The Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - New trail by Wises Mill Rd......

I've had another day to simmer down. Yes, this discussion is really a lot of things in one.

Jomissa, I would say I'm very much on board with the STI. This place will never be Diablo and we can never expect it to cater to only MTB. There are upward of 40 organizations that work or have a vested interest in the park, and it's an incredible balancing act. We aren't going to have 18" on the main trail, but we don't have the now. The thing to keep in mind is that even if the width is needed for access of the gater, plants do very often grow out of control and the corridor will, at times be as small as 18". All our trails are horse trails too, and with upward of a million people using them each year it's amazing they aren't all wide as freeways.

We as PMBA have just two years official history with the park, though MTB riders have over a 20year history. This process has been going a long while and the FOW and FPC have embraced MTB beyond any expectation. We should have a ride sometime and I can give you the entire history as I know it.

My issues are primarily with the implementation process of the STI on these smaller in-house projects. Basically there’s two or three that control it. They have been doing a great job, spending hundreds of extra hours, for free, to plan out the projects and get the crews working. But they are so used to doing it all themselves I feel that they aren’t waiting to see if the rest of us have any input. Phase One, a large project, was an example of the correct process. Not all of us were on board, but there was planning, a public walk through, an ample opportunity to talk to the IMBA trail crew during the very long process. There were 1000 limitations and problems of course, but that’s probably as good as the process gets.

However, I feel, as a regular volunteer, that we were blindsided by this one. It was a personal perfect storm. The same folks who were involved were also the ones who cancelled the official PMBA TMD because of the holiday. There was not a single mention on the site. Meanwhile I had laid out two posts advertising things people could do over the period. I’m 3000 miles away from home, and it’s obvious to anyone that I have more than a casual interest in the trails I ride 200 or so times a year. Many projects have gone on without me, but in most cases they’ve been very small, or off the beaten track.. But to have a major new trail cut with not even a peep from anyone, during a weekend were I would have loved to have had some extra options, well, I’m understandably upset.

But this has been happening in a way for a while now. We have a few people, (doing a tough job mind you), planning but also assuming that others are not interested. Up to a year ago I did ask to be involved in the walk thrus and only Dmitri ever bothered to let me know what might be happening and when. So I gave up on that, and for the most part I’ve assumed my role as TMD table guy. But I’ve seen it as a continual problem, and this time around it’s now a much bigger issue, because not only were the rest of use cut out of the planning, but we were cut out of the work too.

Other problems I see are with our style. We have shown time and time again, from Gorgas to this new line, that we’re trying to do too much too fast. I know it’s great to keep volunteers eager and working, but often we try to knock out way more trail than can be finished. And rather than going back to put the final touches on a section we move on to the next. Hence what I see, (and many others see), is “trail carpet”. If the process carries on like this we will no longer have to go to Middle Run to ride, because Middle Run is rapidly coming here! There’s nothing wrong with Middle Run, mind you, but it’s not the Wiss and I for one don’t want all of the character of the Wiss to disappear.

Here’s is what I’d like to see put into effect. Obviously we don’t want to clog the process, and projects can easily change depending on the weather and necessity. . But here are some suggestions.

1.   I think the planning of these smaller locally manned projects should involve more people. There are a variety of ways for how this can take place. It doesn’t’ mean the people in charge won’t stay in charge, just that others will be able to offer suggestions too. This could even be weeks in advance.
2.   Any new trail or major rework by any crew should be announced in advance, at least to the regular volunteer channels. Even if only a small crew is needed, at least some would be able to offer a comment or suggestion.
3.   We should spend a couple TMDs or send a couple crews out on regular TMDs to do regular maintenance of the finished projects. Demo 1 is the first trail and it is need of maintenance. I’ve posted images of some of the problems, but I don’t think anyone ever responded. I know it’s much more exciting to cut in a new trail, but I’d hate for these ‘finished’ projects to deteriorate in any way. Perhaps some volunteers would be interested in a separate maintenance crew?
4.   We need to slow down a bit, not a lot, just a bit. The enthusiasm on trail days is overwhelming and it’s natural to just to keep going, but it would enhance all these projects so much if we just took an extra hour at the end to have them peppered or otherwise finished them. I’m no expert in this, but I would say we are in need of some trail artists to come along put some life into a fresh trail. Maybe this could even involve inviting the WRV to come do some planting, or help close the old trail. Of course normally you’d wait a year to open a new trail, but we don’t have that luxury and therefore we have to spend the extra time to get them as good as possible from the get-go. I personally don’t’ see any problem with laying rocks, branches, etc….on top of a new sustainable trail, anything to break up the monotony of the freshly steamrolled look.
5.   As much experience as our people have, no one here is a professional. On the whole we’ve done a great job, but many would agree that something is still lacking in our small projects beyond what I just mentioned. I’m not sure what it is, but that’s why I think we need more professional consultation.
6.   Personally I think the STI needs to be adjusted and at the very least some special features, (not just MTB) would be included in little off shoots from the main trail. Having special features would reduce rouge trails, help with passing, and allow some breathing room for the different styles of riding a users.
7.   Lastly, I think many sections of the trail, including Demo 1, could at times include some natural evolution the way Belmont is for the most part. But that is another subject entirely.

So for example, what’s a problem that my little brain sees with this new trail? First it’s seems thrilling so far, some nice flow, the great log work, (with two lines mind you).But what about the jumps? Perhaps the powers that be considered this, but up until now I’ve seen not a single mention. The new trail runs along a massive retaining wall, ranging say 3’ at the storm drain, to probably over 6’. I’ve looked at it once and I’d guess it’s at least 70 yards long. Unless a cast iron fence is built to run along the whole thing, there is no way on earth that jumper type riders will not be taking off that thing. Instead of pretending it doesn’t exist I feel that the trail should be planned for it. It’s going to be wet down there, (though I doubt it is a protected unique habitat as it’s just the area the storm drain empties), so it would be terrific if a section going each way was cleared for a landing zone, with maybe a dirt mound put into for landing or the climb back up. This is a perfect case where a feature trail, utilizing an old man-made wall and wasteland, could be adjacent to the main trail. There’s even room to have two jumps and ladder bridges back up. People who want the baby trail can take that, or they can hit the big stuff.

Again, maybe this was considered, but up to this point, (and I’ve waited), I’ve seen no mention of it. It’s one of those things that I would have loved to put my two cents in about before the process. Already the new trail is not shaped to take this idea into account, and yet it’s naïve to think that bikers won’t be impelled to jumping off this thing.

Just my two cents, if anyone’s interested…