Question on trail maintnence..

[Ross D]

I was recently visiting my hometown and went to the local trails that everyone rages about.. I'd never been there, so didn't know what to expect. I get there and the trail looked like it had just been "blown" with a blower.. The trail was "clean", but was so darn rooty because of all the soil and such being blown off the trail..

My question.. Is blowing a trail off a common practice? I mean, doesn't that totally destroy a trail?

Thanks in advance..

[oddcouple]

mosovich,

I have been against blowing the trails off since the first time I had encounter one.I have also voiced my feelings in the past a little strong but I am pretty passionate about not blowing the trails off.

The thing that trail builders and maintainers are working so hard to prevent is eroding of the trail.

If one looks in the dictionary under the word erosion.The two words that describe erosion are Wind and Water.I know the water is coming but why would anybody want to introduce a 200 mph wind source to the trail is beyond me.

[seenvic]

forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=357117

Here is a long thread from MTBR on this topic.

Good points made from both sides of this issue.

[ted]

How about this point:

Don't use a blower on any of our local trails.

The only reason there are so many leaves on "our" trails is because they aren't ridden enough.

Correct me if I'm wrong but is it "not legal" to uitlize power tools on Forest Service or State Park land without permission?

[azdrawdy]

Baker Creek is probably the latest trail to receive the blower. The ranger has been blowing it off for several years now. There's a reason, but also a downside.

On numerous occasions Yetichick and I have gone out to ride BC in the fall. There were times when I honestly had no idea where the trail was for several hundred feet. Not enough riders to break down the leaves.

Todd then started blowing the leaves. Great, I first thought. I can see the trail. Well, he blew a straight 12-18" wide path. Throw in a couple hard rains and the water channeled down between the leaves on the slightest of grades. The dirt disappeared and roots showed up, badly. The last two times I have ridden BC was not fun. Several busted spokes, tons of roots. No flow. Still not enough riders.

Can BC be resurrected? Probably, but it will need riders first and they seem to have forgotten where one of the area's best and most challenging 10 miles are. I was never against blowing the trails, but just blasting a water-funneling channel is definitely not the answer.

I believe blowing has its good points, and times when it may be very appropriate. I have also seen the downside to it...