Agenda Part I! Trailbuilding! Foundations" Part II! Essential Elements! of Sustainable Trails" Part III # Designing! Sustainable Trails"
IMBA"s mission is to protect# create# and $ enhance quality trail experiences for $ mountain bikers worldwide%$
IMBA Trail Care Crews have led more than $ &#''' trailbuilding projects$ Hospital Hill# WA$
Trailbuilding Foundations$!Historical Perspective$!Modern Perspective$!Sustainable Trails$ Warton# NJ$
Hungry Mother SP# VA$
Fingale# Italy$
Wales# Great Britain$
CBC Trail# British Columbia$
A sustainable trail allows users to enjoy a natural area with:$! Minimal impact to the ecosystem (Environmental)$!Minimal user con*ict (Social)$! Minimal maintenance (Economic)$
One of the most common causes of trail failure is erosion$ Trail erosion is caused by a combination of trail use# water# wind and gravity%$
Examples of+ Trail+ Failures$
Think Water$ &%! Water always goes downhill+,% With enough volume andor velocity water will move soil (erosion)+.% Water doesn"t like to change directions+ /% Water clings to surfaces and itself$
Water starts to channelize gaining volume-velocity and picking up sediment$ An obstacle abruptly changes the direction of the water causing it to dump sediment behind the object$ The water continues to erode soil on the down hill side of the obstacle$
Fall Line$! The steepest! route of descent! down a slope$! Water will travel+ down the fall line$ Cattle trails# NE $
The Contour Trail$!Erosion resistant and low maintenance$!keeps users on the trail$!keeps water o0 the trail$
Sheet Flow$
Fall Line$ Contour$
Essential Elements of Sustainable Trails$ Lykens# PA$
An Understanding of Grade$ Rise$ 10 Feet$ Grade$ 10%$ Run$ 100 Feet$ 10 100 x 100 = 10%$ Grade = 10%$
(DEGREES)$ % (PERCENT)$
2 Ingredients of Sustainable Trail Design$ 1&! The Half Rule$ 1,! The &23 Rule$ 1.! The &'3 Rule$ 1/! Grade Reversals$ 12! Outslope$
1 &! The Half Rule$! Keep the grade of the trail less than half the grade of the side slope (fall line)$! This keeps water from diverting down the tread + Australia$
Measure the side slope (fall line)$ Sideslope 4 &53$,$ Max% Trail Tread Grade 4 63$ Las Vegas# NV$
Las Vegas# NV$
1,! The &23 Rule $ Maximum Sustainable Grade Rule$
Ninham Mtn# NY$
Exceptions to the &23 Rule $ Natural Rock$ Armored Sections$ Built Structures$
1.! The &'3 Rule$
The &'3 Rule:$!When laying out trail# keep the overall grade under &'3$!This allows up to &23 grade trails to accommodate grade reversals and avoid obstacles$ Rise 4 &$ Run 4 &'$ GRADE4$ &$ &'$
1/! Grade Reversals$ Creating Watersheds Along the Trail$
Grade Reversals$ Grade Reversals
Grade reversals also help create a complete trail experience$ MacKenzie River Trail# OR$
12! Outslope$ Outslope Trail tread should be outsloped by 23 for sheet $ow of water$
Designing Successful Trails Hospital Hill# WA$
Trail Users$ Know Your Trail Users TRAIL RUNNERS$ EQUESTRIANS$ HIKERS$ MOUNTAIN BIKERS$
Control Points$ Deciding Where the! Trail Should Go$ Positive Control Points$ Negative Control Points$
Scenic Overlooks$ Unique Natural Features$ Historic Sites$ Water$
Low!lying & Environmentally$ Sensitive Areas$ Fall Lines$ Examples of Negative Control Points$
Trail Flow" Understanding *ow can help reduce erosion and user con*ict$
Open and Flowing Trail Flow
Tight and Technical
Poor Flow - abrupt transitions from one type of flow to another.
Corrals and Chokes! Tools for Blending $
Corral Rocks and Chokes$ Choke Corralling rocks. New more enjoyable trail. Old straight trail.
Conceptualize Loops" Conceptualize Loops Massanutten Ridge# VA$
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Core Loop $
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Hybrid Loop$ Optional lines add challenge but preserve 7easy line8$
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Outer Loop! Tight & Technical$
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Skills+ Parks$ Presque Isle# ME$ Nature Walk+ Trails$
Stacked Loop Trail System$
Conclusion / Wrap-Up! Environmental!Enjoy nature with minimal impact! Social Facets of Sustainability!Minimal user conflict!greater constituency! Economic!Decreased maintenance costs!tourism dollars
The End!