May 2022 Trail Update

As peak riding season approaches and Trail Days are in full swing, we’ve had lots of builders and volunteers out working their magic. Thank you to everyone who has helped out this past month, the trails are looking *MINT*

Photo from Riverside Community Trail day (by James Nadel)

Lower Digger

: 1. Before – Break bumps were forming on the corner section of the trail

: 1. After – Trail was regraded and topped with fresh dirt

: 2. Before – The trail here was creating a narrow rut through a dead stump.

: 2. After – The wood was chopped back, part of the trail bed was elevated and then capped with mineral soil to create a smoother riding experience

: 3. Before – A small jump on the side of the trail had eroded, leaving a stump and rocks in the way of the landing and posing a risk to riders

: 3. During – A small lip was cribbed into the trail

: 3. After – Backfilled with rocks and then capped with mineral soil. Ferns were planted just past the lip to discourage riders from rolling straight through

: 4. After – Rocks were protruding through, creating an awkward riding experience

: 4. After – Rocks removed and replaced with a wooden crib. The entrance and exit were filled with mineral soil, and the sides of the trail were naturalized with ferns.

: 5. Before – Roots on uphill section were exposed

: 5. During – Covering with mineral soil

: 5. After – Covered, protecting the roots and creating a better climbing experience for riders

: 6. Before – Berm support coming loose

: 6. After – Propping up the berm with wood to create a more permanent build, then naturalized

: 7. Before – Exposed rocks

: 7. After – Topped with mineral soil

: 8. Before – The small tabletops had become eroded and no longer contained a lip

: 8. After – Mineral soil was used to reshape and top up the tabletops back to their original shape.

Traction on Demand volunteer group

Removed roots and rocks from entry, berm and exit. Dug out the trail and berm to steepen it. Added mineral soil and shaped it. Created exit roller and mini-jump/roller.

: 1. Before

: 1. After

: 2. Before

: 2. After

: Group Photo!

Volunteer Group

Project 1: The final berm on the trail had slumped over time and needed to be reshaped. The berm was picked apart and made steeper. The inside of the trail was regraded to eliminate standing water.

: Before

: During

: After

Project 2: Another berm that had slumped and needed reshaping.

: Before

: After

Floppy bunny

Trail Adopter: Sombrio/Obsession

Enhanced berm: remove rocks, steepen bank, deepen drain troughs, increase height of reverse grades, cover top of berm with moss to increase moisture.

: Before

: After

: Drain between berms enhanced, cleared and deepened.

: Group!

Mystery DH

: Berm #1 – Before

: Berm #1 – After

: Berm #2 – Before

: Berm #2 – After

: Berm #3 – Before

: Berm #3 – After

: Berm #4 – Before

: Berm #4 – After

Middle Griffen

Youth Trail Stewards

: We adjusted the bridge, added a culvert and installed a dirt box for the hikers. The dirt box was left a step to ensure riders were aware of the increased difficulty

: Dirt was added and roots protected.

: A braid that was created by hikers was established and the alternative braid on the other side of the bridge was closed.

Volunteer Group 2

Lift and raise trail to ensure drainage doesn’t overflow during extreme weather events.
Created rock, retainer using large rocks, filled with smaller over, topped with dirt and out sloped into drainage.

Ramble On

After the winter months, the reroute on Ramble On saw some damage from precipitation and lack of adequate drainage measures. A drainage feature was dug above the reroute to redirect water off the trail entirely, and additional mineral soil was thrown in the areas where the dirt washed away.

: Drainage – Before

: Drainage – After

: Dirtwork – Before

: Dirtwork – After

: Dirtwork – After

Bottletop

Trail Adopter: Ridgeline Events

: Added wide step to eroded chicane with cribbing. Rocks and mineral soil were used to fill the step

: Extended grade reversal with cribbing, armouring, and mineral soil.

: Group photo!

Debarking, drying, splitting.

: Closed down rogue trail

Added swales to fall line section to prevent continued erosion. Water diverted with grade reversal from the swales

Photo from Riverside Community Trail Day – Such an awesome time, thanks to everyone who came out!! (photo by James Nadel)

John Deer

Trail Adopter: Knolly Bikes

Rebuild section of trail:
– dig out mud and sediment from inside of corners and from drain
– reform grade using mineral soil
– top up trail tread with mineral soil

: 1. Before

: 1. After

: 2. Before

: 2. After

: 3. Before

: 3. After

: Group Photo!

Pennzoil

Trail Adopter: Steed Cycles / Santa Cruz Bikes

Project 1: Opening up the top end and reshaping a corner to allow for better momentum to be carried and to stop riders from having to brake heavily which was causing ruts to form and degrade the area.

: Corner Entrance – Before

: Corner Entrance – After

: Mid corner – Before

: Mid corner – After

Project 2: Work was also done in a close by area to refresh other corners which had worn down over time. Drainage was cleared out and improved to ensure water does not pool and flows off of the trail.

: Before

: After

: Before

: After

Leppard

Trail Adopter: BGC Engineering

This old ladder bridge was showing advanced signs of rot and needed to be replaced. The old bridge was dismantled and de-nailed before being discarded off trail. The replacement bridge was built to similar spec with a slight change in alignment to improve flow and move away from an adjacent tree.

: Before

: During

: After

CBC

It’s Open!!!!

Such a rad trail and we can’t get over the quality of work and time put into this project. Huge thanks to everyone involved including our Trail Crew and Dreamwizards for working their trail magic ✨Also, to Metro Vancouver and IMBA Canada for making this project come to life!

Can’t wait for you all to ride this gem.

Keep an eye out on our Events Calendar to sign up for some upcoming Trail Days and show the Shore some love!

As always, thank you to our Sponsors!