[ndcf] Attn Bis-Man Mountain Bikers - Bismarck Trail Maintenance

[Dennis Kemmesat]

Greetings Everyone!

Summer is winding down but as you all know there still is a lot of great
riding yet to be taken advantage of this fall  We have a couple of
significant projects in store this fall that will require all the local help
we can get.  First, we will be installing trail markers in conjunction with
the Bismarck Park District at Sleepy Hollow and Pioneer Park.  The trail
markers will be similar to those installed recently at Sunset Park in Mandan
by one of our local boy scout troops with the help of Mark Liebig.

 

We also have some significant trail work that needs to be completed to get
Pioneer Park back up to a safe, rideable status - if you any of you have
been up or down the switchbacks which connect the trails underneath the
Interstate bridge you know that they have washed out to a point where they
are very difficult to ride and on the verge of being dangerous for both
experienced and less experienced riders alike.  We are looking at some time
over the next 2-3 weeks tackling these projects.  I know fall is a busy time
for children's activities but if you could let me know what times might work
best for everyone - weekday evenings or weekends -  we really need some
significant manpower(or woman power) to complete these projects.  I know
many of you offered up your time to help earlier this summer and that is
greatly appreciated.

 

Finally, we are also looking at assigning trail crews to each
Bismarck-Mandan trail to help lighten the load of trail maintenance next
year.  As you all know the majority of the trail construction, mowing, etc
has fallen on the shoulders of just a few of us these past few years and
like everyone time these days is becoming a premium.  Unfortunately because
of that some of trail maintenance fell by the wayside this summer leaving a
few of our local trails not mowed or maintained as they should be.  We would
like to assign a trail maintenance crew of 3-5 people for each trail and
they would then be responsible for keeping it mowed and rideable each
season.  We would ask, however, that any new trail construction, reroutes,
and trail rebuilding be approved through the NDCF board and the Park
District prior to anything taking place.  Unfortunately, what we are seeing
is good intentions turning into a spiderweb of non-sustainable trails
particularly at Pioneer Park and also Sunset in Mandan.  We always need to
follow basic trail building protocol following IMBA standards and we are
fortunate to have some very experienced trail builders in the area.  We will
also need everyone that will be involved in trail maintenance or
construction to make sure you are a current member of NDCF specifically for
insurance and liability reasons.

 

Those of you in the area that can help please respond back to me via the
NDCF list serve or to my e-mail at dennisk at frontierprecision.com.  We can
then set some firm times and dates.  Thanks in advance for your help and I
will look forward to seeing you on the trail!

 

Dennis Kemmesat

President

North Dakota Cycling Federation

2020 Frontier Dr

Bismarck, ND 58504

 

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