Columbia, SC: Hitting the Trails at Harbison State Forest

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visits Columbia, South Carolina

Mark leads trailbuilding volunteers in a tool and safety talk.
This short full bench cut re-route will bypass a low-lying wet area by moving the trail up the sideslope.
Friends of Harbison volunteers prepare the worksite for a small section of raised-tread construction.
Raising the trail tread out of the drainage allows a small amount of water to seep under and between the rocks, while keeping the users dry.
Flagstone paving allows water to flow over the rock and keeps wet spots from getting deeper and wider.
Harbison's "Hit the Trails Day" was a success!
Most trails at Harbison are relatively flat and wide; so this rock is a treat for Jeff and other users seeking a challenge.

Mark Schmidt and Lora Woolner, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders, spent the first week in April in Columbia, South Carolina, working with the Friends of Harbison State Forest. The Friends of Harbison kicked off the formation of their new organization with Mark and Lora's visit which included a potluck dinner, a slideshow on IMBA's work around the world, a basic Trailbuilding School, great riding, and good fellowship.

The mellow sideslopes, clay-based soils, and recent beetle-kill damage at Harbison State Forest combine to create a series of water-flow problems, wet spots, and mud bogs, that are a challenge to even the most veteran of trailbuilders. The weekend's fieldwork focused on designing trails to be high and dry and dealing with unavoidable low spots through different construction techniques. Groups alternated between three clinics: trail layout, benchcutting, and rock armoring.

As part of the weekend's festivities, Sunday was designated "Hit the Trails Day" at Harbison State Forest. More than 400 people came to ride with the Crew, take a guided hike, demo a bike from local bike shops, and check out the trailwork done the day before. Thanks to Russell Hubright and the Friends of Harbison for organizing a great weekend!