Tales from the Outback
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ith only four days on the ground with each host, Trail Care Crew visits are jam packed full of meetings, trail assessments, and consultations – not to mention the actual trail workshop and build day. We often help kick-start new projects, but the real work doesn’t begin until after we’ve left town. Here are stories about three groups the IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew has touched this season. ShortHills Cycling Club St. Catharines, ON | April 2011
Nestled in between wineries and suburban neighbourhoods, the trails within Short Hills Provincial Park are heavily used by hikers, bird watchers, dog walkers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Despite an unusually wet spring, in the weeks following the Trail Building School club volunteers replaced a rutted fall line trail with smooth flowing contour singletrack. Those who couldn’t attend the workshop were astounded at the quality of the build. Provincial Park staff are now looking to the Club for advice on how to continue trail improvements in the park, and the SHCC has answered that call enthusiastically with the formation of an official trails committee — orange work shirts and all! “The biggest impact to our club has
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been establishing credibility among the broader trail user community, including Short Hills Provincial Park, The Friends of Short Hills Park and the Niagara Bruce Trail Club,” said Mike Bauer, member of the SHCC trail committee. Crow Wing Trail Association Otterburne, mb | June 2011
The Crow Wing Trail Association formed in 1999 to build a section of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) from Emerson to Winnipeg, MB. The trail celebrates a historical trade route, and along its 191 km doesn’t utilize any abandoned rail bed, like other long sections of the TCT. Having completed the connection, the group has now shifted its focus to improving the trail for better user experience. During its visit, the Crew worked with the association on a section of the TCT which passes through Providence College in Otterburne. The Crow Wing’s eventual goal is to build a loop surrounding the campus, which would provide Southern Manitobans with some much needed singletrack. “The workshop provided us with a whole new way of looking at our trail. We are now looking at opportunities to build sections which will encourage trail use within the communities and more populated areas,” said Murielle Bugera, president of the CWTA.
Left to right: Group ride with the ShortHills Cycling Club; Despite rainy weather, volunteers are in good spirits at the ShortHills Trail Building School; Chad and Deanne work with Parks Canada staff on the trail, including Forillon’s superintendant; Members of the Crow Wing Trail Association get started on a singletrack loop surrounding the Providence College Campus.
Volunteers from the CWTA have shared their new knowledge with members of the community by hosting a follow-up trail building day in October. Forillon National Park Gaspé, QC | August 2011
Located on the Gaspé Peninsula of Eastern Quebec, Forillon National Park has breathtaking ocean vistas and over 100 km trails. With cycling growing in popularity, Parks staff are eager to engage local mountain bikers and improve trails for off-road cycling. The workshop brought together Parks staff, local trail users, and organizations interested in maintaining and developing trail systems in the region. Visitor Experience Officer Camille Malouin credits the visit with “creating momentum and generating positive energy to move forward and work together for developing mountain biking opportunities in Forillon.” Since the visit, plans have been made for Parks Canada’s Trail Analyst, Mark Schmidt, to visit the park to further assess trails, and determine how to accommodate mountain bike opportunities. It’s inspiring to know the impact IMBA can make on a community! If your club has hosted the Trail Care Crew, let us know what you’ve been up to. Email canada@imba.com.
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