One step closer to new singletrack

Part of our 24-person crew.

Wednesday night’s work party on the new trail was a success, with a great turnout, dry weather and a bunch of tasks accomplished. The first three-mile loop has been roughed in, and it’s going to be a hoot to ride! (But please remember it’s not yet ready to ride. Give it some more time.)

Thanks to the 24 people who showed up and got their hands dirty, and thanks to Janice for providing the after-work refreshments. After letting the mechanized equipment work for a while, we’ll hold another work party Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come pitch in, and check out the new singletrack!

Two volunteers place temporary logs
to keep riders on the trail. After the main
tread is well-established and vegetation
returns to the trail edges, the logs will
rot away, be covered with weeds, or be removed.

Large, partially buried rocks will help
establish trail boundaries, control flow and speed,
and, in some cases, provide technical challenges.

Work Party on New Trail

Announcing our first organized volunteer work party on the new singletrack trail!

Date: Wednesday, July 30th
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Upper trail entrance (Park at the Prospect Heights Trailhead and walk down the Gasline trail to the 2nd knoll. There's a big project sign there. If you're late, come on down the trail till you run into us.
What to Bring: Shovels, pruning sheers/loppers, crowbars (we need at least two crowbars), "bear repellant."
Provided: McCleods, Pulaskis
Goals: Provide drainage for soggy spots; strategically place rocks and logs as trail features and obstacles to keep people on the trail tread; trim assorted strategic branches that will keep people on the trail tread.
Incentives: Good Company; "liquid carbonated beverage" post-work party.

Patience is a virtue

Reports are coming in from people excited by what they're seeing up at the new trail site. The trail is taking shape and it's looking great, so excitement is growing.

Now is a good time to remind everyone that we understand your excitement and eagerness to check out the new trail—really, we feel it, too—but please remember that the trail is not ready to ride! The tread is still soft and early exploring will damage it.

We've come this far, so please be patient and wait for an announcement that the trail is ready for use. It is being professionally built, so we need to sit back and wait for the experts to work their magic for us so that we'll have sweet singletrack for years to come.

Thanks for your patience.

Here we go!

It's actually happening folks. The blades about to hit the ground for construction of Anchorage's first true singletrack network designed and built specifically for mountain bikers!

Ground breaking begins on July 15th in the southeastern corner of the project area closest to the Prospect Heights trailhead.

The response to the recent fund drive has been excellent! We brought in $11,760, of which BP employees—taking advantage of the BP Fabric of America Fund—have thus far contributed $3,050! We also received an anonymous contribution through The Cody and Jennifer Gauer Giving Fund at the National Christian Foundation. These are examples of how individuals are able to leverage funds through their work places or to access funds through charities and foundations on our behalf.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and/or spread the word to friends and co-workers, encouraging them to pitch in and help us raise the money.