Jen demonstrates a bench and soil broadcasting during the IMBA Trail School at Lake Hope.
Riding the lakeside loop at Lake Hope.
Rich and COMBO president Matt Ogle inspects a rutted hillside at Alum Creek.
COMBO officers and AEP Land Manager Dave Dingey in the Big Bucket memorial to miners.

There's Hope For Ohio

Working in West Virginia we had heard dismal stories of how Ohio had next to no trails. Then the IMBA report cards handed Ohio a "D" and we feared the worst as we crossed the Ohio River heading West. The comparison was to be only more dramatic, because we had just spent a blissful week riding in the Blue Ridge next to Harrisonburg, Va.

We were suprised and delighted to find that the trail situation in SE Ohio is not nearly as grim as the rest of the state appeared. The Athens Bicycle Club has made tremendous strides in Lake Hope State Park. In response to cyclists wanting trail access the park developed the 2 mile Little Sandy trail. Since then the ABC's relationship with the park has developed and they have received permission do develop and construct a longer trail network that will loop around the park and total over 15 miles.

ABC volunteers have constructed several miles of tight contour hugging singletrack and are continuing to open new sections. The existing trail around the north side of the lake has also been opened to cyclists on a trial basis. The trail, existing park roads, and the current trails form a loop. Each new section of ABC singletrack adds more trail and reduces the road part of the loop.

This relationship between the local cyclists and the park management, coupled with the well-built narrow singletrack that the ABC is weaving along the Lake Hope hillsides should help set an example for the Ohio DNR of the opportunities that mountain bikers represent. Paul, Malcolm, Chip, and the rest of the folks working out at Hope Lake deserve a big thank you for the relationship they've developed with the park and the trails they've built.

Along with great success stories we also got to visit some ugly situations as well. Alum creek, in Columbus and also managed by Ohio DNR, has problems. The poor trail design of the original trail network and a lack of signage or a cohesive trail plan has led to a badly eroded, unmarked mess of unsightly and rapidly widening trails. Some kind of management is critical if a riding area that draws from all of Columbus is to stay in decent shape.

The Central Ohio Mountian Bike Organization has had huge work days in the past with some attracting over 75 volunteers. While the bikers put in hundreds of hours of volunteer labor, the park staff didn't actively participate.

Currently park staff and COMBO members are in the process of developing a mountain bike trail action plan. Hopefully, with active leadership from the park, along with the help and knowledge of COMBO, a trail plan can be developed and implemented in Alum Creek that will result in a trail system able to handle 2,000 riders a week. However, without some kind of remediation, the DNR is willing to use Alum Creek as a negative example of what mountain bikes do to the land.

The other bright light on Ohio's horizon is American Electric Power. The AEP Re-Creation lands hold a potential 55,000 acres that mountain bikes could access. On land that was strip mined for coal 40 to 50 years ago AEP is eager to develop recreation. COMBO members were welcomed with open arms by the AEP recreation manager to look at potential trail sites. AEP's only complaint is that trails can't be built fast enough! This fall and winter is the perfect time to donate a weekend morning to helping COMBO create new trail. For information on the work days go to COMBO's website at www.joincombo.org.

While Ohio is not a mountain bikers paradise, it has the ingredients to develop some excellent riding destinations. Both at Lake Hope and the AEP lands mountain bikers are being welcomed to help develop and build trail systems. These opportunities linked with eager trail volunteers will help make Ohio's reputation as a singletrack wasteland one of the past. Even the sad state of Alum Creek offers hope. Metro riding locations are always more difficult to implement solutions, but all those users are also a huge potential labor force. A long term solution for Alum Creek would be a success for everybody hoping to ride on DNR land in Ohio.

Thanks again to all the great folks making trails happen in Ohio. We hope you are enjoying the leaves.

Rich and Jen Edwards,
Trail Care Crew #3