the Trails Information Newsletter published by AMERICAN TRAILS The big challenge for us this winter was moving the

Transcription

1 Volume 31, Number 1 New Dates for National Trails Symposium: Nov , 2002 TRAIL TRACK S American Trails recently learned the unfortunate news that the Grenelefe Resort, our original host for the National Trails Symposium, had been placed in bankruptcy. With the assistance of our fabulous Planning Team and Florida partners, we were able to quickly find another conference site that meets our needs. The Symposium will now be held at Disney s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida on these new dates: November 10-13, with field trips scheduled prior to the main conference. Plan to bring the family! The theme for the Symposium is Greenways and Trails ~ Crossing the American Landscape. Crossing implies going beyond a line or boundary, and moving from one place to another. The word landscape also evokes a strong visual response. For each, it creates a different image, be it a mountain range or a family farm. Regardless of the image, it is often associated with something regional in scope and context. Crossing the American Landscape merges these ideas to promote thinking beyond boundaries and on a broad scale. For the latest information on the 16th National Trails Symposium, visit us online: The online registration form will be available July 15th. Visit the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails website to learn more about the innovative trail systems in Florida: More National Trails Symposium news: page 18 the Trails Information Newsletter published by AMERICAN TRAILS Editor: Stuart H. Macdonald American Trails office moves to Redding, California SPRING 2002 The big challenge for us this winter was moving the office of American Trails to Redding, California, from Arizona. Redding is a community of trails and greenways in a beautiful part of America. So here we are, and the work goes on! This is our new office contact information: American Trails P.O. Box , Redding CA phone (530) fax (530) AmTrails@futureone.com M o re on American Trails work on page Winners of American Trails Website Contest announced See the list of winning websites on page 14 Trails advocates are making pathways across the Worldwide Web! American Trails wants to help all of us learn how the trails community is using this captivating new world.our contest winners really use the power of the Internet to communicate effectively with trails advocates, users, and the general public. Visit these great websites for information, ideas, and inspiration. For links to the American Trails Website Contest winners and all 70 sites that were nominated, visit National Recreation Trails proposed... 3 National Trails Training Partnership news... 4 Hybrid contracting: extending resources... 6 Building better asphalt trails Website Contest winners Climbing turns and switchbacks National Trails Symposium news N ews from America s trails R e s o u rces C a l e n d a r... 23

2 AMERICAN TRAILS Executive Committee Kay Lloyd, Chair Roger Bell, Vice-Chair, Western Trailbuilders Assoc. Dana Bell, Secretary, Nat l OHV Conservation Council Christine Jourdain, Treasurer, American Council of Snowmobile Associations Hulet Hornbeck, Member at Large Pam Gluck, Executive Director Directors Marianne Fowler, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Jay Franklin, International Mountain Bicycling Assoc. Jan Hancock, Equestrian Representative Terry Hanson, City of Redding Mike Passo, Wilderness Inquiry Bob Searns, Urban Edges, Inc. Terry Whaley, Ozark Greenways Advisory Board Steve Anderson, Pima County (AZ) Parks & Rec. Dept. Peter Axelson, Beneficial Designs, Inc. Wendell Beardsley, USFS Trails Coordinator, retired James Coffman, Todd & Associates, Inc. Tom Crimmins, National OHV Conservation Council Christopher Douwes, Rec. Trails Program Mgr, FHWA Troy Duffin, Exec. Director, Mountain Trails Foundation John Fegan, Bicycle Program Manager, FHWA Mylon Filkins, Back Country Horsemen of America Darrell Lewis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Stuart Macdonald, Colorado State Trails Coordinator Jim Miller, Dispersed Recreation Program Mgr., USFS Roger Moore, North Carolina State University Hugh Morris, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Skye Ridley, Past Executive Director, AMERICAN TRAILS Thomas Ross, Asst. Director, Rec. & Conservation, NPS Deb Salt, National Trails Coordinator, BLM Roger Schmitt, National Group Manager, BLM Bob Walker, Montana State Trails Coordinator Scott Weaver, Student Conservation Association Trail Tracks Trail Tracks (ISSN ) is the newsletter of AMERICAN TRAILS, the nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of trail systems for all Americans by fostering communication and complementary action. Editor: Stuart H. Macdonald Subscriptions are $35 per year or free with membership see page 24 for membership form. Reprints and copies. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be copied or reprinted if credit is given to AMERICAN TRAILS, Trail Tracks, and the author. For reprinted articles and excerpts, contact the original author or publisher. Contributions. We welcome contributions on trails issues, advocacy, and news, either original material or suggestions from other publications. We cannot pay for submissions, but authors will receive full credit. Advertising. For advertising rates, please write or call. AMERICAN T RAILS P.O. Box Redding, CA Phone (530) Fax (530) AmTrails@futureone.com A new home for American Trails By Pam Gluck, Executive Director, American Trails The view from our new American Trails office in Redding, California, features 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta. It s a constantly inspiring sight as we talk with people all over America about trails. We feel it will benefit American Trails to be in this progressive community, and be part of the many recreation and open space efforts underway. Our office space has also expanded to enable us to bring in local volunteers who have expressed an interest in our work. We are really pleased with the progress on the National Trails Symposium. This has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my job, and the enthusiasm of our friends in Florida is contagious. They have made a huge commitment and we expect this Symposium to have the best programs and field trips ever. The other projects of American Trails are going well, and we appreciate the support of so many organizations, agencies, and individuals on several important projects: National Recreation Trails Program (see page 3) National Trails Training Partnership (see page 4) Universal Trail Asessment Process (see page 22) Expanding the resources for trails advocates on our website (see Website Contest results on page 14) If you re not already a member of American Trails, we would love to have you join us at this exciting time for trails and greenways! Terry Whaley of Missouri Joins American Trails Board We welcome Terry Whaley to the American Trails Board of Directors. Terry is with Ozark Greenways, Inc. in Springfield Missouri. The mission of Ozark Greenways is Enhancing and Preserving the Ozark Natural Heritage for Public Use and Enjoyment. As Executive Director since 1995 Terry s duties include promotion and education on linear parks, greenways, and trails. He is responsible for fund raising, acquisition of easements, trail design, trail development, and creating a land trust committee to work in preserving open space in Greene County. Terry has served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Fenton, Missouri, in St. Louis County. A 1980 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University, he holds a BS degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. Terry presently enjoys teaching an outdoor education class within the recreation curriculum at SMSU. He and his wife Jeannene have one daughter, 17, and live in Springfield, Missouri. Recreation activities include canoeing, rafting, hiking and backpacking, bicycling, cross country skiing and work. 2 TRAIL TRACKS

3 National trails news Trails nominated for National Recreation Trails designation On National Trails Day, June 1, 2002, a new group of trails and greenways will be given official designation as National Recreation Trails by the Secretaries of the U. S. Department of the Interior and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. A list of the trails nominated for 2002 with their locations is posted on the NRT website at The 30 nominated trails, which include three on National Forests, represent the wide spectrum of trails and greenways in America. They include three water trails, two with motorized uses, a canal towpath, several rail-trails, and a road-totrail project. Others feature wildlife, historic sites, snow travel, and rivers. Eighteen states are represented. American Trails is the lead partner in the revitalization of the National Recreation Trails Program, along with many other supporters. The NRT Program aims to recognize and encourage the use of existing trails, provide the opportunity for their promotion, and stimulate and enhance future trail development. Partners share the long term goal of Trails for All Americans: creating a nationwide system of trails within 15 minutes of the home or workplace of every American. For more information on the National Recreation Trails Program see the NRT website: You can also contact the American Trails office at AmTrails@futureone.com or (530) ; or the NRT Program Coordinator, Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, MS 3622, Washington DC (202) Trails for health movement gains national attention Communities that build walking and bicycle trails, initiate walking programs in malls, and fund public areas such as parks and sidewalks can boost activity levels in the US, study findings suggest. American Journal of Public Health, Dec. 6, 2001 Promoting community trails in Arizona Agencies and organizations in Arizona are partnering with health care providers in many communities to encourage families and individuals to enjoy physical activity on local trails. Tammy Ball, Program Manager of Physical Activities for the Department of Health Services, notes that Physical inactivity is among the top two preventable causes of death. National Trails Day is a great opportunity to promote hiking to improve the health of all individuals, regardless of age. Arizona advocates say that trail use is a good way to increase physical activity and also enjoy the benefit of a relaxing and fun experience. The changing scenery and closeness to nature s beauty along a trail help keep the physical activity interesting and memorable. The trails in each community can become pathways to better health for all citizens. A brochure containing a listing of the events being planned in Arizona s communities will be available in May from Annie McVay, the State Parks Trails Coordinator at (602) If you would like to plan a trail event in your own community, please contact McVay. For more information on hiking in Arizona or nationally see Healthy theme for National Trails Day The theme for National Trails Day, June 1, 2002, is Hike for Health so get outside and get healthy! If you are interested in organizing an event, contact the American Hiking Society at (301) ext Stop unwanted vehicle traffic with Tr a ff i c G u a r d on your: Bike Paths Maintenance Roads Pedestrian Wa l k w a y s Limited Parking Access SPRING

4 National Trails Training Partnership Working for the future of trails training and education By Stuart Macdonald, National Association of State Trails Administrators The challenges involved in the care and development of trails are enormous. One of these challenges is shared by all the diverse kinds of trails advocates: the need for welltrained, effective volunteers and staff. Some backcountry trail groups have relied on experienced trail builders from the federal agencies, but the old-timers are retiring and new people with trails skills aren t necessarily being hired. In the same way, our volunteers don t always stick around for years, and training new people is hard work in itself. Greenway and railtrail planners are also confronted with new problems and the need for better solutions. Recognizing this need across America, a wide variety of agencies and national trail organizations representing all user groups have joined together to address the issue. The National Trails Training Partnership (NTTP) is an effort by trails advocates to improve opportunities for training for the nationwide trails community. The vision of the Partnership is to ensure that the full range of skills, training, and resource information is available to trail groups, communities, tribal governments, and State and Federal agencies. To put it another way, our goal is to help both staff and volunteers plan, design, enhance, build, interpret, protect, and maintain trails and greenways for all Americans. Obviously this covers a lot of ground there are vast differences in the kinds of trails people are caring for, just as our climates and topography are diverse. The skills and experience required also vary tremendously. And finally, we must address the different needs of professionals and full-time staff as well as volunteers with varying levels of commitment. We are happy to say that the NTTP concept has progressed to the action stage. After two years of discussions among organizations and Federal and State representatives, the new Partnership has been created along with an ambitious set of tasks. A key step was initial funding last fall from the Federal Highway Administration. FHWA administers federal dollars for trails through the Recreational Trails Program, and allocates some funds for research, publications, and efforts like the NTTP. A Steering Committee has been developed to oversee the current efforts. NTTP development, coordination, publicity, and website work is being provided by American Trails in cooperation with the NTTP partners. Read more about NTTP atwww.nttp.net Specific tasks being undertaken in 2002 are: Maintaining an on-line clearinghouse of training opportunities at Providing a wide range of on-line resources, hosted by Developing a directory of trails experts and groups who provide workshops, classes, and training Providing publicity for the spectrum of opportunities for training and education on trails topics Developing partnerships with parks and natural resources agencies in each state Encouraging more cooperation among agencies on classes and training Identifying skills and training needs not now available Who's behind the NTTP project? It's a long list, and includes most important national trails and recreation groups as well as the federal land management agencies. Besides the FHWA and various States, Federal agency supporters include the USDA Forest Service and agencies of the U. S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service. The NTTP Steering Committee includes: American Trails American Hiking Society American Motorcyclist Association Back Country Horsemen of America International Mountain Bicycling Association Leave No Trace Rails-to-Trails Conservancy National Association of State Trail Administrators National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council Partnership for the National Trails System Student Conservation Association Tread Lightly! Western Trailbuilders Association Please join us! Here's how: Register as a partner! Use the form on the page at right, go to or us. Send your news, training calendar items, publications, or resources to AmTrails@futureone.com. Let us know about new publications, videos, websites, curricula, and education resources. Tell others interested in trails training about NTTP. Include this information in your newsletter and internet communications. Add a link to to your website; see our website for a logo link you can copy. For more information contact American Trails at AmTrails@futureone.com or (530) Visit the National Trails Training Partnership on line at hosted by 4 TRAIL TRACKS

5 Register your group or agency with the National Trails Training Partnership All organizations and agencies are invited to join American Trails and many other groups across America in improving the availability of training, education, and resources for trails. We ll list your training events on the website, highlight your organization on individual state pages if appropriate, and help you connect with the national trails community. Please fill out and mail this form to American Trails, P.O. Box , Redding, CA or fax to (530) This form is also available on line at Use more than one form or add additional pages if you have a variety of training or resources available. Feel free to mail us additional pages, publications, or other descriptive materials, and please add us to your mailing list for news and events. Organization or agency: Program Contact: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone ( ) - - Fax ( ) Website address: Description of organization or agency: Types of training, courses, or workshops you offer or have offered in the past: Your publications or resources available: Thank you for registering with the National Trails Training Partnership! American Trails, P.O. Box , Redding, CA phone (530) AmTrails@futureone.com SPRING

6 New models for trail contracting Hybrid contracting is an intriguing model for effective use of professional contractors in conjunction with other trail project labor volunteers, youth corps, and staff trail crews. Extending resources with trail contractors By Roger Bell, American Trails Board As a trail contractor for over 30 years I d like to share my ideas and approaches to using the expertise available from professional trail contractors. I also want to describe and urge consideration of some alternative approaches and point to various ways they might be used by agencies and trail advocacy groups to achieve really good results. I have come to call these alternative models hybrid contracting, and I increasingly believe, in this era of partnership development and keen interest in trails, that they may provide the best of both worlds the security of contract accountability while at the same time promoting community service values and real world skill advancement by engaging the resources of other groups. In the traditional model, typical of work for the U. S. Forest Service, we follow the requirements of carefully-developed specifications and, under the watchful eye of government inspectors, seek to achieve the desired results while hopefully generating sufficient profit to keep the business afloat. There is much to recommend the traditional contractor/owner model in building quality trails. It is true that not every project turns out as hoped, and there can be prolonged and painful disputes over the exact meaning of the written plans. But most contractors point with pride at what is achieved through this time-tested process. In fact, we can get defensive when our hard-earned expertise is ignored and other taxpayer-supported or so-called free services are used instead of us. We might even parade stories of poor trails and resource damage caused by these well-meaning groups; and we d argue that any apparent cost savings by use of these groups exclusively would turn out to be illusory. Cost, we d insist, is never just the initial outlay it has to do with what lasts over time, with hidden overhead paid by our tax dollars for the care and feeding of in-house crews, with the old fashioned importance of contract accountability. Yes, we tend to get downright patriotic when the value of the profit incentive is ignored in favor of what we might sloganize as make work substitutes. (I know, get out the violins!) But truthfully, for timely completion, tight quality control, and long term cost effectiveness, contracting would usually be the preferred mode. In fact, Forest Service data suggests that contracting, when compared with alternative methods of getting trails built, does tend to produce the best bang for the buck. So for many of my colleagues and many agency people, the traditional model will continue to be the primary or maybe the only method by which they build trails. Of course we have to acknowledge that there are some projects by truly responsible volunteers, crack job corps teams, and competent agency crews that are fully as good as anything we contractors have built. There are also good reasons why trail managers seek out the services of volunteers, user groups, job corps, prisoners, in-house crews, etc., instead of contractors. These include perceived cost savings, community service values, the importance of job training for youth, grant incentives, promoting interest and skills among user groups, developing trail building competence in-house, or even a lack of knowledge about availability and experienced trail contractors, When the decision about how to get a project accomplished is being contemplated, the working assumption quite likely is that it must be an either/or approach either put the project out to bid and hope to find a qualified contractor or turn to one of these other groups. Rarely would it be recognized, at least from a practical standpoint, that it might be possible or even desirable to combine these resources in ways that would optimize the advantages of both. Or they simply might not know of the availability of qualified contractors who could provide design/build services or who are sufficiently flexible and willing to perform in conjunction with these other kinds of workers. To make my argument more clear let me mention a couple of contextual examples from my own experience, one a winner and the other a loser, which perhaps will illustrate just how a contractor might be used in conjunction with other groups and what might happen when such expertise is ignored. The Winner I just completed a project for the City of Scottsdale in Arizona at Pinnacle Peak. This trail was built originally by hand methods and wasn t bad by those capabilities. However, over the past several 6 TRAIL TRACKS

7 May's Trail Equipment & Leasing Toll Free Tel FAX POWER TOOLS TRACK EQUIPMENT ACCESSORIES PARTS & SERVICE SALES & RENTAL Pionjar Rock Drill Cobra MK1 Boulder Buster Tanaka Portable Drills May's Trail Equipment & Leasing, LLC, has dedicated ourselves to tools and equipment for trail building, development, and maintenance in State, National, and Municipal park areas. May's Trail Equipment & Leasing has been in business and involved with the building of trails for over 25 years. Walter C. May s personal experience combined with excellent quality lines of products equal your best source for power tools and track equipment for trail building. We are a full service company, providing not just the tools and equipment you need, but accessories, parts, and service. Whether you want to purchase or rent, we will take good care of you. Please call us toll free at (800) or you can find our Web Page at waltercmaycompany.com for more information or with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and to providing you with excellent product and service. Sincerely, Walter C. May

8 Hybrid Contracting: years, close to 5000 volunteer hours had been spent trying to upgrade and maintain the trail, and still it was too narrow and too dangerous, for equestrians especially, and as a result the trail had been closed. I was hired as a consultant to come up with a plan to solve these problems. They liked the ideas I presented, and asked us to re-build the trail along the lines recommended. We actually did a subcontract for the contractor who was building their million-dollar trailhead facility, rather than going through a formal bid process Scottsdale has very creative administrators! By use of equipment and know-how, we transformed the trail into something really special that, I believe, graphically illustrates what the experienced, equipment-savvy trail contractor can provide. I believe they could have spent another 5000 hours of volunteer help and never come close to what we did in an intensive two-month project. Now that it s in place, the volunteers can stay on top of things through various maintenance efforts. That kind of cooperative interaction between paid experts and free volunteer assistance makes better sense than an either/or approach. The Loser Some time ago, I was asked by a city that backs up into the mountains in the Los Angeles basin to look at an area for a rerouted trail that was in fairly difficult ground for which they had received a County grant. I told them I had good news and bad news. The good news was they could build the trail, the bad news was their grant was too small. I did suggest the possibility of using CCC help for the hand work following our design and machine construction as a way of holding down the costs. I later heard that, using an amateur designer, they had then literally turned the C s loose on the hillside. It was a huge waste of taxpayers money and probably violated all the County's regulations on hillside construction. The result was one of the worst examples of resource damage and God-awful mess you have ever seen. It was a huge waste of taxpayers money and probably violated all the County s regulations about what to do on hillside construction. By not using contractor expertise, to save money, they now have something that is extremely unsafe and probably a serious liability hazard. By the way, they asked me to come back in afterwards and tell them how to fix the trail; I was so mad, after walking less than half way, I turned around and went home. I simply could not bear to deal with this mess, but I confess the privately expressed I told you so s were a twisted form of recompense. Unfortunately, I m guessing the ugliness remains. There are four types of alternative, hybrid contracting approaches I want to mention. I am sure there are other variations, but these should provide some starting points: 1. Design/build contracts Obviously, this is not an entirely new concept, but it has been used infrequently for trails. My approach with a number of city, county and developer projects has been significantly less formalized than might be necessary if our work was not already known to them and if we had not established a level of trustworthiness and competence from work with them and other clients with similar projects. In other words, this informality clearly is enabled only after a period of establishing credibility with a mix of such clients. Cooperative interaction between paid experts and free volunteers can make better sense than an either/or approach. At their request, I typically begin by writing a brief proposal in which I lay out several phases of work. Since I have some idea about the project to begin with, the design phase is priced on a lump sum basis to include a physical layout, a description of any structures proposed, written specifications (adapted to this project from the Forest Service Specs with which I am quite familiar), time commitment, etc. Where the work is fairly straightforward I can price the construction phase as well. Where the work is less clear at the outset, I can provide a rough estimate to be confirmed or altered after design work is complete and after they have approved or not the various recommendations offered. I also provide a one-year warranty for any defects that occur as a result of faulty work in fulfillment of the specifications, as well as insurance and license information. I usually offer a one-year maintenance agreement for a nominal fee. I believe this is advantageous as most problems show up during the first year. If we are responsible for coming back to fix any problems, we have a stake in assuring the trail is built to a high level of sustainability to begin with. But, as in the case of Pinnacle Peak, this maintenance phase can be where the volunteers or agency staff take over. I contend that a trail built to standards enabled by our equipment and knowhow, and upon which our reputation is built, will be considerably easier for others to maintain. My own more or less informal approach might not work for larger procurement systems such as the Forest Service. But the creation of design/build contracts for trails apparently is on the agenda of that agency, at least partly because so many of their trail design experts have retired. A few such contracts 8 TRAIL TRACKS

9 effective use of trail resources have been let, but to my taste and admittedly skewed viewpoint, they seem to be mired in rather cumbersome, overly formalized procedures which don t necessarily evoke the full creative potential this approach offers. My advice would be to select trail contractors much like they would architects using a Request for Proposal (RFP) format. Candidates would submit a portfolio of completed projects similar to that contemplated in this instance, along with references and recommendations. A preliminary idea of how the contractor would propose to handle the specific project would be indicated along with a cost estimate. These proposals would be culled down to a short list of finalists. The contractor would then be selected by a mix of track record and proposed approach, with price a factor but not the only or even the primary one. Design/build clearly is a form of hybrid contracting that alters the way a project is perceived and administered. 2. Contractor as consultant for work by others One of our WTBA members, Jim Angell, has made a career out of providing his services to agencies and user groups as a design expert and as a supervisor/trainer for volunteer work groups. Mostly these are projects that use people power, hand tools, and winches rather than heavier equipment. For Jim and his clients it is a viable form of hybrid contracting that calls on the vast experience of a single skilled individual. We have worked alongside job corps teams, volunteers, and in-house crews. 3. Projects done in conjunction with others I have contracted a dozen projects in recent years in which we have worked alongside job corps teams, volunteers, and inhouse crews. In some, we did the design and layout and the initial machine work while others did the hand work; or we came in to do a specialized aspect of a project for which the California Conservation Corps (CCC), as the primary work group, had been hired under the supervision of the agency. Such projects do call for a certain level of creativity on the part of the agencies because they tend to fly in the face of usual procedural requirements. Terry Hanson, from the City of Redding, CA, describes a private development where the trail was part of the developer s responsibility. He wanted to assure that the trail was built to the City s and the local trail committee s requirements and suggested to the developer that he consider hiring me to do the design work and provide funds directly to the City for actual construction. I did come up for a few days to do the design and layout and prepared a set of specifications. SPRING 2002 The City in turn gave the construction dollars to the local CCC, who have a regular trail crew, with the understanding that they would put out a contract for the machine portion of the project. All of the work would be built according to the specifications I had written. We then bid on the project and were awarded the contract. We built a second trail in the system which followed a similar pattern although in this case the land had been provided to the City by the BLM, who held a proprietary interest in how the trail was built and how it impacted the ecosystem. Glen Kinney of the Canejo Open Space District in Thousand Oaks, CA, describes a project to repair a difficult section of trail in their extensive system. Their well-trained trail crew We all want better trails on the ground, genuine cost effectiveness, and a sense of fulfillment by all those who contribute. owns a SWECO trail machine and does much of their own work. But in this case the grant required most work be done by youth and, because of heavy bedrock, the wider-tracked SWECO was not a good option. The District hired us for a week to use our Takeuchi Excavator to build several switchbacks in these heavy rock areas. Their crew and the CCC were present to haul in materials for the switchbacks and they continued with further aspects of the project after our departure. 4. The opportunity for on-going training These projects also have an informal training dimension which could be made more explicit. It would be easy to write contracts to include training in the trail building process, equipment use, and other skills. WTBA has proposed this idea to the National Trail Training Partnership; we think actual projects are a great opportunity for developing excellent hands-on training programs. Maybe hybrid contracting is nothing really new, but it allows us to look at some fresh ways of doing business. The goal is still to accomplish what we all want: better trails on the ground, genuine cost effectiveness, and a sense of fulfillment by all those who contribute to realizing our mutual hopes. Roger Bell is president of Bellfree Contractors, Inc., and formerly a college administrator. He is also active with the Western Trailbuilders Association. The Association represents an impressive range of experience among its 38 professional trail contractor members. For project examples, many photos, and contacts for trail expertise see WTBA s website at 9

10 AMERICAN TRAILS Trails Action Article What s the best trail surface? This question has been debated for decades, and the answer is still the same: it depends on intended use, the setting, the budget, and available materials. Asphalt has been the material of choice for trails of many kinds throughout America. This article provides the technical data, based on wide experience, for building the most durable and cost-effective asphalt trails. BUILDING BETTER ASPHALT TRAILS By Eric West, P.E. Design and construction guidelines for asphalt trails The selection of surface material for trails and paths is primarily based on anticipated type and intensity of trail use, as well as terrain, climate, design life, maintenance, cost, and availability. Soft surface materials are low cost, but require substantial maintenance and are not suitable for many of the recreational activities today's trails and paths are used for. Hard surface materials, specifically concrete and asphalt, provide years of service with low maintenance. The following are the key elements to consider in building quality asphalt trails: proper drainage proper sub-grade compaction adequate pavement thickness adequate pavement compaction DRAINAGE Bike paths and trails should be constructed to match the existing topography as closely as possible, however, longitudinal slopes should not exceed five percent and a cross slope of two percent is desirable to provide adequate drainage away from the pavement surface. Proper drainage is one of the most important factors affecting pavement performance. Proper drainage entails efficient removal of excess water from the trail. Surface water runoff should be handled using swales, ditches and sheet flow. Catch basins, drain inlets, culverts and underground piping may also be necessary. These structures should be located off of the pavement structure. MIX DESIGN FOR HOT MIX ASPHALT Not all hot mix asphalt is the same, and the type used for a highway may not be the appropriate mix for a trail or bike path. Specific mixes are designed for specific applications. The hot mix asphalt specified for your project should provide adequate strength and durability. The overall objective for the design of asphalt paving mixtures is to determine a cost-effective blend of aggregates and asphalt that yields a mix having: sufficient asphalt to provide durability adequate stability to resist distortion and displacement sufficient voids to provide for expansion and contraction due to temperature fluctuations sufficient workability to allow proper field compaction to resist moisture damage and minimize segregation proper aggregate texture and hardness to provide sufficient skid resistance Specifications for trail and bike path hot mix asphalt should address the specific application and use, and allow the use of locally available aggregate, where its quality is adequate for the project. The gradation specification should be consistent with local specifications. It is recommended that a SX 1/2" nominal maximum size gradation, or meeting the state Department of Transportation criteria, be specified. Bike paths and trails are not subjected to heavy loading. Many of these paths are also constructed in terrain difficult for large construction equipment to access. Thus the hot mix asphalt should have a reasonably high asphalt cement content. This rich mix will provide excellent durability and allow for ease of placement and compaction. In addition, high asphalt binder content mixes reduce segregation potential and improve the surface texture of the mix for this type of application. PAVEMENT THICKNESS The first step in analyzing pavement thickness is determining the loading the pavement will be subjected to. Pavements need to be designed to support wheel loads from vehicles that will have access to them. These may include emergency, patrol, snow removal, maintenance and other motor vehicles. The next step is to determine the load carrying characteristics of the native soil. A soils investigation should be performed to determine the sub-grade strength, load support capabilities, ground water conditions, and swell potential of the native soils. The soil investigation should be performed with test hole locations at appropriate intervals to account for the varying soil conditions that may be encountered. 10 TRAIL TRACKS

11 Blazing New Trails with Waterless Restroom Facilities Now, you can install a restroom wherever it s needed, wherever you want! The BMS patented DEVAP and OUTBACK systems are in use in parks, ski trails, recreational facilities and wilderness trails throughout the USA. Odorless, waterless, self-contained, evaporative waste treatment and vault evaporator systems. Tried and proven from sea level to frigid mountain tops, these units are unlike anything you ve seen before! Call today P.O. Box 8248 Fort Collins, CO Phone: FAX: Contact us for information about our waterborne plumbed facilities.

12 Asphalt trail specifications Pavement thickness is dependent on the loading that will be applied to the pavement, the asphalt mix design and the ability of the underlying soil to support the loads. Full depth asphalt pavement is the overwhelming choice to distribute loads to the sub-grade. However, depending on the existing soil's ability to support the loads, an aggregate base course and/or geotextile may be used to improve the stability and/or load carrying capability of the native soil. The geo-technical engineer performing the soils investigation should recommend design thicknesses for the pavement based on the anticipated loading conditions and the results of strength testing performed on the native soils. As soil conditions vary across the site, recommended design thickness may change. The standards for determining the supporting capabilities of the native soil vary depending on location. The most common test performed is the R-value, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) designation T -190 and T-99, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) designation D This test provides a relative soil strength to be applied to nomographs, or design equations, which include environmental and loading criteria for determination of a required structural number for the pavement. The required structural number must be achieved by an adequate thickness of pavement. Each pavement layer is assigned a strength coefficient based on the type of material used. A dense graded hot mix asphalt is assigned a coefficient of between 0.34 and 0.44, based on research done by AASHTO, and the properties of the mix. In an area with reasonably good soil (R-value > 20), occasional maintenance vehicle use, and good drainage, a required structural number of approximately 1.6 is determined from design nomographs. To determine the necessary thickness of hot mix asphalt, divide this structural number by the strength coefficient of the material. For a typical hot mix asphalt, we will assume a strength coefficient of The calculation of 1.6/0.4 provides a recommended pavement section of 4 inches of hot mix asphalt. The above example is typical of the method used by geo-technical engineers to provide recommended pavement sections. This example is based on numerous assumptions and should not be used for actual construction. Your geo-technical engineer or landscape architect will provide site specific information for your project. In general, it is recommended a minimum 3" of hot mix asphalt be used for bike paths and trails where loading from vehicles will be negligible. As soil conditions deteriorate and loading increases, the pavement thickness should be increased. SUBGRADE Prior to construction, vegetation should be cleared and stumps and roots removed along the trail for a minimum of five feet outside the edge of the proposed pavement. This will allow construction equipment access and help prevent roots and growth from eventually encroaching on the path. If adequate access width cannot be provided, the contractor will be forced to use less efficient equipment with increased costs. The asphalt should be placed on compacted sub-grade that extends a minimum of two feet beyond the edge of pavement. The edge of pavement should be feathered with native soil to avoid any sharp drops from the trail edge. The sub-grade should be prepared by removing topsoil and unstable soil, shaping to grade, scarifying the surface to a minimum depth of six inches, moisture conditioning, and compacting. The sub-grade should be compacted to a minimum of 95% of standard Proctor density, AASHTO T 99, and the moisture should be maintained within 3% of optimum. If aggregate base course is used in the pavement section it should be compacted to a minimum of 95% of modified Proctor density, AASHTO T 180, ASTM D Depending on the soil conditions, compaction and moisture criteria may vary. Consult your landscape architect or geotechnical engineer for site-specific information. After compaction a soil sterilant and/or root inhibitor should be applied. Application should be carefully controlled to the pavement area only. Typical shaping, grading and compaction crews consist of a motor grader or blade, landscape tractor with back box for grading, and a rubber tire roller for compaction. Additional compaction equipment and access to water may be required. Prior to placement of the asphalt pavement it is recommended the sub-grade be proof rolled to highlight areas of uncompacted or unstable soil. This may be accomplished using a loaded single axle or tandem dump truck or a loaded rubber tire 12 TRAIL TRACKS

13 Building better asphalt trails loader. Soft or unstable areas should be recompacted or removed and replaced with stable soil. It is also important that all utility installations, including sprinkler systems, be complete prior to paving. PLACEMENT Placement of the hot mix asphalt should be accomplished with a self-propelled paver, where possible. Where pavers cannot be used, a spreader box attached to a dump truck may be used. Minimum paver width is generally eight feet. For widths less than eight feet cutoff shoes may be placed in the screed to reduce the width of paving. The screed controls mat thickness and crown. Vibratory screeds are typical and provide a small amount of compaction prior to rolling. In general, the uncompacted mat should be 1/4" thicker than the final desired thickness to allow for densification during rolling operations. The hot mix asphalt should be delivered to the paver at a temperature adequate to allow proper compaction. This depends upon the type of asphalt cement used, but generally ranges between 235 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The contractor's ability to achieve compaction is dependent on the mix temperature, pavement thickness, subgrade temperature, ambient temperature and wind velocity. COMPACTION and JOINT CONSTRUCTION Compaction should be accomplished immediately after placement by the paver. Steel wheel vibratory rollers are generally used for initial breakdown rolling behind the paver, followed by a steel wheel finish roller. Depending on the compactibility of the mix, a pneumatic tired roller may also be used. Minimize their tendency to pick up fine aggregate from the surface with proper tire temperature or the use of a release agent. It is recommended the hot mix asphalt be compacted to 92%-96% of the Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity, AASHTO designation T 209, ASTM designation D Joint construction should be carefully done to ensure a uniform mat. Longitudinal joints, which occur where mats are laid side to side, should be constructed with a vertical face or a step taper. The step taper should have a 1.5" vertical face at the surface, tapered at a 3:1 slope from this point to the subgrade. Prior to placing the adjoining mat the joint should be tack-coated. Asphalt placed against a longitudinal joint should overlap the existing asphalt by 1". Compacting longitudinal joints should be accomplished by rolling from the hot side of the asphalt. The steel wheel roller is placed with the majority of the drum on the hot, newly placed asphalt, with approximately 6" of the drum extending over the cold asphalt. Transverse joints occur at any point the paver ends work and then resumes at a subsequent time. The end of the paving mat should be cut off vertically to allow the full lift thickness to be placed against it. Lumber is used as a bulkhead, paving over the lumber and leaving a taper that is removed along with the bulkhead prior to resumption of paving. Another method is to form a papered transverse joint where heavy wrapping paper is placed along the entire face of the vertical edge of the pavement. The paper extends approximately three to four feet onto the subgrade. The paver resumes paving over the paper to form a taper. Prior to resumption of paving, the paper and material on top of it is removed forming a vertical edge. When paving resumes the vertical edge is tack-coated, heated and the paver backed over the existing asphalt with the screed resting on the previously placed mat. The shims should have a height equal to the expected compacted thickness, i.e. 1/4" per inch of material. Mix is delivered to the paver and the paver starts forward slowly. Excess mix left by the paver is bumped back to the joint location and/or removed. The joint is then rolled transversely from the cold side beginning with the roller approximately six inches on the newly placed mat and continuing across in six to twelve inch increments. Timbers should be placed along the outside edges of the mat to support the roller and minimize distortion of the outside edges. Composite sections, consisting of asphalt pavement overlying aggregate base course, have an advantage in the ease of grading the base course to the proper level for placement of the asphalt pavement. If base course is used it should be a minus 1-1/2" and minus 3/4" aggregate size. The strength coefficient of base course ranges from 0.12 to 0.14, depending on the R- value of the material. Based on this strength coefficient, 3" of base course are equivalent to the strength of 1" of asphalt pavement. However, when using aggregate base course, the asphalt pavement thickness should be maintained at 3" and should never be less than 2". The minimum thickness of the aggregate base course should be 6" for an asphalt trail, or thicker for poorer quality sub-grade material. The subgrade should be stripped of vegetation, shaped to grade, and compacted at the proper moisture content prior to placement of the pavement structure. In general, compact the sub-grade to a minimum of 95% of the maximum density as determined by AASHTO T 99, Standard Proctor and maintain moisture content to within 3% of optimum. Again, your geotechnical engineer or landscape architect should provide guidelines for proper compaction of the existing soil. A more detailed report, A Guideline for the Design and Construction of Asphalt Pavements for Colorado Trails and Paths, is available on the American Trails website: (click on Resources & Library and click on Trail Construction ). Thanks to the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association for allowing use of this text. SPRING

14 Website contest awards First American Trails Website Contest yields winners! Links to all the sites are at click on Website Contest We were pleased to receive nominations of 70 trailrelated websites for the American Trails Website Contest. American Trails launched the first-ever contest to seek out the best websites in the cyberworld of trails and greenways. We looked for sites that really make trails come alive, and provide effective information delivery, support volunteers, and engage the public. In short, we wanted to showcase ways that advocates and agencies are making a difference for trails. THE WINNING TRAILS WEBSITES Illinois State Greenways & Trails Program dnr.state.il.us/orep/planning/index.htm...for State or Provincial trails agency New Brunswick Trail Council State or Provincial trails organization Honorable Mention: Texas Offroad Network Utah Valley Trails System Community trails system Honorable Mention: Indianapolis Parks Greenways Green Mountain Club Local trail organization or club site Feaster Trail, City of Arkadelphia arkadelphia.com/departments/parks/feaster/feaster.html...for Designated National Recreation Trail site Paragon Adventure Park Graphics and site design Kingsport Greenbelt Best use of photographs Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers Promotion and recognition of volunteerism Completely Unofficial Guide To Bicycle Trails in Western Pennsylvania Individual or personal trails site National Geographic mapxchange Trail-related business or product John Muir Trail Virtual Tour nycparks.completeinet.net/sub_your_park/flagship_and_ virtual.html...for Trail tour or virtual visit Tahoe Rim Trail Trails on federal lands Bike Trails and B & B's in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia Travel and tourism for trails Pennsylvania ATVing Communication for trail advocates Go for Green s Find a Trail Searchable on-line database We d like to thank our relatively distinguished judges: John Ansbro, City Planner, Evansville, IN Jim Schmid, Federal Highway Administration, DC Stuart Macdonald, Denver, CO We hope you ll visit to see all the sites nominated. We know there are lots of great sites out there, so we re looking forward to your nominations for 2003! Did you know that has links to over 1100 trail-related websites? Is your site included in our America s Trails State by State area? Do you have publications or studies that should be included in our Resources & Library section? Let us know at mactrail@aol.com! 14 TRAIL TRACKS

15 Member organizations of A MERICAN T RAILS PATRON MEMBERS American Honda Motor Company, Inc. Blue Ribbon Coalition Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau, IA City of Redding, CA Delaware Trails Program- DNREC International Mountain Bicycling Association Kawasaki Motor Corp. USA Nat l Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rockart Signs and Markers Texas Parks, Wildlife & Recreation ZAC Tool Mfg., Inc., CA SUPPORTING MEMBERS American Council of Snowmobile Associations American Motorcyclist Association Arrowhead Trails, Inc. Backcountry Horsemen of Wash. BHA Design, Inc. BLM-Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah Beneficial Designs Peter Bond Christopher Douwes City of Aspen, CO City of Boulder Mountain Parks City of Folsom Parks & Rec., CA Contra Costa Water Dist., CA Ehlert Publishing Group, Inc., MN Florida DEP, Greenways & Trails Hancock Resources International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association J. F. Fitzpatrick Industries J. L. Darling Corporation Jefferson Co. Open Space, CO Johnson County Park & Recreation District, KS Lehman & Lehman, Inc. Livermore Area Recreation & Park District, CA Millennium Trails Modoc National Forest Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Motorcycle Industry Council Donald A. Neptune, A.I.A, CA NPS Rivers & Trails Program, AK NPS Rivers & Trails Program, WA Nevada State Parks Idaho Trails Council, Inc. Queen Anne s County Dept. of Indiana Horse Council, Inc Parks and Recreation, MD Indiana Trail Riders Assoc., Inc.. Riverside County Regional Park & Indy Parks Greenways Open Space District Iowa State Snowmobile Assoc. Round Up Riders of the Rockies Iowa Trails Council S. W. Leader, Inc. Lubbock Lake Landmark, TX Santa Clara Co. Parks & Rec., CA Marin Municipal Water District, Soil Stabilization Products Co. Sky Oaks Ranger Station Southern Off Road Bicycle Methow Valley Sport Trail Association (SORBA), GA Association, WA St. Charles County Govt., MO Michigan Horse Council Steadfast Bridge Company Mid-American Regional Council Sutter Equipment Company Mississippi River Trail Triangle Greenways Council, NC The Mountaineers, WA Urban Edges, Inc. The Mountaineers Books US Forest Service, East. Reg, WI VA Dept. of Conservation & Rec. NPS Bandelier National Mon., NM Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin, Inc. Natural Resources Services, Western Trailbuilders Assoc. RCAA, CA Westvaco New England Trail Riders Assoc. WI All-Terrain Vehicle Assoc. North American Trail Ride Wisconsin State Parks-DNR Conference, NM Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS Allegheny Trail Alliance American Association for Leisure and Recreation, VA American Society of Landscape Architects Appalachian Mountain Club AZ State Committee on Trails Arizona Trail Association Austin Metro Trails & Greenways Backcountry Horsemen of Amer. Backcountry Horsemen of WA Bay Area Barns & Trails Dana Bell Buckeye Trail Association Bull Creek Foundation BLM-Salt Lake City, UT BusinessWare, Inc. Bylines... California Trails Foundation The Catamount Trail Assoc., Inc. Colorado Assoc. of 4WD Clubs Continental Divide Trail Alliance Dorothy Garske Center, AZ Dead Horse Ranch Trails Coalition Dune Buggies Inc. East Bay Area Trails Council East Coast Greenway Alliance Equestrian Land Conservation Resource Finger Lakes Trail Conference Friends of Stevens Creek Trail ID Dept. of Parks & Recreation Association, Inc. Ohio State Snowmobile Assoc. Pacific Crest Trail Assoc. Pacific Northwest Trail Assoc. Pima County Sheriff s Mounted Posse, AZ Red Bluff Trails United Rim of the World Trails Assoc. Sand Creek Greenway, CO Santa Barbara Co. Trails Council South Carolina Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Southeast Endurance Riders Assoc. Tahoe Rim Trail Tehama County Education Found. Texas Tech University Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club Trail Blazer Magazine T.R.A.I.L., Inc., CT Trail Mix, Inc. Trails and Bikeways Council of Greater Redding, CA Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau, WA US Forest Service, Girdwood, AK VT Association of Snow Travelers Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado Volunteers for Outdoor Nevada Western States Horse Summit Whole Access WI Four Wheel Drive Assoc. Yakima Greenway Foundation Yavapai Trails Association, AZ

16 IMBA book covers details of Building Better Trails: Designing, Constructing and Maintaining Outstanding Trails is a new book from the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The 72-page book is available from IMBA (see RESOURCES, page 22). IMBA has kindly given us permission to reprint a short section which shows off some of the outstanding graphics that illustrate the book. Building Better Trails is made possible by the generous support of Interbike, a major IMBA supporter since Now in its 20th year, Interbike is North America's largest and most comprehensive trade event for the bicycle industry. TURNS Two types of turns are used to reverse direction on hillsides in order to gain elevation in a short distance. A climbing turn on the existing grade doesn t have a constructed turning platform or landing. A switchback turn reverses direction with the help of a relatively level constructed landing. Both turns take skill to locate and are difficult and expensive to build and maintain. Think of them as a last resort. Whenever possible, it s better to gain elevation by maximizing long contour trail sections. 1. Climbing Turns Climbing turns are used on shallow slopes that don t exceed a grade of about 7 percent. To control cyclists speed and prevent skidding, climbing turns should be free flowing and gentle. Keep the turn radius as wide as possible, ideally 30 feet. Minimize erosion by having a short uphill section or grade reversal just above the turn. A grade reversal diverts water off the trail before it reaches the fall-line section. Climbing turns are best used on elevated ridges or slopes where water accumulation is minimal. CLIMBING TURN Maintain constant grade and radius through the turn section. Climbing turns may not be sustainable on side slopes exceeding 7 percent grade. Because climbing turns include a section of trail on the fall line, they aren t as durable as well-constructed switchbacks. 2. Switchbacks Switchbacks are difficult to build but are more durable on steep slopes. They will last longer than climbing turns if properly designed. We recommend a version called the "rolling crown" switchback. It s carefully engineered for good drainage. A climbing turn is any turn that climbs (or descends) on fall line of side slope is considered a climbing turn. Improve sustainability by placing climbing turns on very gentle slopes and using grade reversals to drain water above them. Climbing turns should have a large turning radius and barriers between legs to prevent shortcutting. 16 TRAIL TRACKS

17 Building Better Trails Key Features of a Rolling Crown Switchback It s located on a gentle slope (consider it a control point). Water drains off the back of the turn. Turns occur on a near-level platform that s slightly crowned (domed). The trail stays on the contour on both approaches. Bench cuts and crib walls are combined as needed. Material excavated from the top leg is used to build up the bottom leg behind a crib wall. Crib walls are carefully built to ensure stability. The upper leg is insloped. The lower leg is outsloped. Approaches are designed to control user speed. Grade reversals in the approaches divert water. Switchbacks aren t built directly above one another. They re staggered on a hillside to prevent shortcutting and water accumulation. ROLLING CROWN SWITCHBACK This shows the most sustainable type of turn on steep sideslopes. Inslope the trailbed only on the upper leg as it transitions to the crowned landing. The landing should have a 12- to 18-foot diameter, depending on trail width. The landing is outsloped in all directions. Build a grade reversal just before the upper leg to move water off the trail before it reaches the landing. SPRING

18 16th National Trails Symposium: We invite you to submit a Symposium presentation American Trails and the Florida Office of Greenways & Trails invite you to submit a proposal for a presentation for the 2002 National Trails Symposium. We especially encourage programs that address the Symposium theme: Greenways and Trails ~ Crossing the American Landscape. Consider how your project or issue transcends boundaries and provides the means to cross the American landscape in its broad diversity. A greenway or trail might, for example, provide the means to cross political and physical geographic boundaries, and experience various human and natural landscapes. The planning, development, and management of the project might require diverse groups to come together, crossing cultural, social, and economic boundaries. Presentations will take place during General Sessions, Breakout Sessions, or Mobile Workshops. The Program Team seeks presentations that introduce new ideas, provide case studies, convey useful strategies, relate success stories, identify lessons learned, and strengthen participants existing skills. Potential topics include: Toward a Connected System of Greenways and Trails; Planning Greenways, Trails and Blueways; Policy Issues; Design & Construction; Volunteers; Partnerships; Maintenance; Advocacy; Economic Issues; Health; Cultural/Historical Issues; Environmental Issues; Safety and Security; User Experience; Promoting Greenways and Trails; Building Strong Organizations for Greenways and Trails; Information Systems; and Preparing for the Future of Greenways and Trails. Proposals are due April 15, Visit the American Trails website at for instructions on submitting proposals. For information about the program, contact the Program Team Chair, Jim Wood, Florida Office of Greenways and Trails at (813) ; jim.m.wood@dep.state.fl.us. Field trip opportunities Spectacular field trips and mobile workshops during the Symposium will feature the best of Central Florida s trails, greenways, parks, forests and other natural and urban areas. Enjoy Florida's wildlife and beautiful landscape while learning innovative techniques in trail development. A sampling of the trails and natural lands in the region include the Cross Florida Greenway and Land Bridge, the Central Florida Loop, the Florida National Scenic Trail, the motorized trails in the Withlacoochee State Forest, the Wekiva River Blueway, and the Great Florida Birding Trail. You don't want to miss these exciting opportunities! Contact Lindsey Benedict, Regional Planner FDEP, Office of Greenways at (850) for more info. 18 TRAIL TRACKS

19 Plan now to attend Nov Symposium location is Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, the largest convention hotel at the Walt Disney World Resort, celebrates the character and traditions of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. This resort is secluded from the theme parks. In addition to having all the Walt Disney World opportunities nearby, there is a jogging, biking, and walking path that circles the resort s lake, as well as a health club. Rent bicycles, kayaks and pedal boats on site. The location also provides convenient access to Disney s five championship golf courses. The Symposium s new location provides easier access to some of the area s finest trails: the West Orange Trail, the Little Econ River Trail, the Cross Seminole Trail, the Florida National Scenic Trail, the Disney Wilderness Preserve, and others! Join us as a Symposium Sponsor or Exhibitor Become an exhibitor and showcase and sell your products and services to a targeted market. Exhibit booths start at $700 and include one registration (special rates for non-profits). Participate in Trail Toys, an outdoor active presentation event. Contact J.B. Conner, Florida OGT, at (850) for details. We offer a wide range of opportunities, from $75 to $25,000 or more. Visit the American Trails website at for a complete package or call the American Trails office: (530) Trails Award Nominations We d like to remind you about the National Trails Awards, to be announced at the 16th National Trails Symposium in Florida. See the website at for previous award winners, nomination forms, and procedures. Nomination deadline is September 15, SPRING

20 News from America s Trails Arizona Arizona Trail Association wins AHS Award Governor Jane Hull announced the Arizona Trail Association s selection as National Winner of the American Hiking Society s Trails for Tomorrow Award. More than 1,000 volunteers spent National Trails Day last year working on the Arizona Trail and on other trails in Arizona. The Association received a $4,000 grant from the American Hiking Society to honor their efforts. Trails are an important part of the fabric of a community and the Arizona Trail Association, working with Arizona s rural towns and counties, is showing how these partnerships can grow, said Jan Hancock, president of the Arizona Trail Association. When completed this 790-mile trail from Mexico to Utah will connect communities, historic sites, mountain ranges, trail systems, wilderness areas, canyons, deserts, and forests, while providing an outstanding experience for hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, runners, pack stock users, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and nature enthusiasts. Colorado Governor declares 2002 Year of Trails Governor Bill Owens proclaimed 2002 Colorado s Year of Trails on March 1. The proclamation kicks off a year of celebrating Colorado s world class trail system that connects Colorado s communities and landscape. More than 90 percent of Coloradans use trails, with the average household enjoying trails nearly 80 times per year, Gov. Owens said. Trails are vital to our healthy Colorado lifestyle and they provide the perfect outdoor classroom to learn more about our incredible landscape. Colorado s State Trails Program will coordinate statewide promotion of trails and their benefits, and is assisting communities and trail groups in holding dozens of events throughout Colorado during All varieties of trails and greenways will be showcased, including urban greenways, high peak trails, community parks, and motorized trails. SPRING 2002 Kentucky Governor proposes 120-mile linear state park During his annual State of the Commonwealth address in January, Gov. Paul Patton proposed creating a 120-mile-long state park along the ridge of Pine Mountain along the border with Virginia. The linear state park would stretch from Elkhorn City to Pineville and eventually connect with the 280-mile Cumberland Trail State Park being developed in Tennessee. About 30 percent of what would be Pine Mountain Trail State Park already is in public ownership. While the project is supported by the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, opposition has surfaced from the Kentucky Coal Association, which fears mining restrictions in the area. However, the oil and gas industry has helped identify landowners willing to negotiate easements with the state, according to the Governor s staff. The Land and Water Conservation Fund and federal transportation funds are eyed as possible funding sources for land needing to be acquired. Maryland Gwynns Falls Trail system progresses This 14-mile trail corridor runs along the Gwynns Falls stream to the Patapsco River and the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, linking 30 Baltimore neighborhoods and 2000 acres of parkland and trails. Enhancement funding has supported the construction of over 8 miles of trail. The City s Recreation and Parks Department has hired a full time Trail Manager to schedule public education classes and events as well as make sure that maintenance goes smoothly. To help organize long term maintenance and management of the trail, the City worked with the Trust for Public Land and the Parks and People Foundation to establish the Gwynns Falls Trail Council, which will assist with trail management, volunteerism, and maintenance. West Virginia Remembering Lu Schrader, longtime trails activist The West Virginia trails community lost a great advocate November 8, 2001, when Lu Schrader passed away. Lu helped found the WV Rails-to-Trails Council and later forged a more inclusive trails organization that survives today, the West Virginia Trails Coalition. In this role, Lu more than any other individual was responsible for ensuring the American Discovery Trail was routed through West Virginia. He also led WVTC in the effort to establish a grassroots-supported statewide trails plan. Said Doug Wood, Perhaps most important, thanks to Lu s personal faith and commitment to family, our trail network will be a legacy left to future generations. 20

21

22 Resources For hundreds of resources on all aspects of trails and greenways, go to and click on Resources & Library. Building Better Trails available from IMBA Building Better Trails: Designing, Constructing and Maintaining Outstanding Trails is a new book from the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The 72-page book covers topics of interest to all natural-surface trail planners as well as special features for bikers (see pages 16-17). The book s contents are available online and printed copies can be purchased from the IMBA Online Store: Trail assessment for access: what's new The Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) gathers accurate information about trail conditions to enable trail users to accurately determine if a trail meets their interests and abilities. Since 1998, American Trails has been working to implement the UTAP, developed by Beneficial Designs. Over 450 people have completed the UTAP workshop and become certified by American Trails. American Trails and Beneficial Designs are expanding UTAP availability with a new UTAP Trainer Course. Completion of the 4-day course enables certified Trail Assessment Coordinators to teach the UTAP workshops. Development of the course is supported by a grant from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. See the calendar at for planned courses. For more information about UTAP Courses contact Kathy Mispagel, Trails Coordinator for Beneficial Designs (831) ext. 113 or kathy@beneficialdesigns.com. 15,000-mile rail trail campaign announced The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy announced a new goal of opening 15,000 miles of rail trails by the end of With 11,500 miles on the ground and more than 17,000 miles in the project stage this objective is within reach. Supporting the community leaders and trail advocates who are working on these projects will be RTC s primary trail focus for the next 2-1/2 years. Currently, we are refining and updating our national trails database with the most accurate trail information available. For more information on this campaign please contact Jeffrey Ciabotti at (202) or rtcjeff@transact.org. Mapbook of the Trans Canada Trail published The Trans Canada Trail is a 16,000-kilometre, multi-purpose trail which traverses Canada from coast to coast. British Columbia s portion of the Trail is a beautiful combination of ocean views, majestic mountains, scenic plains, spectacular railway trestles and pleasant trails through cities, farms and countryside. A new book, Mussio Ventures and Trails B.C. Present Trans Canada Trail - the British Columbia Route, is available through Rand McNally, bookstores, and through the publisher, Mussio Ventures: 22 TRAIL TRACKS

23 Events and Education May 2002 National Bike Month This is the 46th consecutive year the League of American Bicyclists has proclaimed May as National Bike Month. The League is also promoting Bike to Work Week May and Bike-to-Work Day Friday, May 17th. National Bike Month is an opportunity for friends of bicycling to sponsor educational programs, bike commuting events, and trail work days. You can purchase the National Bike Month Organizers Kit at June 1, 2002 National Trails Day Everywhere in America! Info: American Hiking Society June 10-13, 2002 Lake States Off-Highway & Over Snow Vehicle Recreation Management Workshop Ironwood, Michigan Sponsored by the National Off- Highway Conservation Council through the Forest Service, Region 9 Office and Bessemer Ranger District in the Ottawa National Forest. Info: Contact: Dana Bell, NOHVCC Danafbell@cs.com or Steve Kubisiak, ORV Program Manager, Michigan DNR, kubisias@michigan.gov. June 15-23, 2002 Dirt Week at the Hatfield- McCoy trail system West Virginia Nine-day event at the famous 300+ mile Hatfield-McCoy trail system features self-guided rides, poker runs, food, entertainment etc. Info: Sports in the Rough, (800) June 24-28, 2002 Katy Trail Tour St. Charles to Clinton, Missouri Missouri Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring a 225-mile, five-day tour of the nation s longest developed rail-trail. Ride miles per day with camping or shuttle to hotels. SAG rider support and activities on the trail and at each overnight stop. All included in fees along with breakfast and supper daily, gear shuttle, and goodies. Limited to 300 people. Info: (800) September 6-8, 2002 California Trails and Greenways Conference Tahoe City, California Theme of the 19th Annual California Trails and Greenways Conference is Trails: Our Heritage. The location is the Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center. Sponsored by California State Parks. Info: Paula David, (916) September 3-6, 2002 ProBike/ProWalk 02 St. Paul, MN The 12th International Symposium on Bicycling and Walking. Info: Calendar For information on the National Trails Symposium, November 10-13, in Florida, visit and click on Symposium. Trail Assessment Training 2002 UTAP Coordinator Workshops: These courses teach the Universal Trail Assessment Process which collects objective data on trail conditions that can be used for prioritizing maintenance, planning projects, determining accessibility, and providing information to trail users. June 6-7 Arizona. Info: Nicole Armstrong-Best at Arizona State Parks, (602) June 9-10 Minnesota Info: Mike Passo at Wilderness Inquiry (612) November 9-10 and Orlando, Florida at the National Trails Symposium Info: Kathy at Beneficial Designs, (831) ext 113. UTAP Train-the-Trainer Course: A 4-day course to be a trainer who can teach UTAP Coordinator Workshops. June 9-10 Minnesota Info: Kathy at Beneficial Designs, (831) ext 113. TrailWare data-processing for UTAP data Nov. 13 Orlando Info: Kathy at Beneficial Designs. SPRING