Sunday, 28 February 2010 17:44

So here we find ourselves, still in the grip of winter, but that grip isn't a deadly one. 

We have enjoyed some of the warmest and driest days for a long long time and this has made for a stellar trail experience.  There is no denying that the travails of winter weather can be punishing on our trail system; wind brings down dead fall, melting snow sends water coursing in directions not previously seen, and trail traffic wreaks a heavier toll on the trails themselves that are wet and fragile.   So a recent rip around some of the more popular trails had me more than pleasantly surprised.  Even higher up on the mountain where one would expect to see all kinds of water erosion and standing water issues, there were virtually none.  If it weren't for my winter riding clothes my ride down 2Cents would have been like any June ride. 

Riding during the winter is always at a slower more relaxed pace and so instead of having conquests in mind, trail safety and trail cleanup occupy my thoughts.  So each ride, I find myself getting off and moving deadfall, using my heel to improve drainage where I find some standing water and to sometimes just get off and crawl around,  on and under some of the structures to see how they are holding up.  The superb overall state of our trails is a loud and proud testament to the outstanding quality of the trailwork that has been going down in the last few years.  The structures are better built to withstand heavy traffic (unlike some of the one-season-wonders of years gone by).  Our trails are thoughtfully built to avoid erosion and the horrible consequences of standing water to both trail sustainability and the overall riding experience.  And our trails are clean and for that I thank all of my brothers and sisters who are enjoying these quality trails and not degrading it for others by leaving their trash behind for someone else to pick up.

So I am going to plug in my earbuds, crank up my iPod and go for a hammer up and a shred down and I would encourage you to do the same while you have breath in your lungs and beautiful days before you. 

Enjoy,

Mark Steinebach, Treasurer (VMTA)