Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew completes 500th trail project

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 3
August 1999

Five hundred projects and counting: (standing) Kathy Summers and Joey Klein; (kneeling) Mike and Jan Riter.

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew has been traveling the world since March '97, building and improving trails for mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders and other trail users. In late June the effort reached a milestoneits 500th trail projectwhen Jan and Mike Riter of Trail Care Crew No. 1 worked on the Wallman Trail in the Rattlesnake National Forest near Missoula, Montana.

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew utilizes two fulltime, professional crews who travel North America in fully equipped Subaru Outbacks. The Riters have been with the program since its inception. Trail Care Crew No. 2, Joey Klein and Kathy Summers, are midway through their first year. By the end of '99, IMBA's crews will have participated in 750 trail projects and served as chief instructors at more than a dozen IMBA Trailbuilding Schools.

The Crews lead volunteers on weekend trail workdays, meet with land managers to discuss trail maintenance and management issues, and work closely with IMBA's 300 affiliated mountain bike clubs. This year's expanded series of IMBA Trailbuilding Schools combine classroom and on-the-trail seminars to teach volunteers the basics of trail design, construction and maintenance.

"Our Trail Care Crews serve as IMBA's eyes and ears in the field," said IMBA Executive Director Tim Blumenthal. "This project has led to the construction of hundreds of miles of new trails open to mountain bikers, it has improved the condition of existing trails, and it has bettered the image of our sport."

The Trail Care Crew project is sponsored by Subaru of America. Subaru has been IMBA's leading corporate supporter since '97. IMBA members who buy a new Subaru receive a free extended service contract and a top-quality Yakima bike rack.

In '98, the Crews worked in 49 states, two Canadian provinces, and eight European nations. To follow this year's Trail Care Crew schedule, visit IMBA's website or visit www.Subaru.com. For more information call Jon Gwozdz at the IMBA office (303/545-9011) or e-mail .