the Trails Information Newsletter

TRAIL TRACK S
the Trails Information Newsletter
published by AMERICAN TRAILS
Volume 31, Number 1
Editor: Stuart H. Macdonald
SPRING 2002
New Dates for National Trails
Symposium: Nov. 10-13, 2002
American Trails office moves
to Redding, California
A
T
merican Trails recently learned the unfortunate news
that the Grenelefe Resort, our original host for the
National Trails Symposium, had been placed in bankruptcy.
With the assistance of our fabulous Planning Team and
Florida partners, we were able to quickly find another conference site that meets our needs. The Symposium will now be
held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida
on these new dates: November 10-13, with field trips scheduled prior to the main conference. Plan to bring the family!
he big challenge for us this winter was moving the
office of American Trails to Redding, California, from
Arizona. Redding is a community of trails and greenways in a
beautiful part of America. So here we are, and the work goes
on! This is our new office contact information:
American Trails
P.O. Box 491797, Redding CA 96049-1797
phone (530) 547-2060
fax (530) 547-2035
E-mail: AmTrails@futureone.com
www.AmericanTrails.org
More on American Trails’ work on page 3
Winners of American Trails
Website Contest announced
See the list of winning websites on page 14
T
The theme for the Symposium is Greenways and Trails ~
Crossing the American Landscape. “Crossing” implies going
beyond a line or boundary, and moving from one place to
another. The word “landscape” also evokes a strong visual
response. For each, it creates a different image, be it a mountain range or a family farm. Regardless of the image, it is
often associated with something regional in scope and context. “Crossing the American Landscape” merges these ideas
to promote thinking beyond boundaries and on a broad scale.
rails advocates are making pathways across the
Worldwide Web! American Trails wants to help all of us
learn how the trails community is using this captivating new
world.Our contest winners really use the power of the
Internet to communicate effectively with trails advocates,
users, and the general public. Visit these great websites for
information, ideas, and inspiration.
For links to the American Trails Website Contest
winners and all 70 sites that were nominated, visit
www.AmericanTrails.org/webcon.html
For the latest information on the 16th National Trails
Symposium, visit us online:www.AmericanTrails.org.
The online registration form will be available July 15th.
Visit the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails website
to learn more about the innovative trail systems in
Florida: www.floridadep.org/gwt.
More National Trails Symposium news: page 18
National Recreation Trails proposed........ 3
National Trails Training Partnership news... 4
Hybrid contracting: extending resources.... 6
Building better asphalt trails................... 10
Website Contest winners....................... 14
Climbing turns and switchbacks................ 16
National Trails Symposium news............. 18
News from America’s trails.................... 20
R e s o u rces.......................................... 22
C a l e n d a r............................................. 23
AMERICAN TRAILS
Executive Committee
Kay Lloyd, Chair
Roger Bell, Vice-Chair, Western Trailbuilders Assoc.
Dana Bell, Secretary, Nat’l OHV Conservation Council
Christine Jourdain, Treasurer, American Council of
Snowmobile Associations
Hulet Hornbeck, Member at Large
Pam Gluck, Executive Director
Directors
Marianne Fowler, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Jay Franklin, International Mountain Bicycling Assoc.
Jan Hancock, Equestrian Representative
Terry Hanson, City of Redding
Mike Passo, Wilderness Inquiry
Bob Searns, Urban Edges, Inc.
Terry Whaley, Ozark Greenways
Advisory Board
Steve Anderson, Pima County (AZ) Parks & Rec. Dept.
Peter Axelson, Beneficial Designs, Inc.
Wendell Beardsley, USFS Trails Coordinator, retired
James Coffman, Todd & Associates, Inc.
Tom Crimmins, National OHV Conservation Council
Christopher Douwes, Rec. Trails Program Mgr, FHWA
Troy Duffin, Exec. Director, Mountain Trails Foundation
John Fegan, Bicycle Program Manager, FHWA
Mylon Filkins, Back Country Horsemen of America
Darrell Lewis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Stuart Macdonald, Colorado State Trails Coordinator
Jim Miller, Dispersed Recreation Program Mgr., USFS
Roger Moore, North Carolina State University
Hugh Morris, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Skye Ridley, Past Executive Director, AMERICAN TRAILS
Thomas Ross, Asst. Director, Rec. & Conservation, NPS
Deb Salt, National Trails Coordinator, BLM
Roger Schmitt, National Group Manager, BLM
Bob Walker, Montana State Trails Coordinator
Scott Weaver, Student Conservation Association
Trail Tracks
Trail Tracks (ISSN 1082-8303) is the newsletter of
AMERICAN TRAILS, the nonprofit organization dedicated
to the creation of trail systems for all Americans by fostering communication and complementary action.
Editor: Stuart H. Macdonald
Subscriptions are $35 per year or free with
membership– see page 24 for membership form.
Reprints and copies. Unless otherwise noted, articles
may be copied or reprinted if credit is given to AMERICAN
TRAILS, Trail Tracks, and the author. For reprinted articles
and excerpts, contact the original author or publisher.
Contributions. We welcome contributions on trails
issues, advocacy, and news, either original material or
suggestions from other publications. We cannot pay for
submissions, but authors will receive full credit.
Advertising. For advertising rates, please write or call.
✍
☎
A MERICAN T RAILS
P.O. Box 491797
Redding, CA 96049-1797
Phone (530) 547-2060
Fax (530) 547-2035
E-mail: AmTrails@futureone.com
www.AmericanTrails.org
2
A new home for American Trails
By Pam Gluck, Executive Director, American Trails
The view from our new American Trails office in Redding, California,
features 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta. It’s a constantly inspiring sight as we
talk with people all over America about trails. We feel it will benefit
American Trails to be in this progressive community, and be part of the
many recreation and open space efforts underway. Our office space has
also expanded to enable us to bring in local volunteers who have
expressed an interest in our work.
We are really pleased with the progress on the National Trails
Symposium. This has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my job,
and the enthusiasm of our friends in Florida is contagious. They have
made a huge commitment and we expect this Symposium to have the
best programs and field trips ever.
The other projects of American Trails are going well, and we appreciate
the support of so many organizations, agencies, and individuals on
several important projects:
• National Recreation Trails Program (see page 3)
• National Trails Training Partnership (see page 4)
• Universal Trail Asessment Process (see page 22)
• Expanding the resources for trails advocates on our website—
www.AmericanTrails.org (see Website Contest results on page 14)
If you’re not already a member of American Trails, we would love to
have you join us at this exciting time for trails and greenways!
Terry Whaley of Missouri
Joins American Trails Board
W
e welcome Terry Whaley to the American Trails Board of
Directors. Terry is with Ozark Greenways, Inc. in Springfield
Missouri. The mission of Ozark Greenways is “Enhancing and
Preserving the Ozark Natural Heritage for Public Use and Enjoyment.”
As Executive Director since 1995
Terry’s duties include promotion and
education on linear parks, greenways,
and trails. He is responsible for fund
raising, acquisition of easements, trail
design, trail development, and creating
a land trust committee to work in preserving open space in Greene County.
Terry has served as the Director of
Parks and Recreation for the City of
Fenton, Missouri, in St. Louis County.
A 1980 graduate of Southwest
Missouri State University, he holds a
BS degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. Terry presently enjoys
teaching an outdoor education class within the recreation curriculum at
SMSU. He and his wife Jeannene have one daughter, 17, and live in
Springfield, Missouri. Recreation activities include canoeing, rafting,
hiking and backpacking, bicycling, cross country skiing and work.
TRAIL TRACKS
National trails news
Trails nominated for National
Recreation Trails designation
Trails for health movement
gains national attention
O
“Communities that build walking and bicycle trails, initiate walking programs in malls, and fund public areas
such as parks and sidewalks can boost activity levels in
the US, study findings suggest.”
– American Journal of Public Health, Dec. 6, 2001
n National Trails
Day, June 1, 2002,
a new group of trails and
greenways will be given
official designation as
National Recreation Trails
by the Secretaries of the
U. S. Department of the
Interior and the U. S.
Department of Agriculture.
A list of the trails nominated for 2002 with their
locations is posted on the NRT website at
www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails.
The 30 nominated trails, which include three on National
Forests, represent the wide spectrum of trails and greenways
in America. They include three water trails, two with motorized uses, a canal towpath, several rail-trails, and a road-totrail project. Others feature wildlife, historic sites, snow
travel, and rivers. Eighteen states are represented.
American Trails is the lead partner in the revitalization of the
National Recreation Trails Program, along with many other
supporters. The NRT Program aims to recognize and encourage the use of existing trails, provide the opportunity for their
promotion, and stimulate and enhance future trail development. Partners share the long term goal of Trails for All
Americans: creating a nationwide system of trails within 15
minutes of the home or workplace of every American.
For more information on the National Recreation
Trails Program see the NRT website:
www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails
You can also contact the American Trails office at
AmTrails@futureone.com
or (530) 547-2060;
or the NRT Program
Coordinator, Rivers,
Trails & Conservation
Assistance Program,
National Park Service,
1849 C Street NW,
MS 3622, Washington
DC 20240
(202) 565-1200.
SPRING 2002
Promoting community trails in Arizona
Agencies and organizations in Arizona are partnering with
health care providers in many communities to encourage families and individuals to enjoy physical activity on local trails.
Tammy Ball, Program Manager of Physical Activities for the
Department of Health Services, notes that “Physical inactivity
is among the top two preventable causes of death. National
Trails Day is a great opportunity to promote hiking to
improve the health of all individuals, regardless of age.”
Arizona advocates say that trail use is a good way to increase
physical activity and also enjoy the benefit of a relaxing and
fun experience. The changing scenery and closeness to
nature’s beauty along a trail help keep the physical activity
interesting and memorable. The trails in each community can
become pathways to better health for all citizens.
A brochure containing a listing of the events being planned in
Arizona’s communities will be available in May from Annie
McVay, the State Parks Trails Coordinator at (602) 542-4174.
If you would like to plan a trail event in your own community,
please contact McVay. For more information on hiking in
Arizona or nationally see www.aztrail.org.
Healthy theme for National Trails Day
The theme for National Trails Day, June 1, 2002, is “Hike for
Health”— so get outside and get healthy! If you are interested
in organizing an event, contact the American Hiking Society
at (301) 565-6704 ext. 212.
Stop unwanted vehicle traffic with
Tr a ff i c G u a r d® on your:
• Bike Paths
• Maintenance Roads
• Pedestrian Wa l k w a ys
• Limited Parking Access
3
National Trails Training Partnership
Working for the future of trails
training and education
By Stuart Macdonald, National Association of
State Trails Administrators
T
he challenges involved in the care and development of
trails are enormous. One of these challenges is shared by
all the diverse kinds of trails advocates: the need for welltrained, effective volunteers and staff. Some backcountry trail
groups have relied on experienced trail builders from the federal agencies, but the old-timers are retiring and new people
with trails skills aren’t necessarily being hired. In the same
way, our volunteers don’t always stick around for years, and
training new people is hard work in itself. Greenway and railtrail planners are also confronted with new problems and the
need for better solutions.
Recognizing this need across America, a wide variety of agencies and national trail organizations representing all user
groups have joined together to address the issue. The National
Trails Training Partnership (NTTP) is an effort by trails advocates to improve opportunities for training for the nationwide
trails community. The vision of the Partnership is “to ensure
that the full range of skills, training, and resource information
is available to trail groups, communities, tribal governments,
and State and Federal agencies.”
To put it another way, our goal is to help both staff and volunteers plan, design, enhance, build, interpret, protect, and maintain trails and greenways for all Americans. Obviously this
covers a lot of ground— there are vast differences in the kinds
of trails people are caring for, just as our climates and topography are diverse. The skills and experience required also vary
tremendously. And finally, we must address the different
needs of professionals and full-time staff as well as volunteers
with varying levels of commitment.
We are happy to say that the NTTP concept has progressed to
the action stage. After two years of discussions among organizations and Federal and State representatives, the new
Partnership has been created along with an ambitious set of
tasks. A key step was initial funding last fall from the Federal
Highway Administration. FHWA administers federal dollars
for trails through the Recreational Trails Program, and allocates some funds for research, publications, and efforts like
the NTTP. A Steering Committee has been developed to oversee the current efforts. NTTP development, coordination, publicity, and website work is being provided by American Trails
in cooperation with the NTTP partners.
Read more about NTTP at
www.NTTP.net
4
Specific tasks being undertaken in 2002 are:
• Maintaining an on-line clearinghouse of training
opportunities at www.NTTP.net
• Providing a wide range of on-line resources, hosted by
www.AmericanTrails.org
• Developing a directory of trails experts and groups who
provide workshops, classes, and training
• Providing publicity for the spectrum of opportunities for
training and education on trails topics
• Developing partnerships with parks and natural resources
agencies in each state
• Encouraging more cooperation among agencies on
classes and training
• Identifying skills and training needs not now available
Who's behind the NTTP project? It's a long list, and
includes most important national trails and recreation groups
as well as the federal land management agencies. Besides the
FHWA and various States, Federal agency supporters include
the USDA Forest Service and agencies of the U. S.
Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management,
National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service.
The NTTP Steering Committee includes:
• American Trails
• American Hiking Society
• American Motorcyclist Association
• Back Country Horsemen of America
• International Mountain Bicycling Association
• Leave No Trace
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• National Association of State Trail Administrators
• National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
• Partnership for the National Trails System
• Student Conservation Association
• Tread Lightly!
• Western Trailbuilders Association
Please join us! Here's how:
• Register as a partner! Use the form on the page at right,
go to www.NTTP.net, or e-mail us.
• Send your news, training calendar items, publications, or
resources to AmTrails@futureone.com.
• Let us know about new publications, videos, websites,
curricula, and education resources.
• Tell others interested in trails training about NTTP.
• Include this information in your newsletter and internet
communications.
• Add a link to www.NTTP.net to your website; see our
website for a logo link you can copy.
For more information contact American Trails at
AmTrails@futureone.com or (530) 547-2060. Visit the
National Trails Training Partnership on line at
www.NTTP.net hosted bywww.AmericanTrails.org.
TRAIL TRACKS
Register your group or agency with the
National Trails Training Partnership
All organizations and agencies are invited to join American Trails and many other groups
across America in improving the availability of training, education, and resources for
trails. We’ll list your training events on the website, highlight your organization on individual state pages if appropriate, and help you connect with the national trails community.
Please fill out and mail this form to American Trails, P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA
96049-1797 or fax to (530) 547-2035. This form is also available on line at
www.NTTP.net.
Use more than one form or add additional pages if you have a variety of training or
resources available.
Feel free to mail us additional pages, publications, or other descriptive materials, and
please add us to your mailing list for news and events.
Organization or agency: _____________________________________________________________________________
Program Contact: __________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________
City: _________________________________________________________State: ___________ Zip: ______________
Phone (_____) - _____-________ Fax (_____) - _____-________ E-mail: _____________________________________
Website address: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Description of organization or agency: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Types of training, courses, or workshops you offer or have offered in the past: __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your publications or resources available:_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for registering with the National Trails Training Partnership!
American Trails, P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-179 • phone (530) 547-2060 • AmTrails@futureone.com
SPRING 2002
5
New models for trail contracting
Hybrid
Extending resources
contracting is
an intriguing with trail contractors
model for
By Roger Bell, American Trails Board
effective use
s a trail contractor for over 30 years I’d like
of professional
to share my ideas and approaches to using the
contractors in expertise available from professional trail contractors. I also want to describe and urge consideration
conjunction
of
with other trail some alternative approaches and point to various
project labor– ways they might be used by agencies and trail
advocacy groups to achieve really good results.
volunteers,
I have come to call these alternative models
youth corps,
“hybrid
contracting,” and I increasingly believe, in
and staff trail
this era of partnership development and keen intercrews.
est in trails, that they may provide the best of both
A
worlds— the security of contract accountability
while at the same time promoting community service values and real world skill advancement by
engaging the resources of other groups.
In the traditional model, typical of work for the
U. S. Forest Service, we follow the requirements of
carefully-developed specifications and, under the
watchful eye of government inspectors, seek to
achieve the desired results while hopefully generating sufficient profit to keep the business afloat.
There is much to recommend the traditional contractor/owner model in building quality trails. It is
true that not every project turns out as hoped, and
there can be prolonged and painful disputes over
the exact meaning of the written plans. But most
contractors point with pride at what is achieved
through this time-tested process.
In fact, we can get defensive when our hard-earned
expertise is ignored and other taxpayer-supported
or so-called “free” services are used instead of us.
We might even parade stories of poor trails and
resource damage caused by these well-meaning
groups; and we’d argue that any apparent cost savings by use of these groups exclusively would turn
out to be illusory.
Cost, we’d insist, is never just the initial outlay—
it has to do with what lasts over time, with hidden
overhead paid by our tax dollars for the care and
feeding of in-house crews, with the old fashioned
importance of contract accountability. Yes, we tend
to get downright patriotic when the value of the
profit incentive is ignored in favor of what we
might sloganize as “make work” substitutes.
(I know, get out the violins!)
6
But truthfully, for timely completion, tight quality
control, and long term cost effectiveness, contracting would usually be the preferred mode. In fact,
Forest Service data suggests that contracting, when
compared with alternative methods of getting trails
built, does tend to produce the best bang for the
buck. So for many of my colleagues and many
agency people, the traditional model will continue
to be the primary or maybe the only method by
which they build trails.
Of course we have to acknowledge that there are
some projects by truly responsible volunteers, crack
job corps teams, and competent agency crews that
are fully as good as anything we contractors have
built. There are also good reasons why trail managers seek out the services of volunteers, user
groups, job corps, prisoners, in-house crews, etc.,
instead of contractors. These include perceived cost
savings, community service values, the importance
of job training for youth, grant incentives, promoting interest and skills among user groups, developing trail building competence in-house, or even a
lack of knowledge about availability and experienced trail contractors,
When the decision about how to get a project
accomplished is being contemplated, the working
assumption quite likely is that it must be an
either/or approach— either put the project out to
bid and hope to find a qualified contractor or turn
to one of these other groups. Rarely would it be
recognized, at least from a practical standpoint, that
it might be possible or even desirable to combine
these resources in ways that would optimize the
advantages of both. Or they simply might not know
of the availability of qualified contractors who
could provide design/build services or who are sufficiently flexible and willing to perform in conjunction with these other kinds of workers.
To make my argument more clear let me mention a
couple of contextual examples from my own experience, one a winner and the other a loser, which
perhaps will illustrate just how a contractor might
be used in conjunction with other groups and what
might happen when such expertise is ignored.
The Winner
I just completed a project for the City of Scottsdale
in Arizona at Pinnacle Peak. This trail was built
originally by hand methods and wasn’t bad by
those capabilities. However, over the past several
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Hybrid Contracting:
years, close to 5000 volunteer hours had been spent trying to
upgrade and maintain the trail, and still it was too narrow and
too dangerous, for equestrians especially, and as a result the
trail had been closed. I was hired as a consultant to come up
with a plan to solve these problems. They liked the ideas I
presented, and asked us to re-build the trail along the lines
recommended.
We actually did a subcontract for the contractor who was
building their million-dollar trailhead facility, rather than
going through a formal bid process— Scottsdale has very creative administrators! By use of equipment and know-how, we
transformed the trail into something really special that, I
believe, graphically illustrates what the experienced, equipment-savvy trail contractor can provide. I believe they could
have spent another 5000 hours of volunteer help and never
come close to what we did in an intensive two-month project.
Now that it’s in place, the volunteers can stay on top of things
through various maintenance efforts. That kind of cooperative
interaction between paid experts and “free” volunteer assistance makes better sense than an either/or approach.
The Loser
Some time ago, I was asked by a city that backs up into the
mountains in the Los Angeles basin to look at an area for a rerouted trail that was in fairly difficult ground for which they
had received a County grant. I told them I had good news and
bad news. The good news was they could build the trail, the
bad news was their grant was too small. I did suggest the possibility of using CCC help for the hand work following our
design and machine construction as a way of holding down
the costs. I later heard that, using an amateur designer, they
had then literally turned the C’s loose on the hillside.
It was a huge waste of taxpayers’ money
and probably violated all the County's
regulations on hillside construction.
The result was one of the worst examples of resource damage
and God-awful mess you have ever seen. It was a huge waste
of taxpayers’ money and probably violated all the County’s
regulations about what to do on hillside construction. By not
using contractor expertise, to save money, they now have
something that is extremely unsafe and probably a serious liability hazard. By the way, they asked me to come back in
afterwards and tell them how to fix the trail; I was so mad,
after walking less than half way, I turned around and went
home. I simply could not bear to deal with this mess, but I
confess the privately expressed “I told you so’s” were a twisted form of recompense. Unfortunately, I’m guessing the ugliness remains.
8
There are four types of alternative, hybrid contracting
approaches I want to mention. I am sure there are other variations, but these should provide some starting points:
1. Design/build contracts
Obviously, this is not an entirely new concept, but it has been
used infrequently for trails. My approach with a number of
city, county and developer projects has been significantly less
formalized than might be necessary if our work was not
already known to them and if we had not established a level of
trustworthiness and competence from work with them and
other clients with similar projects. In other words, this informality clearly is enabled only after a period of establishing
credibility with a mix of such clients.
Cooperative interaction between paid
experts and “free” volunteers can make
better sense than an either/or approach.
At their request, I typically begin by writing a brief proposal
in which I lay out several phases of work. Since I have some
idea about the project to begin with, the design phase is priced
on a lump sum basis to include a physical layout, a description of any structures proposed, written specifications (adapted to this project from the Forest Service Specs with which I
am quite familiar), time commitment, etc.
Where the work is fairly straightforward I can price the construction phase as well. Where the work is less clear at the
outset, I can provide a rough estimate to be confirmed or
altered after design work is complete and after they have
approved or not the various recommendations offered. I also
provide a one-year warranty for any defects that occur as a
result of faulty work in fulfillment of the specifications, as
well as insurance and license information.
I usually offer a one-year maintenance agreement for a nominal fee. I believe this is advantageous as most problems show
up during the first year. If we are responsible for coming back
to fix any problems, we have a stake in assuring the trail is
built to a high level of sustainability to begin with. But, as in
the case of Pinnacle Peak, this maintenance phase can be
where the volunteers or agency staff take over. I contend that
a trail built to standards enabled by our equipment and knowhow, and upon which our reputation is built, will be considerably easier for others to maintain.
My own more or less informal approach might not work for
larger procurement systems such as the Forest Service. But
the creation of design/build contracts for trails apparently is
on the agenda of that agency, at least partly because so many
of their trail design experts have retired. A few such contracts
TRAIL TRACKS
effective use of trail resources
have been let, but to my taste and admittedly skewed viewpoint, they seem to be mired in rather cumbersome, overly
formalized procedures which don’t necessarily evoke the full
creative potential this approach offers.
My advice would be to select trail contractors much like they
would architects using a Request for Proposal (RFP) format.
Candidates would submit a portfolio of completed projects
similar to that contemplated in this instance, along with references and recommendations. A preliminary idea of how the
contractor would propose to handle the specific project would
be indicated along with a cost estimate.
These proposals would be culled down to a “short list” of
finalists. The contractor would then be selected by a mix of
track record and proposed approach, with price a factor but
not the only or even the primary one.
Design/build clearly is a form of hybrid contracting that alters
the way a project is perceived and administered.
The City in turn gave the construction dollars to the local
CCC, who have a regular trail crew, with the understanding
that they would put out a contract for the machine portion of
the project. All of the work would be built according to the
specifications I had written. We then bid on the project and
were awarded the contract.
We built a second trail in the system which followed a similar
pattern— although in this case the land had been provided to
the City by the BLM, who held a proprietary interest in how
the trail was built and how it impacted the ecosystem.
Glen Kinney of the Canejo Open Space District in Thousand
Oaks, CA, describes a project to repair a difficult section of
trail in their extensive system. Their well-trained trail crew
We all want better trails on the ground,
genuine cost effectiveness, and a sense of
fulfillment by all those who contribute.
2. Contractor as consultant for work by others
One of our WTBA members, Jim Angell, has made a career
out of providing his services to agencies and user groups as a
design expert and as a supervisor/trainer for volunteer work
groups. Mostly these are projects that use people power, hand
tools, and winches rather than heavier equipment. For Jim and
his clients it is a viable form of hybrid contracting that calls
on the vast experience of a single skilled individual.
owns a SWECO trail machine and does much of their own
work. But in this case the grant required most work be done
by youth and, because of heavy bedrock, the wider-tracked
SWECO was not a good option. The District hired us for a
week to use our Takeuchi Excavator to build several switchbacks in these heavy rock areas. Their crew and the CCC were
present to haul in materials for the switchbacks and they continued with further aspects of the project after our departure.
We have worked alongside job corps
teams, volunteers, and in-house crews. 4. The opportunity for on-going training
3. Projects done in conjunction with others
I have contracted a dozen projects in recent years in which we
have worked alongside job corps teams, volunteers, and inhouse crews. In some, we did the design and layout and the
initial machine work while others did the hand work; or we
came in to do a specialized aspect of a project for which the
California Conservation Corps (CCC), as the primary work
group, had been hired under the supervision of the agency.
Such projects do call for a certain level of creativity on the
part of the agencies because they tend to fly in the face of
usual procedural requirements. Terry Hanson, from the City
of Redding, CA, describes a private development where the
trail was part of the developer’s responsibility. He wanted to
assure that the trail was built to the City’s and the local trail
committee’s requirements and suggested to the developer that
he consider hiring me to do the design work and provide
funds directly to the City for actual construction. I did come
up for a few days to do the design and layout and prepared a
set of specifications.
SPRING 2002
These projects also have an informal training dimension
which could be made more explicit. It would be easy to write
contracts to include training in the trail building process,
equipment use, and other skills. WTBA has proposed this idea
to the National Trail Training Partnership; we think actual
projects are a great opportunity for developing excellent
hands-on training programs.
Maybe hybrid contracting is nothing really new, but it allows
us to look at some fresh ways of doing business. The goal is
still to accomplish what we all want: better trails on the
ground, genuine cost effectiveness, and a sense of fulfillment
by all those who contribute to realizing our mutual hopes.
Roger Bell is president of Bellfree Contractors, Inc.,
and formerly a college administrator. He is also active
with the Western Trailbuilders Association. The
Association represents an impressive range of
experience among its 38 professional trail contractor
members. For project examples, many photos, and
contacts for trail expertise see WTBA’s website at
www.trailbuilders.org.
9
Trails Action Article
AMERICAN
What’s the best trail surface? This question has been debated for decades, and the
answer is still the same: it depends on intended use, the setting, the budget, and
available materials. Asphalt has been the material of choice for trails of many kinds
throughout America. This article provides the technical data, based on wide
experience, for building the most durable and cost-effective asphalt trails.
TRAILS
BUILDING BETTER ASPHALT TRAILS
By Eric West, P.E.
Design and construction
guidelines for asphalt trails
T
he selection of surface material for trails and paths is primarily based on anticipated type and intensity of trail
use, as well as terrain, climate, design life, maintenance, cost,
and availability. Soft surface materials are low cost, but
require substantial maintenance and are not suitable for many
of the recreational activities today's trails and paths are used
for. Hard surface materials, specifically concrete and asphalt,
provide years of service with low maintenance.
The following are the key elements to consider in building
quality asphalt trails:
• proper drainage
• proper sub-grade compaction
• adequate pavement thickness
• adequate pavement compaction
DRAINAGE
Bike paths and trails should be constructed to match the existing topography as closely as possible, however, longitudinal
slopes should not exceed five percent and a cross slope of two
percent is desirable to provide adequate drainage away from
the pavement surface. Proper drainage is one of the most
important factors affecting pavement performance. Proper
drainage entails efficient removal of excess water from the
trail. Surface water runoff should be handled using swales,
ditches and sheet flow. Catch basins, drain inlets, culverts and
underground piping may also be necessary. These structures
should be located off of the pavement structure.
MIX DESIGN FOR HOT MIX ASPHALT
Not all hot mix asphalt is the same, and the type used for a
highway may not be the appropriate mix for a trail or bike
path. Specific mixes are designed for specific applications.
The hot mix asphalt specified for your project should provide
adequate strength and durability. The overall objective for the
design of asphalt paving mixtures is to determine a cost-effective blend of aggregates and asphalt that yields a mix having:
10
• sufficient asphalt to provide durability
• adequate stability to resist distortion and displacement
• sufficient voids to provide for expansion and contraction
due to temperature fluctuations
• sufficient workability to allow proper field compaction to
resist moisture damage and minimize segregation
• proper aggregate texture and hardness to provide sufficient skid resistance
Specifications for trail and bike path hot mix asphalt should
address the specific application and use, and allow the use of
locally available aggregate, where its quality is adequate for
the project. The gradation specification should be consistent
with local specifications. It is recommended that a SX 1/2"
nominal maximum size gradation, or meeting the state
Department of Transportation criteria, be specified.
Bike paths and trails are not subjected to heavy loading. Many
of these paths are also constructed in terrain difficult for large
construction equipment to access. Thus the hot mix asphalt
should have a reasonably high asphalt cement content. This
“rich” mix will provide excellent durability and allow for ease
of placement and compaction. In addition, high asphalt binder
content mixes reduce segregation potential and improve the
surface texture of the mix for this type of application.
PAVEMENT THICKNESS
The first step in analyzing pavement thickness is determining
the loading the pavement will be subjected to. Pavements
need to be designed to support wheel loads from vehicles that
will have access to them. These may include emergency,
patrol, snow removal, maintenance and other motor vehicles.
The next step is to determine the load carrying characteristics
of the native soil. A soils investigation should be performed to
determine the sub-grade strength, load support capabilities,
ground water conditions, and swell potential of the native
soils. The soil investigation should be performed with test
hole locations at appropriate intervals to account for the varying soil conditions that may be encountered.
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Asphalt trail specifications
Pavement thickness is dependent on the loading that will be
applied to the pavement, the asphalt mix design and the ability
of the underlying soil to support the loads. Full depth asphalt
pavement is the overwhelming choice to distribute loads to
the sub-grade. However, depending on the existing soil's ability to support the loads, an aggregate base course and/or geotextile may be used to improve the stability and/or load carrying capability of the native soil.
The geo-technical engineer performing the soils investigation
should recommend design thicknesses for the pavement based
on the anticipated loading conditions and the results of
strength testing performed on the native soils. As soil conditions vary across the site, recommended design thickness may
change. The standards for determining the supporting capabilities of the native soil vary depending on location.
The most common test performed is the R-value,
American Association of State
Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) designation T -190 and T-99,
American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) designation D 2844. This test provides a relative soil strength to
be applied to nomographs, or
design equations, which
include environmental and
loading criteria for determination of a required structural
number for the pavement. The required structural number
must be achieved by an adequate thickness of pavement. Each
pavement layer is assigned a strength coefficient based on the
type of material used. A dense graded hot mix asphalt is
assigned a coefficient of between 0.34 and 0.44, based on
research done by AASHTO, and the properties of the mix.
neer or landscape architect will provide site specific information for your project.
In general, it is recommended a minimum 3" of hot mix
asphalt be used for bike paths and trails where loading
from vehicles will be negligible. As soil conditions deteriorate and loading increases, the pavement thickness should be
increased.
SUBGRADE
Prior to construction, vegetation should be cleared and stumps
and roots removed along the trail for a minimum of five feet
outside the edge of the proposed pavement. This will allow
construction equipment access and help prevent roots and
growth from eventually encroaching on the path. If adequate
access width cannot be provided, the contractor will be forced
to use less efficient equipment with increased costs.
The asphalt should be placed on
compacted sub-grade that extends a
minimum of two feet beyond the
edge of pavement. The edge of
pavement should be feathered with
native soil to avoid any sharp drops
from the trail edge. The sub-grade
should be prepared by removing
topsoil and unstable soil, shaping to
grade, scarifying the surface to a
minimum depth of six inches,
moisture conditioning, and compacting. The sub-grade should be
compacted to a minimum of 95%
of standard Proctor density, AASHTO T 99, and the moisture
should be maintained within 3% of optimum. If aggregate
base course is used in the pavement section it should be compacted to a minimum of 95% of modified Proctor density,
AASHTO T 180, ASTM D 1557.
In an area with reasonably good soil (R-value > 20), occasional maintenance vehicle use, and good drainage, a required
structural number of approximately 1.6 is determined from
design nomographs. To determine the necessary thickness of
hot mix asphalt, divide this structural number by the strength
coefficient of the material. For a typical hot mix asphalt, we
will assume a strength coefficient of 0.40. The calculation of
1.6/0.4 provides a recommended pavement section of 4 inches
of hot mix asphalt.
Depending on the soil conditions, compaction and moisture
criteria may vary. Consult your landscape architect or geotechnical engineer for site-specific information. After compaction a soil sterilant and/or root inhibitor should be applied.
Application should be carefully controlled to the pavement
area only. Typical shaping, grading and compaction crews
consist of a motor grader or blade, landscape tractor with back
box for grading, and a rubber tire roller for compaction.
Additional compaction equipment and access to water may be
required.
The above example is typical of the method used by geo-technical engineers to provide recommended pavement sections.
This example is based on numerous assumptions and should
not be used for actual construction. Your geo-technical engi-
Prior to placement of the asphalt pavement it is recommended
the sub-grade be proof rolled to highlight areas of uncompacted or unstable soil. This may be accomplished using a loaded
single axle or tandem dump truck or a loaded rubber tire
12
TRAIL TRACKS
Building better asphalt trails
loader. Soft or unstable areas should be recompacted or
removed and replaced with stable soil. It is also important that
all utility installations, including sprinkler systems, be complete prior to paving.
PLACEMENT
Placement of the hot mix asphalt should be accomplished with
a self-propelled paver, where possible. Where pavers cannot
be used, a spreader box attached to a dump truck may be used.
Minimum paver width is generally eight feet. For widths less
than eight feet cutoff shoes may be placed in the screed to
reduce the width of paving. The screed controls mat thickness
and crown. Vibratory screeds are typical and provide a small
amount of compaction prior to rolling. In general, the uncompacted mat should be 1/4" thicker than the final desired thickness to allow for densification during rolling operations.
The hot mix asphalt should be delivered to the paver at a temperature adequate to allow proper compaction. This depends
upon the type of asphalt cement used, but generally ranges
between 235 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The contractor's ability to achieve compaction is dependent on the mix temperature, pavement thickness, subgrade temperature, ambient temperature and wind velocity.
COMPACTION and JOINT CONSTRUCTION
Compaction should be accomplished immediately after placement by the paver. Steel wheel vibratory rollers are generally
used for initial breakdown rolling behind the paver, followed
by a steel wheel finish roller. Depending on the compactibility
of the mix, a pneumatic tired roller may also be used.
Minimize their tendency to pick up fine aggregate from the
surface with proper tire temperature or the use of a release
agent. It is recommended the hot mix asphalt be compacted to
92%-96% of the Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity,
AASHTO designation T 209, ASTM designation D 2041.
Joint construction should be carefully done to ensure a uniform mat. Longitudinal joints, which occur where mats are
laid side to side, should be constructed with a vertical face or
a step taper. The step taper should have a 1.5" vertical face at
the surface, tapered at a 3:1 slope from this point to the subgrade. Prior to placing the adjoining mat the joint should be
tack-coated. Asphalt placed against a longitudinal joint should
overlap the existing asphalt by 1". Compacting longitudinal
joints should be accomplished by rolling from the hot side of
the asphalt. The steel wheel roller is placed with the majority
of the drum on the hot, newly placed asphalt, with approximately 6" of the drum extending over the cold asphalt.
Transverse joints occur at any point the paver ends work and
then resumes at a subsequent time. The end of the paving mat
should be cut off vertically to allow the full lift thickness to be
SPRING 2002
placed against it. Lumber is used as a bulkhead, paving over
the lumber and leaving a taper that is removed along with the
bulkhead prior to resumption of paving. Another method is to
form a papered transverse joint where heavy wrapping paper
is placed along the entire face of the vertical edge of the pavement. The paper extends approximately three to four feet onto
the subgrade. The paver resumes paving over the paper to
form a taper. Prior to resumption of paving, the paper and
material on top of it is removed forming a vertical edge.
When paving resumes the vertical edge is tack-coated, heated
and the paver backed over the existing asphalt with the screed
resting on the previously placed mat. The shims should have a
height equal to the expected compacted thickness, i.e. 1/4" per
inch of material. Mix is delivered to the paver and the paver
starts forward slowly. Excess mix left by the paver is bumped
back to the joint location and/or removed. The joint is then
rolled transversely from the cold side beginning with the
roller approximately six inches on the newly placed mat and
continuing across in six to twelve inch increments. Timbers
should be placed along the outside edges of the mat to support
the roller and minimize distortion of the outside edges.
Composite sections, consisting of asphalt pavement overlying
aggregate base course, have an advantage in the ease of grading the base course to the proper level for placement of the
asphalt pavement. If base course is used it should be a minus
1-1/2" and minus 3/4" aggregate size. The strength coefficient
of base course ranges from 0.12 to 0.14, depending on the Rvalue of the material. Based on this strength coefficient, 3" of
base course are equivalent to the strength of 1" of asphalt
pavement. However, when using aggregate base course, the
asphalt pavement thickness should be maintained at 3" and
should never be less than 2". The minimum thickness of the
aggregate base course should be 6" for an asphalt trail, or
thicker for poorer quality sub-grade material.
The subgrade should be stripped of vegetation, shaped to
grade, and compacted at the proper moisture content prior to
placement of the pavement structure. In general, compact the
sub-grade to a minimum of 95% of the maximum density as
determined by AASHTO T 99, Standard Proctor and maintain
moisture content to within 3% of optimum. Again, your geotechnical engineer or landscape architect should provide
guidelines for proper compaction of the existing soil.
A more detailed report,
A Guideline for the Design
and Construction of Asphalt Pavements for
Colorado Trails and Paths,
is available on the
American Trails website:
www.AmericanTrails.org
(click on “Resources & Library” and click on “Trail
Construction”). Thanks to the Colorado Asphalt
Pavement Association for allowing use of this text.
13
Website contest awards
First American Trails Website
Contest yields winners!
❘❚ Tahoe Rim Trail– www.tahoerimtrail.org
...for Trails on federal lands
❘❚ Bike Trails and B & B's in Maryland, Pennsylvania and
Links to all the sites are at www.AmericanTrails.org– Virginia– www.norrishouse.com
...for Travel and tourism for trails
click on “Website Contest”
❘❚ Pennsylvania ATVing– www.paatving.com/default.asp
e were pleased to receive nominations of 70 trail...for Communication for trail advocates
related websites for the American Trails Website
W
Contest. American Trails launched the first-ever contest to
seek out the best websites in the cyberworld of trails and
greenways. We looked for sites that really make trails come
alive, and provide effective information delivery, support volunteers, and engage the public. In short, we wanted to showcase ways that advocates and agencies are making a difference for trails.
THE WINNING TRAILS WEBSITES
❘❚ Illinois State Greenways & Trails Program–
dnr.state.il.us/orep/planning/index.htm
...for State or Provincial trails agency
❘❚ New Brunswick Trail Council– www.sentiernbtrail.com
...for State or Provincial trails organization
• Honorable Mention: Texas Offroad Network–
www.texasoffroad.net
❘❚ Utah Valley Trails System–
www.mountainland.org/trails/index.htm
...for Community trails system
• Honorable Mention: Indianapolis Parks Greenways–
www.indygreenways.org
❘❚ Go for Green’s Find a Trail– http://www.trailpaq.ca
...for Searchable on-line database
We’d like to thank our relatively distinguished judges:
• John Ansbro, City Planner, Evansville, IN
• Jim Schmid, Federal Highway Administration, DC
• Stuart Macdonald, Denver, CO
We hope you’ll visit www.AmericanTrails.org to see all the
sites nominated. We know there are lots of great sites out
there, so we’re looking forward to your nominations for 2003!
Did you know thatwww.AmericanTrails.org
has
links to over 1100 trail-related websites? Is your site
included in our “America’s Trails State by State” area?
Do you have publications or studies that should be
included in our “Resources & Library” section?
Let us know atmactrail@aol.com!
❘❚ Green Mountain Club– www.greenmountainclub.org
...for Local trail organization or club site
❘❚ Feaster Trail, City of Arkadelphia– www.cityof
arkadelphia.com/Departments/Parks/Feaster/feaster.html
...for Designated National Recreation Trail site
❘❚ Paragon Adventure Park– www.paragonap.com
...for Graphics and site design
❘❚ Kingsport Greenbelt– www.kingsportgreenbelt.com
...for Best use of photographs
❚ Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers–
www.romp.org
...for Promotion and recognition of volunteerism
❘❚ Completely Unofficial Guide To Bicycle Trails in
Western Pennsylvania– www.TheNeonWeb.com/trails
...for Individual or personal trails site
❘❚ National Geographic mapXchange–
www.nationalgeographic.com/mapxchange
...for Trail-related business or product
❘❚ John Muir Trail Virtual Tour–
nycparks.completeinet.net/sub_your_park/flagship_and_
virtual.html ...for Trail tour or virtual visit
14
TRAIL TRACKS
Member organizations of A
PATRON MEMBERS
◆
American Honda Motor
Company, Inc.
◆ Blue Ribbon Coalition
◆ Cedar Falls Tourism and
Visitors Bureau, IA
◆ City of Redding, CA
◆ Delaware Trails ProgramDNREC
◆ International Mountain
Bicycling Association
◆ Kawasaki Motor Corp . USA
◆ Nat’l Off-Highway Vehicle
Conservation Council
◆ Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
◆ Rockart Signs and Markers
◆ Texas Parks, Wildlife &
Recreation
◆ ZAC Tool Mfg., Inc., CA
SUPPORTING MEMBERS
• American Council of Snowmobile
Associations
• American Motorcyclist Association
• Arrowhead Trails, Inc.
• Backcountry Horsemen of Wash.
• BHA Design, Inc.
• BLM-Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument, Utah
• Beneficial Designs
• Peter Bond
• Christopher Douwes
• City of Aspen, CO
• City of Boulder Mountain Parks
• City of Folsom Parks & Rec., CA
• Contra Costa Water Dist., CA
• Ehlert Publishing Group, Inc., MN
• Florida DEP, Greenways & Trails
• Hancock Resources
• International Snowmobile
Manufacturers Association
• J. F. Fitzpatrick Industries
• J. L. Darling Corporation
• Jefferson Co. Open Space, CO
• Johnson County Park & Recreation
District, KS
• Lehman & Lehman, Inc.
• Livermore Area Recreation & Park
District , CA
• Millennium Trails
• Modoc National Forest
• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
• Motorcycle Industry Council
• Donald A. Neptune, A.I.A, CA
• NPS Rivers & Trails Program, AK
• NPS Rivers & Trails Program, WA
• Nevada State Parks
• Queen Anne’s County Dept. of
Parks and Recreation, MD
• Riverside County Regional Park &
Open Space District
• Round Up Riders of the Rockies
• S. W. Leader, Inc.
• Santa Clara Co. Parks & Rec., CA
• Soil Stabilization Products Co.
• Southern Off Road Bicycle
Association (SORBA), GA
• St. Charles County Govt., MO
• Steadfast Bridge Company
• Sutter Equipment Company
• Triangle Greenways Council, NC
• Urban Edges, Inc.
• US Forest Service, East. Reg, WI
• VA Dept. of Conservation & Rec.
• Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin, Inc.
• Western Trailbuilders Assoc.
• Westvaco
• WI All-Terrain Vehicle Assoc.
• Wisconsin State Parks-DNR
MERICAN
T RAILS
• Idaho Trails Council, Inc.
• Indiana Horse Council, Inc
• Indiana Trail Riders Assoc., Inc..
• Indy Parks Greenways
• Iowa State Snowmobile Assoc.
• Iowa Trails Council
• Lubbock Lake Landmark, TX
• Marin Municipal Water District,
Sky Oaks Ranger Station
• Methow Valley Sport Trail
Association, WA
• Michigan Horse Council
• Mid-American Regional Council
• Mississippi River Trail
• The Mountaineers, WA
• The Mountaineers Books
• NPS Bandelier National Mon., NM
• Natural Resources Services,
RCAA, CA
• New England Trail Riders Assoc.
• North American Trail Ride
Conference, NM
• Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails
AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS Association, Inc.
• Allegheny Trail Alliance
• Ohio State Snowmobile Assoc.
• American Association for Leisure
• Pacific Crest Trail Assoc.
and Recreation, VA
• Pacific Northwest Trail Assoc.
• American Society of Landscape
• Pima County Sheriff’s Mounted
Architects
Posse, AZ
• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Red Bluff Trails United
• AZ State Committee on Trails
• Rim of the World Trails Assoc.
• Arizona Trail Association
• Sand Creek Greenway, CO
• Austin Metro Trails & Greenways
• Santa Barbara Co. Trails Council
• Backcountry Horsemen of Amer.
• South Carolina Dept. of Parks,
• Backcountry Horsemen of WA
Recreation and Tourism
• Bay Area Barns & Trails
• Southeast Endurance Riders Assoc.
• Dana Bell
• Tahoe Rim Trail
• Buckeye Trail Association
• Tehama County Education Found.
• Bull Creek Foundation
• Texas Tech University
• BLM-Salt Lake City, UT
• Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club
• BusinessWare, Inc.
• Trail Blazer Magazine
• Bylines...
• T.R.A.I.L., Inc., CT
• California Trails Foundation
• Trail Mix, Inc.
• The Catamount Trail Assoc., Inc.
• Trails and Bikeways Council of
• Colorado Assoc. of 4WD Clubs
Greater Redding, CA
• Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention
• Continental Divide Trail Alliance
Bureau, WA
• Dorothy Garske Center, AZ
• US Forest Service, Girdwood, AK
• Dead Horse Ranch Trails Coalition
• VT Association of Snow Travelers
• Dune Buggies Inc.
• Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
• East Bay Area Trails Council
• Volunteers for Outdoor Nevada
• East Coast Greenway Alliance
• Western States Horse Summit
• Equestrian Land Conservation
Resource
• Whole Access
• Finger Lakes Trail Conference
• WI Four Wheel Drive Assoc.
• Friends of Stevens Creek Trail
• Yakima Greenway Foundation
• ID Dept. of Parks & Recreation
• Yavapai Trails Association, AZ
IMBA book covers details of
Building Better Trails: Designing, Constructing and Maintaining Outstanding Trails is a new book from the International
Mountain Bicycling Association. The 72-page book is available from IMBA (see RESOURCES, page 22). IMBA has kindly
given us permission to reprint a short section which shows off some of the outstanding graphics that illustrate the book.
Building Better Trails is made possible by the generous support of Interbike, a major IMBA supporter since 1992. Now in its
20th year, Interbike is North America's largest and most comprehensive trade event for the bicycle industry.
TURNS
Two types of turns are used to reverse
direction on hillsides in order to gain
elevation in a short distance. A climbing
turn on the existing grade doesn’t have a
constructed turning platform or landing. A
switchback turn reverses direction with the
help of a relatively level constructed
landing. Both turns take skill to locate and
are difficult and expensive to build and
maintain. Think of them as a last resort.
Whenever possible, it’s better to gain
elevation by maximizing long contour trail
sections.
CLIMBING TURN
1. Climbing Turns
Climbing turns are used on shallow
slopes that don’t exceed a grade of about
7 percent. To control cyclists’ speed and
prevent skidding, climbing turns should be
free flowing and gentle. Keep the turn
radius as wide as possible, ideally 30 feet.
Maintain constant grade and radius through the turn section.
Climbing turns may not be sustainable on side slopes exceeding
7 percent grade.
Minimize erosion by having a short
uphill section or grade reversal just above
the turn. A grade reversal diverts water off
the trail before it reaches the fall-line
section. Climbing turns are best used on
elevated ridges or slopes where water
accumulation is minimal.
Because climbing turns include a
section of trail on the fall line, they aren’t as
durable as well-constructed switchbacks.
2. Switchbacks
Switchbacks are difficult to build but are
more durable on steep slopes. They will last
longer than climbing turns if properly
designed. We recommend a version called
the "rolling crown" switchback. It’s carefully
engineered for good drainage.
16
A climbing turn is any turn that climbs (or descends) on fall line of side
slope is considered a climbing turn. Improve sustainability by placing
climbing turns on very gentle slopes and using grade reversals to drain
water above them. Climbing turns should have a large turning radius
and barriers between legs to prevent shortcutting.
TRAIL TRACKS
“Building Better Trails”
Key Features of a Rolling Crown Switchback
●
It’s located on a gentle slope (consider it a control point).
Water drains off the back of the turn.
● Turns occur on a near-level platform that’s slightly crowned (domed).
● The trail stays on the contour on both approaches.
● Bench cuts and crib walls are combined as needed.
● Material excavated from the top leg is used to build up the bottom leg behind a crib wall.
● Crib walls are carefully built to ensure stability.
● The upper leg is insloped.
● The lower leg is outsloped.
● Approaches are designed to control user speed.
● Grade reversals in the approaches divert water.
● Switchbacks aren’t built directly above one another. They’re staggered on a hillside to prevent shortcutting and
water accumulation.
●
ROLLING CROWN SWITCHBACK
This shows the most sustainable
type of turn on steep sideslopes.
Inslope the trailbed only on the
upper leg as it transitions to the
crowned landing. The landing
should have a 12- to 18-foot
diameter, depending on trail width.
The landing is outsloped in all
directions. Build a grade reversal
just before the upper leg to move
water off the trail before it reaches
the landing.
SPRING 2002
17
16th National Trails Symposium:
We invite you to submit a
Symposium presentation
A
merican Trails and the Florida Office of Greenways &
Trails invite you to submit a proposal for a presentation
for the 2002 National Trails Symposium. We especially
encourage programs that address the Symposium theme:
Greenways and Trails ~ Crossing the American Landscape.
Consider how your project or issue transcends boundaries and
provides the means to cross the American landscape in its
broad diversity. A greenway or trail might, for example, provide the means to cross political and physical geographic
boundaries, and experience various human and natural landscapes. The planning, development, and management of the
project might require diverse groups to come together, crossing cultural, social, and economic boundaries.
Presentations will take place during General Sessions,
Breakout Sessions, or Mobile Workshops. The Program Team
seeks presentations that introduce new ideas, provide case
studies, convey useful strategies, relate success stories, identify lessons learned, and strengthen participants’ existing skills.
Potential topics include: Toward a Connected System of
Greenways and Trails; Planning Greenways, Trails and
Blueways; Policy Issues; Design & Construction; Volunteers;
Partnerships; Maintenance; Advocacy; Economic Issues;
Health; Cultural/Historical Issues; Environmental Issues;
18
Safety and Security; User Experience; Promoting Greenways
and Trails; Building Strong Organizations for Greenways and
Trails; Information Systems; and Preparing for the Future of
Greenways and Trails.
Proposals are due April 15, 2002. Visit the American
Trails website atwww.AmericanTrails.org
for
instructions on submitting proposals. For information
about the program, contact the Program Team Chair,
Jim Wood, Florida Office of Greenways and Trails at
(813) 558-1444; e-mail:jim.m.wood@dep.state.fl.us.
Field trip opportunities
S
pectacular field trips and mobile workshops during the
Symposium will feature the best of Central Florida’s
trails, greenways, parks, forests and other natural and urban
areas. Enjoy Florida's wildlife and beautiful landscape while
learning innovative techniques in trail development.
A sampling of the trails and natural lands in the region include
the Cross Florida Greenway and Land Bridge, the Central
Florida Loop, the Florida National Scenic Trail, the motorized
trails in the Withlacoochee State Forest, the Wekiva River
Blueway, and the Great Florida Birding Trail. You don't want
to miss these exciting opportunities!
Contact Lindsey Benedict, Regional Planner FDEP,
Office of Greenways at (850) 488-3701 for more info.
TRAIL TRACKS
Plan now to attend– Nov. 10-13
Symposium location is Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
D
isney's Coronado Springs Resort, the largest convention hotel at the Walt Disney World® Resort, celebrates the character
and traditions of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. This resort is secluded from the theme parks. In addition
to having all the Walt Disney World® opportunities nearby, there is a jogging, biking, and walking path that circles the resort’s
lake, as well as a health club. Rent bicycles, kayaks and pedal boats on site. The location also provides convenient access to
Disney’s five championship golf courses.
The Symposium’s new location provides easier access to some of the area’s finest trails: the West Orange Trail, the Little Econ
River Trail, the Cross Seminole Trail, the Florida National Scenic Trail, the Disney Wilderness Preserve, and others!
Join us as a
Symposium
Sponsor or
Exhibitor
B
ecome an exhibitor and
showcase and sell your
products and services to a
targeted market. Exhibit
booths start at $700 and
include one registration
(special rates for non-profits). Participate in Trail Toys,
an outdoor active presentation event. Contact J.B.
Conner, Florida OGT, at
(850) 488-3701 for details.
We offer a wide range of
opportunities, from $75 to
$25,000 or more. Visit the
American Trails website at
www.AmericanTrails.org
for a complete package or
call the American Trails
office: (530) 547-2060.
Trails Award
Nominations
W
e’d like to remind
you about the
National Trails Awards, to be
announced at the 16th
National Trails Symposium
in Florida. See the website at
www.AmericanTrails.org
for previous award winners,
nomination forms, and procedures. Nomination deadline
is September 15, 2002.
SPRING 2002
19
News from America’s Trails
Arizona
Kentucky
Arizona Trail Association wins AHS Award
Governor Jane Hull announced the Arizona Trail
Association’s selection as National Winner of the American
Hiking Society’s Trails for Tomorrow Award. More than
1,000 volunteers spent National Trails Day last year working
on the Arizona Trail and on other trails in Arizona. The
Association received a $4,000 grant from the American
Hiking Society to honor their efforts.
Governor proposes 120-mile linear state park
During his annual State of the Commonwealth address in
January, Gov. Paul Patton proposed creating a 120-mile-long
state park along the ridge of Pine Mountain along the border
with Virginia. The “linear state park” would stretch from
Elkhorn City to Pineville and eventually connect with the
280-mile Cumberland Trail State Park being developed in
Tennessee. About 30 percent of what would be Pine Mountain
Trail State Park already is in public ownership.
“Trails are an important part of the fabric of a community and
the Arizona Trail Association, working with Arizona’s rural
towns and counties, is showing how these partnerships can
grow,” said Jan Hancock, president of the Arizona Trail
Association. When completed this 790-mile trail from Mexico
to Utah will connect communities, historic sites, mountain
ranges, trail systems, wilderness areas, canyons, deserts, and
forests, while providing an outstanding experience for hikers,
equestrians, mountain bicyclists, runners, pack stock users,
cross-country skiers, snowshoers and nature enthusiasts.
Colorado
Governor declares 2002 “Year of Trails”
Governor Bill Owens proclaimed 2002 Colorado’s Year of
Trails on March 1. The proclamation kicks off a year of celebrating Colorado’s world class trail system that connects
Colorado’s communities and landscape. “More than 90 percent of Coloradans use trails, with the average household
enjoying trails nearly 80 times per year,” Gov. Owens said.
“Trails are vital to our healthy Colorado lifestyle and they
provide the perfect outdoor classroom to learn more about our
incredible landscape.”
Colorado’s State Trails Program will coordinate statewide
promotion of trails and their benefits, and is assisting communities and trail groups in holding dozens of events throughout
Colorado during 2002. All varieties of trails and greenways
will be showcased, including urban greenways, high peak
trails, community parks, and motorized trails.
While the project is supported by the Pine Mountain Trail
Conference, opposition has surfaced from the Kentucky Coal
Association, which fears mining restrictions in the area.
However, the oil and gas industry has helped identify
landowners willing to negotiate easements with the state,
according to the Governor’s staff. The Land and Water
Conservation Fund and federal transportation funds are eyed
as possible funding sources for land needing to be acquired.
Maryland
Gwynns Falls Trail system progresses
This 14-mile trail corridor runs along the Gwynns Falls
stream to the Patapsco River and the Inner Harbor of
Baltimore, linking 30 Baltimore neighborhoods and 2000
acres of parkland and trails. Enhancement funding has supported the construction of over 8 miles of trail. The City’s
Recreation and Parks Department has hired a full time Trail
Manager to schedule public education classes and events as
well as make sure that maintenance goes smoothly.
To help organize long term maintenance and management of
the trail, the City worked with the Trust for Public Land and
the Parks and People Foundation to establish the Gwynns
Falls Trail Council, which will assist with trail management,
volunteerism, and maintenance.
West Virginia
Remembering Lu Schrader, longtime trails activist
The West Virginia trails community lost a great advocate
November 8, 2001, when Lu Schrader passed away. Lu helped
found the WV Rails-to-Trails Council and later forged a more
inclusive trails organization that survives today, the West
Virginia Trails Coalition. In this role, Lu more than any other
individual was responsible for ensuring the American
Discovery Trail was routed through West Virginia. He also led
WVTC in the effort to establish a grassroots-supported
statewide trails plan. Said Doug Wood,” Perhaps most important, thanks to Lu’s personal faith and commitment to family,
our trail network will be a legacy left to future generations.”
SPRING 2002
20
Resources
For hundreds of resources on all aspects of trails and greenways, go to
www.AmericanTrails.org
and click on “Resources & Library.”
Building Better Trails
available from IMBA
Building Better Trails: Designing, Constructing
and Maintaining Outstanding Trails is a new
book from the International Mountain Bicycling
Association. The 72-page book covers topics of
interest to all natural-surface trail planners as well
as special features for bikers (see pages 16-17).
The book’s contents are available online and
printed copies can be purchased from the
IMBA Online Store:www.imba.com.
Trail assessment for
access: what's new
The Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP)
gathers accurate information about trail conditions
to enable trail users to accurately determine if a
trail meets their interests and abilities. Since 1998,
American Trails has been working to implement
the UTAP, developed by Beneficial Designs. Over
450 people have completed the UTAP workshop
and become certified by American Trails.
these projects will be RTC’s primary trail focus for
the next 2-1/2 years. Currently, we are refining and
updating our national trails database with the most
accurate trail information available.
For more information on this campaign please
contact Jeffrey Ciabotti at (202) 974-5119 or
rtcjeff@transact.org.
Mapbook of the Trans
Canada Trail published
The Trans Canada Trail is a 16,000-kilometre,
multi-purpose trail which traverses Canada from
coast to coast. British Columbia’s portion of the
Trail is a beautiful combination of ocean views,
majestic mountains, scenic plains, spectacular railway trestles and pleasant trails through cities, farms
and countryside. A new book, Mussio Ventures
and Trails B.C. Present Trans Canada Trail - the
British Columbia Route, is available through Rand
McNally, bookstores, and through the publisher,
Mussio Ventures: www.backroadmaps.com.
American Trails and Beneficial Designs are
expanding UTAP availability with a new UTAP
Trainer Course. Completion of the 4-day course
enables certified Trail Assessment Coordinators to
teach the UTAP workshops. Development of the
course is supported by a grant from the U. S.
Department of Agriculture. See the calendar at
www.AmericanTrails.org for planned courses.
For more information about UTAP Courses
contact Kathy Mispagel, Trails Coordinator for
Beneficial Designs (831) 429-8447 ext. 113 or
email: kathy@beneficialdesigns.com.
15,000-mile rail trail
campaign announced
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy announced a new
goal of opening 15,000 miles of rail trails by the
end of 2004. With 11,500 miles on the ground and
more than 17,000 miles in the project stage this
objective is within reach. Supporting the community leaders and trail advocates who are working on
22
TRAIL TRACKS
Calendar
For information on the National Trails Symposium, November 10-13, in Florida, visit
www.AmericanTrails.org
and click on “Symposium.”
Events and Education
Trail Assessment Training 2002
May 2002 • National Bike Month
This is the 46th consecutive year the League of American
Bicyclists has proclaimed May as National Bike Month. The
League is also promoting Bike to Work Week May 13-17 and
Bike-to-Work Day Friday, May 17th. National Bike Month is
an opportunity for friends of bicycling to sponsor educational
programs, bike commuting events, and trail work days. You
can purchase the National Bike Month Organizers’ Kit at
www.bikeleague.org/educenter/advmonth.htm.
UTAP Coordinator Workshops:
These courses teach
the Universal Trail Assessment Process which collects objective data on trail conditions that can be used for prioritizing
maintenance, planning projects, determining accessibility, and
providing information to trail users.
June 6-7 • Arizona . • Info: Nicole Armstrong-Best at
Arizona State Parks, (602) 542-7152.
June 9-10 • Minnesota • Info: Mike Passo at Wilderness
Inquiry (612) 676-9416.
November 9-10 and 14-15 • Orlando, Florida at the
National Trails Symposium •
Info: Kathy at Beneficial
Designs, (831) 429-8447 ext 113.
June 1, 2002 • National Trails Day •
Everywhere in
America! • Info: American Hiking Society
www.americanhiking.org.
June 10-13, 2002 • Lake States Off-Highway & Over
Snow Vehicle Recreation Management Workshop
Ironwood, Michigan • Sponsored by the National OffHighway Conservation Council through the Forest Service,
Region 9 Office and Bessemer Ranger District in the Ottawa
National Forest. • Info: Contact: Dana Bell, NOHVCC
Danafbell@cs.com or Steve Kubisiak, ORV Program
Manager, Michigan DNR, kubisias@michigan.gov.
UTAP Train-the-Trainer Course:
A 4-day course to be
a trainer who can teach UTAP Coordinator Workshops.
June 9-10 • Minnesota • Info: Kathy at Beneficial
Designs, (831) 429-8447 ext 113.
TrailWare data-processing for UTAP data
Nov. 13 • Orlando • Info: Kathy at Beneficial Designs.
June 15-23, 2002 • “Dirt Week” at the HatfieldMcCoy trail system • West Virginia • Nine-day event at
the famous 300+ mile Hatfield-McCoy trail system features
self-guided rides, poker runs, food, entertainment etc. Info:
Sports in the Rough, (800) 556-2801.
June 24-28, 2002 • Katy Trail Tour
St. Charles to Clinton, Missouri • Missouri Department of
Natural Resources is sponsoring a 225-mile, five-day tour of
the nation’s longest developed rail-trail. Ride 35-65 miles per
day with camping or shuttle to hotels. SAG rider support and
activities on the trail and at each overnight stop. All included
in fees along with breakfast and supper daily, gear shuttle, and
goodies. Limited to 300 people. Info: (800) 334-6946.
September 6 - 8, 2002 • California Trails and
Greenways Conference •
Tahoe City, California
Theme of the 19th Annual California Trails and Greenways
Conference is “Trails: Our Heritage. The location is the
Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center. Sponsored by
California State Parks. • Info: Paula David, (916) 651-6915.
September 3-6, 2002 • ProBike/ProWalk 02
St. Paul, MN • The 12th International Symposium on
Bicycling and Walking. Info: www.bikewalk.org.
SPRING 2002
23
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