US Forest Service Staffing Cuts

Last week, our federal land agencies faced further, significant funding and staffing cuts, which will affect the capacity of remaining staff to maintain a safe and positive experience for visitors in the near future. As a partner of our Regional Forest Service Districts, MBT is urging those who benefit from our public lands to ACT NOW.

On a local level, the Teton Basin Ranger District Recreation Department was reduced from 14 staff to 4. MBT works directly with our FS partners who play a critical role in enabling MBT to build new trails, install bridges and signage, perform trail maintenance projects, operate our youth programs, and host community bike races.

Full Story Here

Mid-Season Trail Crew Report

May

We started the year focusing on getting trails open, dealing with downed trees, and fixing drainage issues. The first place to start was Horseshoe Trails, the first area to melt out. After assessment of the needed drainage work on Bovine and Channel Lock, we noticed a bit of trail that had given way and slid down the hill at the start of Training Wheels. After a quick reroute uphill to create a bit of a roller and some drainage to prevent any future slides, we continued to Mike Harris. We were able to get an assessment of how long it would take until the trails could be opened and did some clearing of downed trees in the area. Not long after the trails could be opened, so up went the Fixit stand. Then we turned our attention to Aspen to clear downed trees and assess drainage issues. We were able to round out May with an amazing volunteer day on Channel Lock with some much-needed rework of berms and grade reversals.

June

We started off June with some touch-up on the Victor bike park setting up the hoses, adding signage, reinforcing the landings, and managing weeds. The next focus would be a volunteer day with She Jumps to do some bench work on training wheels making it more of a green trail. After some brushback on the trail, the volunteer day was a success. Next, we turn our attention to the Big Holes and more specifically the Grove Creek to Drake Creek loop. We would make our way up Grove doing lots of clearing of downed trees and drainage work then up Big Hole Crest identifying some area that could use some bench work. Then down Drake brushing back and clearing drains. June was also a sad month for Sharks Belly as we dismantled the quickly deteriorating Kill bridge, but it brings excitement for the new bridge/elevated boardwalk. With some huge help from the USFS trail crew, we were able to haul up the lumber quickly and efficiently. While the lumber was stashed and drying out we headed into the backcountry, starting off with a focus to clear downfall and brush back Corral and Red creek. Then it was up Pole Canyon and along the ridge to flag out some plans for a small reroute and benchwork before the volunteer day. Again we were fortunate to round out June with a spectacular volunteer day on Pole Canyon Ridge continuing some much-needed benchwork from last year to re-establish the trail tread.

July

As we head into the sweltering month of July it’s time for heavy brush back. We start out brushing back on Lady Slipper and the AJ trail. Next, we turn our attention back to the backcountry and head up Mail Cabin over to Mikesell Brushing back and making sure drains are clear and the trail is clear of downfall. As we come down Mikesell we focus heavily on loose rock removal and clearing drains. We continued further into the backcountry on trails like Elbow Fork, Fogg Hill, and Sheeps Driveway to assess what work was needed and what could be done. As we are called to clear some downed trees in Horseshoe we use the opportunity to prepare for the new bridge build and begin to take measurements and start flagging. July was a month full of amazing events like the Mini Enduro at Targhee followed by an amazing volunteer day cleaning up a freshly cut section of trail on Rocky Mountain Way. This along with a very productive volunteer day with our friends over at AMPL to accomplish some benchwork on Big Hole Crest. Then to bring July home, we had some amazing help from the NICA team to get the lumber from the road above the 4 way intersection to the construction site on Sharks Belly, and began construction of the new Sharks Belly bridge.

-Sanders Forrester, MBT Trails Director

Trail Work Report

Upon my arrival to the valley I was greeted first by what some would call a second winter. A few cold days and some fresh snow meant a slow start to the season. After meeting Chris and learning a few of the ins and outs of MBT I was ready to get out and get my hands in the dirt. However, the weather had other plans. It continued to snow and rain but that gave Cam (trails crew member) and I an opportunity to take an inventory of all the tools and make sure they were all sharp and in good condition. Along with a day of chainsaw training to get our appropriate certifications.

The second week the weather warmed up and stayed pretty clear so it was good to get to work on some trails. We started out taking care of a pretty sizable trail collapse on Training Wheels in order to get that open as it would probably be one of the first to melt. We also had the pleasure to train with Paul Mead who gave us some good practices and techniques for trail maintenance and working with volunteers. The next day, having decided that Bovine would need just a little time to dry out before we could work with any dirt to address drainage, we headed up Channel Lock and took care of some brush cutting along with clearing and reconstructing a few drains. While at the top of Channel Lock we took lunch and got a chance to meet with some of the trail users. Talking with riders we heard a lot of interest in when Bovine would be open. This led to a bit of a realization that this is where we will head next and we need to get as many trails open as quickly as we can.

With our sights set on getting riders less concentrated on Channel Lock, we headed out to the Mike Harris Campground. Cam assessed Hillbender and I assessed Lady Slipper from the pole canyon side. Hillbender and Grumpy both still had a good bit of snow on them. Most of the trail were dry but with the scattered snow piles riding wouldn’t be very enjoyable. Lady Slipper however did still have a few snow spots but a lot less with water draining and the majority of the trail dry. After clearing some blowdowns Lady Slipper was good to go with limited advisory. Next we headed to Bovine to tackle drainage. When we got to Bovine a lot of the issue spots had dried out but one remained that wasn’t going to drain the water the way it needed to so we got to work. While working we had a couple of riders pass and inform us that the snow had melted but the trail was still a little wet in some spots. We continued our hike up and encountered some spots that were in fact wet from melt but were doing their job draining the water. It’s been a bit of a slow start, but we’re starting to get things opened up and will have our hands full as long as the weather cooperates.

-Sanders Forrester, Trails Director