The Revelstoke Cycling Association’s (RCA) cross-country trail held their first volunteer trail-building session at the Mount Macpherson trails this past weekend, continuing on the successes of 2012.
“We ended up with about 450 hours of volunteer work,” said RCA volunteer Richard Brittin about the cross-country trail parties last season.
“What we find is that people become owners and stewards of the trail when people recognize what goes into building the trails,” Brittin said.
One of the first orders of business this season is rehabilitation following logging in the Begbie Bench area over the winter, including sections of the the Hemlock Groove and Quarry trails. The RCA has been working with representatives of Stella-Jones, the tenure holder that conducted the logging.
Trail maintenance is a big part of trail crew work. Brittin said maintaining the character of the trails and erosion control are key objectives.
The club also plans to build a new parking lot this summer. It will be located just of Highway 23 at Beaver Lake Road.
The RCA has purchased all the hand tools used for trail maintenance.
Funding from the CBT allowing the RCA to build an equipment shed at the Nordic Lodge, making logistics of trail maintenance and building days much easier because organizers don’t have to ferry the equipment around.
Bring sturdy footwear, gloves, drinking water and something to eat. “Most people find it quite enjoyable,” Brittin said.
The Sunday morning cross-country trail maintenance days are planned for April 21, May 19, June 16, July 14, August 11 and September 15. Work parties meet at the Macpherson Nordic Lodge at 8:30 a.m before heading out to the work sites. Work parties run until about 12:30 p.m. Most of the work will be on the Macpherson trail network.
Wednesday night maintenance evenings will start in May and go every two weeks, alternating with the weeks of the Wednesday night Toonie mountain bike race series.
For more info on volunteering, call Richard Brittin at 250-837-3497 or visit the RCA website at bikerevelstoke.org.
