TM Report: Rock and Roll Trail

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Date:May 15, 2010
Trail Boss :Paula Burton
Email: peburtonataoldotcom
Town: Redding
Location: Collis P. Huntington
Trail(s) worked on: Rock and Roll
How did you use the trail?: Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: Morning
Duration (hours): 3

Observations: Vincent Rinaldi, Glenn Vernes, Ed Perten, Randy, and myself tackled a problem spot. When the trail was first built there was a little wet spot here, and we put a bit of corduroy on it. After a few years, and a wet winter, and lots of use, the wet spot grew, the wood rotted, and someone lined the trail with rocks in an attempt to help the problem, but actually worsened it by keeping the water in the trail.

If you want to do trail work, that's great, but please learn something first, by attending trail school or going on a TM day or reading the IMBA trail solutions book. Get the land manager's permission too! And if you know that some one has built the trail, talk to them before doing stuff that can actually harm the trail.

We pulled out the rotten wood, and the misplaced rocks, and a number of limbs lining the trail. Please do not line the trail with branches! This tends to keep the water in the trail. After removing the old stuff, we dug out the wet organic matter and built a ditch, 18 inches wide and about 10 inches deep to drain the water. The ditch had rounded sides, so that when the water drains and brings leaves and other organic matter with it, the silt won't get stuck in the ditch and block the water again. We made the ditch about 8 feet long. We also cleared organic matter and brushes above the wet area to keep the water running. The water drained mostly, and then we built a fairly narrow rock armor treadway. It is a bit technical, but very smooth to ride over and works well in both directions.

CTNEMBA has many opportunities for riders and other users of the parks to get out and help the trails.My next big day planned for TM will be on National Trails Day on June 5, and I will be cutting new trail at Waldo on the other side of the access road.

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