Deep ruts formed by water flowing down the trail
A small but mighty crew made dramatic improvements to the West Fork trail at SBMTV’s December trail work event. I was truly blown away by what a difference a small group of volunteers can make. Dry conditions throughout 2013 have led to accelerated erosion on all of our area trails, but the consequences are particularly evident on West Fork trail where scree slides converge with switchbacks, and deep ruts have formed in between filled-in water control structures.
December brings many holiday commitments, and it is hard for even dedicated volunteers to find the time to work on trails. So it was a small crew that gathered at the West Fork trail head in December, led by board member Jack Greenbaum, ready to accomplish what they could. Riding the trail after the crew had gone through, I saw blown out switchbacks turned into sweet single track, with added water diversion features. I saw ruts taken out and water nicks cleaned out to prevent future rut formation. And I saw brush cleared in strategic places. What an honor it is to be part of such a dedicated community of trail users and stewards. Thank you to the December volunteers. This user is eternally grateful and impressed.
