TCC And The National Park Service Break Ground On A New Trail At The New River Gorge National River
The National Park Service is working on connecting some of the current mountain bike accessible trails along the top of the New River Gorge with the Town of Fayetteville. Currently it requires a drive or very scary road ride along narrow, no-shoulder roads to access the trailhead from town.
The climber's Access Fund built a trail last fall in the park to open a new climbing destination. This set the groundwork for other citizen groups to do trailwork in the National River.
Earlier this summer the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew No.3 and Greg Phillips of the National Park Service walked the proposed trail alignment and made a few tweaks.
The weekend started with a trailbuilding and design presentation to Park Service staff and public. Before the round robin of introductions was over the maintenance crew leader was asking for the phone number of the local mountain bike volunteer coordinator. By the end connections were made, ideas exchanged, and problems discussed. We broke for lunch and headed out to look at the proposed trail. As we walked the alignment we discussed sustainable grades and the use of inclinometers to determine grade. Everybody got the opportunity to use an inclinometer and Greg astounded us with his uncanny ability to eyeball grades to within 1/2 a percent. We identified two places that rolling grade dips could be constructed to help shed water and where a switchback could be built for the new alignment. Then it was time to ride the entire proposed trail and check out the bridge site. The plan is to have a prefab bridge placed by helicopter onto two matching rock formations that bracket the stream. The crossing should be provide an excellent vista into the stream valley when completed.
The next day nearly 30 workers, including 15 National Park staffers, a Student Conservation Association crew, two members of the West Virginia Conservation Corps and local mountain bikers, showed up to work. The rolling grade dips were quickly finished and work on the switchback commenced. With a sideslope of 30% we knew our retaining wall would need to stand two-to-three feet high, so gathering stone was a priority. Fortunately the NPS trail crew was used to moving rock and set to work gathering stone and boulders for the wall. We worked later than planned and were finally convinced to stop late in the day. The switchback lay unfinished and there was talk amongst the locals of coming out after work tomorrow to finish it.
We drove to Charleston, WV that night in order to be at Kanahwha State Forest the next morning to meet with the ranger and Mtn. State Wheelers. The Mtn. State Wheelers developed a trail proposal, received permission and are now constructing new trail. A huge success story in itself, the Mtn. State Wheelers are responsible for getting the trails in Kanawha State Forest under the oversight of the parks and rec department rather than the forestry department. Now they're working on building a trail to access the entire ridge so bikers won't have to ride up the gravel road. We had a nice four-hour hike examining the trails with Jim Saulters, John Hadley (the Forest Superintendent and a trials rider no less!), and other members of the Wheelers. These guys have done some great work, and have plenty more ahead of them.
Then we climbed in the Subaru and headed back to Fayetteville to help finish the switchback started the day before. Along with Greg Phillips and Chris Banks we labored till dark before declaring the switchback complete.
The following morning we decided to take a break and go rock climbing. Greg has been riding off road and climbing for years. His first mountain bike had cantilever studs brazed on because they weren't standard equipment yet. Greg has also been hanging from various cliff faces for many years and provided excellent instruction. Climbing was good fun, if a little scary the first time. Hmmm, wonder if we should add climbing equipment to the gear we carry in our Subaru?
Our thanks to Greg Phillips of the NPS for requesting a Crew visit and housing us, as well as taking us climbing for the first time, Chris Banks for working so hard with a broken wrist, and Jon Nickolas for dinner and a look at his backyard. Huge thanks also to everyone who helped out that weekend.
Jen and Rich Edwards,
Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew #3
