ticket2ridebc.com Blog

Recently I attended a trail building clinic held in Squamish and run by the IMBA.  This was an invaluable experience for me to learn the necessary skills and best practices involved in building and maintaining the trails we ride here in BC.   The majority of the clinic was field based, we were working on an xc descent called Powerhouse Plunge where maintenance was definately needed!  We firstly armoured a steep switchback section by lining the entire section with rocks & berming the corners, this was achieved by scavenging and shifting hundreds of boulders & constructing supports from fallen Cedars.  Another major area we covered was constructing ‘Shore’ bridges to replace existing ones covering wet/muddy areas.  I couldn’t believe all the timber was sourced from fallen trees, even the ladder rungs were split with an axe, however chainsaw skills were essential to cut up the trees & piece it all together.  I’ve since ridden the trail & the hardwork was definately worth it, hopefully you’ll see the results when you get to ride this trail this summer. 

All in all it was an enjoyable and informative weekend, although thoroughly hard work.  I’ve now got to pass my newly acquired skills to the resk of the team so that we can put them to good use at all our trail maintenance days throughout the season.

Dan