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
