail work on the Seven Mountains Dual Sport Loop
Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:16 am
Our Forestry Department (DCNR) has asked Seven Mountains Conservation Corp (SMCC) to complete 4 trail projects in 2013, one of which is on the Seven Mountains Dual Sport Loop. They have asked us to put in banked switchback turns on Summit Trail between Middle Ridge Trail and Henstep Valley Road on the Easternmost part of the system.
The Dual Sport Loop has many Fall Line trails that are becoming very eroded. The solution for this problem is to install a series of switchback trails that bypass the fall line trail. DCNR supports this solution even going as far as using fire training teams to back cut the off camber part of the trail. One of the challenges with this approach is that when the turns are located on a steep part of the hill, a true banked switchback turn must be installed to allow it to be used by the average rider and to keep it sustainable. Installation of these turns are very labor intensive.
I just received a copy of the new Dual Sport Loop map and even though we have lost several single track trails, DCNR has left a lot of them in the system. There is a minimum of 8 of the fall line trails that will need to be fixed and IMHO if we don't fix them, we will loose them. SMCC is covering all of the expenses for these projects out of money generated from events and memberships so your continued support is greatly appreciated.
As soon as we have dates for the trail work locked down, I will alert everyone so that hopefully we can rally the troops to pick up a shovel and help us move some dirt.
Thanks,
Matt Spigelmyer
Seven Mountains Conservation Corp
www.sevenmountainsconservationcorp.com
entry@sevenmountainsconservationcorp.com
The Dual Sport Loop has many Fall Line trails that are becoming very eroded. The solution for this problem is to install a series of switchback trails that bypass the fall line trail. DCNR supports this solution even going as far as using fire training teams to back cut the off camber part of the trail. One of the challenges with this approach is that when the turns are located on a steep part of the hill, a true banked switchback turn must be installed to allow it to be used by the average rider and to keep it sustainable. Installation of these turns are very labor intensive.
I just received a copy of the new Dual Sport Loop map and even though we have lost several single track trails, DCNR has left a lot of them in the system. There is a minimum of 8 of the fall line trails that will need to be fixed and IMHO if we don't fix them, we will loose them. SMCC is covering all of the expenses for these projects out of money generated from events and memberships so your continued support is greatly appreciated.
As soon as we have dates for the trail work locked down, I will alert everyone so that hopefully we can rally the troops to pick up a shovel and help us move some dirt.
Thanks,
Matt Spigelmyer
Seven Mountains Conservation Corp
www.sevenmountainsconservationcorp.com
entry@sevenmountainsconservationcorp.com