Trail Tutors

If you've signed up for interest in the past at any of the Park's trail meetings - now's the time to get out and support the program we've been asking for :)

Upcoming Friends of RMNP Trail Steward outings. Contact [email protected] if interested in helping out!

Alex is out & about in a top secret British Columbia locale checking the route for Adventure Race World Series in September!

Interested in learning more about the race? Check it out here: https://www.arworldseries.com/races/expedition-canada-canada

Trail Tutors had to make the decision to cancel plans to attend & present at the Professional Trail Builders Association’s International Trails Summit next month (in Madison, Wisconsin). While we’re extremely disappointed not to be reconnecting with friends, partners, & the industry itself, we must stand with our Canadian membership & pass on visiting the States this year.

We’re looking towards the future & wishing our American colleagues all the best in dealing with a fairly wild/odd/disturbing political climate.

In the meantime - come on up to Canada! We’ve got amazing trails, far fewer protests, and your dollar will go a lot further here these days 😉

All the best & see you on the trails - Alex & Mel

Whether you are looking to develop a trail that is suitable for use in all seasons or by all abilities, properly installing an aggregate surface can be an integral strategy for enhancing tread durability, sustainability and user experience.

After a general introduction to various types of trail surfacing, this webinar will focus on design and construction factors specific to aggregate surfaced trails.

In terms of design, speakers will discuss how slope, soil, watershed, and designed use shape an aggregate surface trail project. Speakers will then delve into the construction logistics and specialized techniques including material transport, specialized equipment, and tread compaction.

Speakers will share real-world examples of aggregate surface trail projects including successes and lessons learned. This session will conclude with a facilitated 10 minute Q&A.

Speakers:
Jed Talbot, OBP Trailworks, LLC
Erin Amadon, Town 4 Trail Services, LLC

🗓️ December 5, 2024 - 10am PT

This webinar is free, but please register: https://www.trailbuilders.org/webinars

OBP Trailworks, LLC Erin Amadon American Trails

Happy to host this event at the shoppe tomorrow! Come on down and chat with Adrian while he tunes up your rig!

Looking forward to getting back to the States for PTBA conference next year!

Basic Soil Mechanics for Trailbuilding Webinar

Soil types vary widely all over the world - and even on a single trail! Understanding the physical characteristics of soil and having the ability to categorize soil is VERY important to successful trailbuilding.

This session will provide applicable knowledge of soil including soil description, grain size distribution and its measurement, clay plasticity, and compaction curves and the importance of water.

Thursday, November 7
10 - 11 am PT

This webinar is free, but please register: https://www.trailbuilders.org/webinars

Trail Tutors American Trails

We are very excited to announce the formal addition of friend and colleague, Adrian Alphonso, to the Trail Tutors team!

Adrian is from Anishinaabe and Guyannse parents and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is passionate about Indigenous perspectives in tourism and storytelling. He uses Trails to inspire a connection through experiences all while inviting Canadians to consider impactful "Trails As Reconciliation", a concept he is presenting at the World Trails Conference in Ottawa this week, hosted by the Trans Canada Trail Sentier Transcanadien.

Adrian believes all people need radical welcoming opportunities to benefit from a relationship to Land. Currently, Adrian holds Vice-President board positions with both Trails Manitoba and International Mountain Bike Association of Canada.

Adrian is a Bicycle Knowledge Holder, Truth & Reconciliation Facilitator, Experiential Educator, and a Two-Eyed Seeing Practitioner.

We can't wait to share the exceptionally thoughtful approach Adrian takes to the development of programming for all.

Getting back from a trip out to Copper Harbour, Michigan, situated on Michigan’s semi-remote, wonderfully unpopulated eastern tip Upper Peninsula. One of the most beautiful trips & one of the best overall trail experiences yet. This is the home base of Rock Solid Trail Contracting and the owner, Aaron Rogers. The place & the trails are a work of art, creating a vibe and well-rounded riding experience that’s out of this world. We had a chance to meet with Aaron on his stomping grounds, at the base of his latest design-build around Eagle Bluff. It was great to meet him, hear about plans for the future, challenges with expansion & gov barriers (same as Canada), and listen to his thoughts on a wholistic approach to the sustainable trails tourism experience. The man knows his stuff - a pleasure to connect with people who understand that trail design & building is a profession, not a hobby. Keep up the amazing work, Aaron & all the great people in and around Copper Harbour. We’ll be back!

Fun project at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park! This unsung area has hugely desirable topography, fantastic amenities, and great wildlife viewing. Historic hand built xc trails mixed with some new, machine-built flow will help round out opportunities for all level of rider and leverage the type of topography and vistas on the developed side of the lake and site of a decommissioned ski hill. Can’t wait to go back!

The women's cycling group is back up & running for the season! Bring a friend who's been on the fence. Info sharing, meet & greet, and slow roll ride to kick things off this year! See you there and if you can't make it, shoot me a DM for info!