BUMPing in Birmingham, AL

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew plays in the mud at Oak Mountain State Park

Finding the right line: IMBA's Jill Van Winkle leads local host Derrick Seys down Blood Rock, while Keith waits for a try at climbing it. BUMP spent many work days armoring this fall-line section of trail that also crosses a stream- it's burly now, but much more predictable and sustainable.
A critical tool for constructing a good insloped turn - a bicycle. A trail worker takes a break from tamping the tread to test the flow.
(construction)
(finished product) Can you tell that this rock wall was built the day before? To avoid cutting large tree roots, volunteers built several small retaining walls on the downhill side of the trail.

With both a one-mile Family Trail and a technical section affectionately called "Blood Rock", you can be assured that Oak Mountain State Park provides riding opportunities for all abilities. Combine that with the very active Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP), and you've got one of the best trail systems the Crew has visited, with over 17 miles of trails that include rippy, contour singletrack, a lung-busting dualtrack climb, and bomber descents accented with beautiful and tough rock.

The South delivered some nasty winter weather, with rain showers and near-freezing temperatures. Not to be deterred, close to 30 trail users and land managers showed up Saturday and Sunday to get dirty (really, really dirty and muddy) for the benefit of the trail. With an experienced crew of trailbuilders from the ranks of BUMP, the two-day effort netted three new bridges, a fun bermed turn, several armored sections, and over 700 feet of new, swoopy benchcut singletrack.

Rerouting a dangerous road section was the weekends project: over 1100 feet of new trail were flagged out, including several stream crossings. Former BUMP president Derrick Seys, anticipating the inclement weather, set up a warming tent complete with a small propane heater, hot cocoa, and snacks. Appreciative volunteers spent 14 hours over the two work days cutting into the wet clay, placing rock after rock (after rock!), and bridge setting stringers and pounding decking. Once the bridge approaches are complete, the new section will add 1/5 mile to the already notable Red Trail Loop. Any rider seeking a trail that has it all should not miss a chance to ride Birmingham with the BUMPers.