Brick
04-05-2004, 08:45 AM
This last weekend I had an interesting opportunity to look up-close-and personal at some ATV trails, some maintained and "official" and some not. I was a participant in the Bataan Memorial Death March in Brainierd MN, and part of the 20 mile route ran along a maintained ATV trail along HWY 371 on the return leg to Brainerd. It was interesting comparing the wear and tear on the high-volume city trail, vs the condition of the volunteer "feeder" trails that ran in the ditch along many of the county roads leading to 371.
The volunteer trails were worn, and deeply rutted, and when the ruts got too deep, a new trail would form either to the left or right. Climbs out of the trail (driveway crossings) were interesting as well. Some were pretty torn up, but some enterprising homeowners look like they may have taken a page from the IMBA trailbuilding guide and armored the sides of the driveway w. stone to reduce the wear and tear.
The supported trail (while not an ideal walking surface) was well packed, and it was easy to tell where softer areas had been re-enforced for sustainability, the difference was quite striking.
I don't know if the trail in question is maintained by the City of Brainerd, the local snomobile, or ATV club, or a combination of all, but it shows quite well the difference that proper trail design and maintenance can make in supporting a high volume of traffic while minimizing surface damage.
Walking 20 miles gives one lots of time to think.
The volunteer trails were worn, and deeply rutted, and when the ruts got too deep, a new trail would form either to the left or right. Climbs out of the trail (driveway crossings) were interesting as well. Some were pretty torn up, but some enterprising homeowners look like they may have taken a page from the IMBA trailbuilding guide and armored the sides of the driveway w. stone to reduce the wear and tear.
The supported trail (while not an ideal walking surface) was well packed, and it was easy to tell where softer areas had been re-enforced for sustainability, the difference was quite striking.
I don't know if the trail in question is maintained by the City of Brainerd, the local snomobile, or ATV club, or a combination of all, but it shows quite well the difference that proper trail design and maintenance can make in supporting a high volume of traffic while minimizing surface damage.
Walking 20 miles gives one lots of time to think.