This Might Be a Bit Ambitious

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 06/03/2020 at 23:03 • Filed to: None

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I have wanted to build a Real Mountain Bike Trail on my property for a long time. I’ve built some little things here and there, and this spring I’ve made quite a few little short trails for my kids, though I enjoy them too. But the real challenge would be going The Distance, all the way to the far end of our land. It’s not like it’s miles away, but it’s about 200 vertical feet through the woods, over a straight distance of about 700 feet. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but trying to not go straight down means going hundreds of feet across the hill before turning back.

I do have some existing sections of trail, and some of it would go out into a clearing now where some logging took place, but by and large, it’s going to be a switchbacked trail across a steep-ish hill. I’ve walked the land many times, and I’ve looked for places that are somewhat not-steep as places to put the switchbacks. And I’ve hunted out areas with a natural bench of sorts, so I don’t have to cut into the hill with a bench cut the entire length.

And yet, it’s probably overly ambitious anyway.

Those are 40 foot contours by the way. It is steep.

It’s .62 miles long the way I walked it tonight (assuming some error in that), and of the 13 switchbacks, only two are legitimately easy to manage, only one currently even exists, and of the remaining eleven, I would say at least 3 are going to be nearly impossible to put in a reasonable place, with a nice wide radius, and also not be practically vertical. There are just too few not-steep areas on this hill. Not to mention cutting a trail of over half a mile, when my free time consists of 15-20 minute stretches most days, it’s not great.

Of course I could make a trail to get down this hill, hell, I could ride my bike down right now if I wanted to, okay, maybe with a little branch clearing. But I want to be able to ride UP this trail, too. That’s the real challenge.

But hey. A little bit at a time, perhaps. There are some long stretches that exist already, namely, two of the three longer crosses. There’s a pretty easy section (in terms of building) at the bottom. But that’s about it. There are some serious obstacles, a LOT of sidehill requiring labor-intensive bench cutting, and a lot of decisions to make in terms of “how impossible can I make these switchbacks and not hate this trail after putting in tons of work?”

Good thing I’ve got some time on my hands.

PowderHound > functionoverfashion 06/03/2020 at 23:20

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Time to get a mini excavator and show that dirt what for

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > functionoverfashion 06/03/2020 at 23:29

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You’d be surprised at what you can manage in terms of both going down and going back up...

There’s a trail I know of that ascends 60 metres in roughly 700 metres via 18 switchbacks, some of them in a group of 4. It’s quite something...

But you are right about building trail...we’ve been here for two years on our 100 acres and all I’ve found time for is to rake about 60 metres above the house...that doesn't go anywhere. I promised myself that this winter I would get onto it but winter has just started and I'm well booked up with jobs already!

CB > functionoverfashion 06/03/2020 at 23:31

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Clearly you just need a straight down path and a jump over the house.

Nom De Plume > functionoverfashion 06/03/2020 at 23:34

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Water is the most social natural element. Drainage and soil erosion are your biggest concern . If you are serious go rent a walk behind skid loader. Only because of the amount of cutting into side slopes in a timely manner.  I mean this is at least a weeks work with it so doing it by hand will be years.

Flagging and taking good notes on incline, slope, technical matters, etc. beforehand will make all the difference in the world. You are going to want an inclinometer and a few other technical tools. Some will be hand tools and others related to planning/ execution.

This is hardly touching on anything of value other than budget for cutting it . I suspect there are a couple others here who could go on at great lengths well beyond your interest level on just this aspect.

Drainage and soil erosion are your biggest concerns! Expect yearly if not seasonal maintenance!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 00:06

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Just build the downhill (with jumps if needed) and then clear a straight upward clear path someplace and install a tow rope with a J or T bar. Then it can be used for skiing if you get snow too! Bonus points if you op erate the ski lift with a motor vehicle engine. 

The Snowman > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 00:07

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Here’s some inspiration for you. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 00:09

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I love how you have been chronicling your land exploits here. This trail seems ambitious but I think marking it with flags and measuring the incline is going to be the first step. How exactly have you blazed the other paths?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 03:01

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I think the only way to really get motivated to actually do this is to use it as an excuse to rent some heavy equipment for the day.  Delivery charges usually aren’t unreasonable. Maybe one of those mini-backhoes you see larger plumbing and irrigation contractors use.

functionoverfashion > PowderHound 06/04/2020 at 07:11

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Oh, I wish. For so many other reasons. 

functionoverfashion > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/04/2020 at 07:31

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Well, the other trails have been on flatter ground and I’ve just been cutting little stuff, raking, and not much else! Even the sections that exist on the sloped area haven’t been too bad so far, following natural contours and game trails. But there are some really challenging sections. I’m working on flagging it when I walk it, looking for natural features, etc. ...

functionoverfashion > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/04/2020 at 07:34

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Oh, there are some trails around here that are serious climbs - a fair bit of what we ride is hiking trails that happen to be decent for biking. I just don’t want this trail to be miserable to climb while you have to ride brakes the whole way down. It works both ways, if it’s got good flow on the way down, it’ll be not-terrible to climb. I think, anyway. 

functionoverfashion > Nom De Plume 06/04/2020 at 07:42

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Well, you’re right that renting some equipment would be great. But honestly, I can’t justify the cost or time, although maybe for a particular section it would be cool. There’s a bit I can access off a logging road where it would be fun to build up some really smooth corners, it’s in an existing clearing already.

Erosion isn’t as much of a concern as you’d think. Most of this is a pretty dense forest, so runoff isn’t too bad. There are very few wet areas, though there is one pretty wide area that recently became an active drainage in spring thanks to the logging uphill from it. Most of the sidehill trails around here don’t washout unless they go through a gully that has seasonal or storm drainage. The top layer in the woods is like 4" thick of decomposed leaves and small roots, which get packed down onto the trail pretty fast.

Edit: I mean to say, though, that taking good notes and using some tools to get it right the first time, is key. I will do a lot of walking and flagging before digging. 

functionoverfashion > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/04/2020 at 07:44

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I’d love a mini excavator, but it’s actually more than what I’d need for a lot of this. There is a section though that I could make pretty awesome with one of those. It’s already in a clearing and could use some sweet berms.... 

functionoverfashion > The Snowman 06/04/2020 at 07:47

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I’ve been watching way too many youtube videos on mountain biking where they build ludicrous trails in a 10 second montage. “I’m gonna need a montage!”

This would be true singletrack, as in, barely wide enough for a bike where it’s cut into the hill. 

dumpsterfire! > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 08:17

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B uy a cheap, lightweight dirt bike (motorcycle, that is), ride that on proposed trail , roost the dirt with rear wheelspin, creating trail . R epeat as necessary, sell bike and get back on the MTB.

i also have a large hillside property that is calling for a MTB trail. unfortunately its been calling for all 15 years i’ve been here and its still just a pipe dream.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 08:23

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I hear you... building well though means time and time and time and quite a shit load of effort. And so much planning.... that's what has broken me!

functionoverfashion > dumpsterfire! 06/04/2020 at 08:24

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That... is a really fun idea. I’d probably hit several trees in the process lol.

We’ve been here 12 years, and I did a good bit of exploring and walking trail building before we had kids. Last few years, though, not so much. 

functionoverfashion > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/04/2020 at 08:26

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Yeah, totally true. I’ve been pondering it for years. I expect I’ll build it in sections; the hardest part is the bottom, and there’s an easy turn-around point about 2/3 of the way down (vertically). If I could get there this summer I’d be thrilled, because I think 2/3 of the work is the bottom 1/3 of the trail. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 09:44

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Maybe gather a small group of nearby friends & riders (like 3 guys) who would help complete this project with the promise that those who put in the time can also ride the trail?

The Snowman > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 09:45

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This is a real pro build but I am bad at switchbacks. I have to drop 90% of my speed for all the ones above the tree line in this video. Something about a 30°+ slope with nothing but talus to slow me down gets on my nerves.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 09:47

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Good. Sounds pleasantly challenging. Make sure to keep us updated.

functionoverfashion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 06/04/2020 at 09:47

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I do have several friends who would be into that. I would love to get to a point where I could actually use all their help; the only catch is, they all have small kids, too, so it’s hard to get their time. But for sure, I expect some help from some of them. One is a mtb coach at a private school and builds trails on school property all summer, so he will be contributing for sure. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 10:01

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Hmm, maybe a few weekend parties at your place? The kids play , and the adults work during the day and then have a big barbecue & bonfire in the evening. =)

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > functionoverfashion 06/04/2020 at 10:42

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You probably already know about this but this guy on youtube has been building trails on his property for the last year or so. Hi s property is also fairly st eep like yours so his trails tend to be down hill only.

Building something like an access road would probably help you out immensely with getting tools and materials to different parts of the trail that you’re working on, then you can also use it to ride back up.  

functionoverfashion > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 06/04/2020 at 11:07

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That is awesome, I’ve seen a bit of his stuff, yeah. He’s got a bit more... resources and time than I do. But I do have an access road in the form of a logging road, it’s just very steep. My truck will go up and down it though. Sadly, it’s so steep that I can barely ride my bike up it, otherwise I’d totally use it for the up.

Now that you mention it, there’s another old logging road on an adjacent property, maybe that’s not as steep... hmm.