California Club Posts Tools On Trails For Public Use

The Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers of San Luis Obispo, California, have placed along backcountry trails seven tool caches which are open and available for public use. The San Luis Obispo Bike Club funded the caches, and in July agreed to pay for six more.

A tool cache/sitting bench erected by CCCMB.

David Arndt, a leader of the CCCMB, explained, "The tools are not locked down. This allows any trail user an opportunity to stop and put in a few minutes of repair if they are out, not planning to do trail work, but see something that needs attention. Past examples or problems addressed include blown-out water bars, a small rut starting down the center of a trail, and small rockslides." The caches also help when club trailwork days occur far from trailheads.

"The tool benches have been reasonably successful, and very well accepted by our local land managers," Arndt reported. The club and managers recognize that the open caches create a potential problem. Someone might unknowingly perform work which damages rather than helps trails. "It hasn't happened yet," Arndt said.

The caches are fashioned to also serve as benches. They are located at scenic points that are close to trail segments which need frequent maintenance. The tool cache benches "hold up to six long-handled tools. We stock each bench with a minimum of one shovel, one bow rake, and one McLeod. Other tools are chosen according to local trail needs."

A plaque on top of each bench explains the tool station, thanks the San Luis Obispo Bike Club, and asks that tools be returned to the cache. Only one tool has been
lost, and this probably was only mixed up with tools hauled back to civilization.

A CCCMB member donated labor for the construction about 10 hours for each bench. Materials cost was approximately $85/bench, with the tools cost at $70 to $130 per cache. It took four people to haul in each bench and tool set.