Forest Service Making Some Sedona Social Trails Official
The Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is currently adding a few trails into its amazing trail system and making them 'official'. These are trails that already exist in one form or another through repeated use or renegade construction.
I am currently tasked with identifying the problem areas and finding solutions to make these trails more sustainable. For example, I reroute trails in soils identified as having severe erosion limitations or on slopes too steep/flat. Other spots I look for may have a trail down the fall line of the hill. One of the most interesting observations I have made is just how much the history of the trail can tell me about its sustainability. A trail developed through use without any planning is going to be obvious in layout and erosion problems whereas as a trail built by a skilled trail worker will be very different. It will have grade reversals and a nice flowing path instead of straight linear, boring features.
But one of the greatest challenges that I will have to deal with is keeping the current users and even builders happy with any changes. It will not easy to do and will require a good understanding of the trail and its character; how it was built, who uses it, and why is it unique. If I flatten every steep section with a longer reroute it will dramatically change the challenge and the speed a mountain biker may experience. My plan is to hopefully keep these users involved as in the planning and construction so that there may be greater understanding all around. It is always a balance with land management and I simply need to look at many of the other trails on the district that at one time in our districts history were made official. These trails just have too many unsustainable sections to keep up with the maintenance given our budget and they should have never been added in their current layout.
So my goal in this project is to find a routing for these new trails that is sustainable while retaining its original character. Here is a little flow chart which describes my decision process. Wish me luck! Read more about the Sedona Trails Study project.
Trails Currently on My List:
Mescal Trail
Chuck Wagon Trail
Slim Shady Trail
Made in the Shade Trail
Easy Breezy Trail
Lost Watch Trail
Snake Trail
Anaconda Trail
Various short connector trails
I am currently tasked with identifying the problem areas and finding solutions to make these trails more sustainable. For example, I reroute trails in soils identified as having severe erosion limitations or on slopes too steep/flat. Other spots I look for may have a trail down the fall line of the hill. One of the most interesting observations I have made is just how much the history of the trail can tell me about its sustainability. A trail developed through use without any planning is going to be obvious in layout and erosion problems whereas as a trail built by a skilled trail worker will be very different. It will have grade reversals and a nice flowing path instead of straight linear, boring features.
But one of the greatest challenges that I will have to deal with is keeping the current users and even builders happy with any changes. It will not easy to do and will require a good understanding of the trail and its character; how it was built, who uses it, and why is it unique. If I flatten every steep section with a longer reroute it will dramatically change the challenge and the speed a mountain biker may experience. My plan is to hopefully keep these users involved as in the planning and construction so that there may be greater understanding all around. It is always a balance with land management and I simply need to look at many of the other trails on the district that at one time in our districts history were made official. These trails just have too many unsustainable sections to keep up with the maintenance given our budget and they should have never been added in their current layout.
So my goal in this project is to find a routing for these new trails that is sustainable while retaining its original character. Here is a little flow chart which describes my decision process. Wish me luck! Read more about the Sedona Trails Study project.
Trails Currently on My List:
Mescal Trail
Chuck Wagon Trail
Slim Shady Trail
Made in the Shade Trail
Easy Breezy Trail
Lost Watch Trail
Snake Trail
Anaconda Trail
Various short connector trails