Statesville, NC: Tarheels Blaze the Trail

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew chills out in Lake Norman State Park

Land managers and riders showed up in great numbers despite the chilly, wet weather for trail work on the popular Itusi Trail.
"Water Bob" demonstrates the utility of mechanized tools in trail construction. This rock was moved into place along the trail as a choke. Bob also cut several rolling grade dips where the trail travels along an old skid road.
A plastic sled makes for efficient transport of materials along the trail - Ranger Larry Hyde and a local rider work so hard pulling these rocks that their breath creates a fog.
Slow down! Chokes are added where the trail passes along an old road grade, to slow users before a sharp turn.
Tread is excavated and rocks set into place for armoring a muddy turn at the bottom of a hill.

Wearing all the fleece and thermal underwear they could find in their Outback, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders Chris Bernhardt and Jill Van Winkle spent January 20-23 working on the trails in Lake Norman State Park, outside Statesville, NC. Home to one of the region's foremost volunteer trailbuilders, "Water" Bob Karriker, land manager Larry Hyde who rides the Park's trails every day, and the Tarheel Trailblazers the Crew knew they were in good company.

Friday's Land Manager Workshop saw rangers from around the state spend a day learning about sustainable trails, getting a hands-on demonstration of mechanized trailbuilding tools, and assessing area trails.

On Saturday, icy tool handles was one of the subjects discussed during the safety talk prior to commencing work in the freezing drizzle. Thirty hardy and well-insulated volunteers attacked a section of existing trail that had several wet spots, and also was the site of skidding because of a sharp turn after an open and flowing section. A DitchWitch SK 500 was used to rough in several rolling grade dips, which were finished by workers using hand tools. The mechanized equipment was also handy for moving and setting rocks for trailside chokes and for armoring.

Sunday dawned clear, bright, and cold, with temps in the 20s. Not to be deterred from banging out some new trails, more than twenty volunteers showed up to work on the next phase of the trail system. Experienced teams made short work of 350 feet of benching in the beautiful red North Carolina clay, while two smaller groups cleared the corridor of trees and stumps. The winner of the "Grubbiest Grubber" Award was Ranger Larry Hyde, who's team dug down in excess of three feet to pull up a most recalcitrant tree trunk.