Plan and Adapt
Building and riding trails forces us to adapt to local conditions, and sometimes a great plan needs fine tuning. IMBA Trail Solutions Co-Founder Joey Klein tailored the Trail Care School (TCS) for Erie based on the local trails and looming weather forecast, resulting in a novel take on the program. This wasn’t his first time pivoting – Joey has encountered it all during his quarter century doing trail work.
IMBA Trail Care School is the on-demand program that gives community members the knowledge, tools and resources to assess and manage their local trails. Topics include identifying problem areas and potential risks, creating a maintenance plan, and learning proper techniques to maintain and improve trails. Schedule a TCS workshop here.
We started with an interactive classroom session to prepare attendees with fundamental knowledge before heading into the field. Joey and our hosts at Asbury Woods had scouted the trails and discussed a long-term vision for the property. This weekend included National Trails Day, the annual day of service for hometown trails and the people who love them!
Meet The Teacher
Joey Klein needs no introduction in trail building circles. Joey is IMBA’s longest tenured employee, an early Trail Care Crew member and current Community Engagement Specialist. Klein has helped communities in 15 countries and 45 US states work toward more or better trails for riders and all users.
TCS participants convened at Asbury Woods (https://www.asburywoods.org/) in Erie, PA near the southern shore of Lake Erie. The nature preserve sits on 234 acres inclusive of old-growth forest, trails, gardens, a nature center, and educational programming. The classroom included a variety of types of trail users; some were volunteers and others professional Asbury Woods staff. Each individual had their own connection to trails, and everyone agreed the importance of trails to the community.
Foundations
Joey took the group through foundational components of successful trails. Textbook definitions and processes coupled with real examples of completed trail projects illustrated the concepts in a visual, tangible way.
Nearby Jakes Rocks MTB Trails in Warren, PA (planned and designed by IMBA Trail Solutions) was among the examples. These trails are beloved by the mountain bikers in the room. For some, Jakes was their first exposure to a modern, shared-use trail system with single-use areas and directional trails, all joined by hub intersections. It’s a different approach than traditional trails, and this style of trail lends a unique experience for trail users and land managers alike.
Other trail system examples, like Corner Canyon Trails in Draper, UT, are close to neighborhoods and population centers. Their location makes it easy for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and dog walkers to enjoy time outside, and allows kids to ride directly to NICA practice from home. Trail systems like this embody more trails close to home!