Comments on: Long Trails, Near and Far http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/07/09/2010/long-trails-near-and-far Word to your blog. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:07:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nathan http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/07/09/2010/long-trails-near-and-far/comment-page-1#comment-1599 Nathan Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:21:24 +0000 http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/?p=1437#comment-1599 Michelle - Thanks a lot for the thoughtful discussion. I hope you don't mind that I reproduced your comment into a new post with my response as well. http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/07/12/2010/social-trails-and-trail-construction-a-response-to-michelle Michelle – Thanks a lot for the thoughtful discussion. I hope you don’t mind that I reproduced your comment into a new post with my response as well.

http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/07/12/2010/social-trails-and-trail-construction-a-response-to-michelle

]]> By: Michelle http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/07/09/2010/long-trails-near-and-far/comment-page-1#comment-1596 Michelle Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:17:18 +0000 http://www.handlebarsandwich.com/?p=1437#comment-1596 The Forest Service would put more effort into the local trail system if they had more funding and man power. They have to use grant money to pay for trail maintenance and construction and the Arizona Trail provides grant money. When the Forest Service builds trails they follow established guidelines which includes NEPA, archeology studies, flora and fauna studies, Game and Fish, local property owners, tribal concerns, and the list goes on. So it takes a while to get to the actual trail building, but you can see the results of what they can do when you ride the Aspen Corner to 418 segment of the AZ trail and Little Bear (funded by equestrians). Also, in the past, as in when there was funding available to work on local trails, the locals fought the Forest Service saying they were neutering the trails and making them too easy. This happened when Rocky Ridge and Lower Oldham were due for maintenance. Another problem is trying to keep up with all of the social trails, free ride trails and other illegal trails popping up all over the forest. The trail crew will try to naturalize a section which takes time away from routine maintenance. The next day their work is destroyed. Local riders have actually blogged about how they like these social trails and complain when they are naturalized. The volunteer days are a small step in keeping the trails in good shape, but the locals need to listen and learn more from the Forest Service who have the experience and skills to build fantastic trails like the AZ Trail. Super Motor is an examples of a trail that could have been superb if the Forest Service could have built the trail to their specs. Instead, with local input, the trail turned it into an unusable trail that a only few free riders and skilled trial riders use. The terrain was there to make some challenging yet rider friendly routes through some spectacular topography. What a missed opportunity! The Forest Service would put more effort into the local trail system if they had more funding and man power. They have to use grant money to pay for trail maintenance and construction and the Arizona Trail provides grant money.

When the Forest Service builds trails they follow established guidelines which includes NEPA, archeology studies, flora and fauna studies, Game and Fish, local property owners, tribal concerns, and the list goes on. So it takes a while to get to the actual trail building, but you can see the results of what they can do when you ride the Aspen Corner to 418 segment of the AZ trail and Little Bear (funded by equestrians).

Also, in the past, as in when there was funding available to work on local trails, the locals fought the Forest Service saying they were neutering the trails and making them too easy. This happened when Rocky Ridge and Lower Oldham were due for maintenance.

Another problem is trying to keep up with all of the social trails, free ride trails and other illegal trails popping up all over the forest. The trail crew will try to naturalize a section which takes time away from routine maintenance. The next day their work is destroyed. Local riders have actually blogged about how they like these social trails and complain when they are naturalized.

The volunteer days are a small step in keeping the trails in good shape, but the locals need to listen and learn more from the Forest Service who have the experience and skills to build fantastic trails like the AZ Trail. Super Motor is an examples of a trail that could have been superb if the Forest Service could have built the trail to their specs. Instead, with local input, the trail turned it into an unusable trail that a only few free riders and skilled trial riders use. The terrain was there to make some challenging yet rider friendly routes through some spectacular topography. What a missed opportunity!

]]>