The main focus of the day-long seminar was trail design and construction. A battery of scientists, soil conservationists, trail designers and wildlife officials made presentations that covered everything from the velocity of a raindrop (complete with a picture) to the mating habits of the brown thrush. Although no one gave a definitive summary, the parade of experts inferred that with proper design techniques, combined with sound soil conservation practices and careful routing of trails to avoid sensitive wildlife areas, mountain biking can be a viable summer activity for ski resorts.
With five billion dollars in sales this year, it is estimated that 32 million people in the U.S. own one or more mountain bikes. Of those, 3.5 million say they are avid trail cyclists. Experts say that number is significant because it supports the theory that recreational riding will out distance mountain bike racers in the marketplace, which will create more demand and provide opportunities for more fee-based destination resorts.
Addressing this growth, Dave King, author of “The Mountain Bike Experience,” said that much of the public has been introduced to the mountain biker as a downhiller who rips up the landscape with knobby, fat tires in pursuit of an adrenaline rush. True, these daredevils invented the sport back in 1973, when someone put motorcycle handlebars on a balloon-tired Schwinn and hurled himself down the side of a mountain in northern California. But, rapid growth in recreational riding has created both challenges and opportunities for mountain biking.
The purpose of the workshop was to address the issues of soil erosion and wildlife habitat encroachment before they become problems. Some participants admitted that, in the past, trails were created simply by use.
For example, Mount Snow, one of the first ski areas to offer mountain biking, began its program in 1988. Eight years later, the resort spent $16,000 to repair one mile of trail. Fred Casey, trail maintenance director, led workshop participants through the woods on a narrow path that begins at the 3,600-foot summit and meanders across several ski trails as it descends the mountain.
Along the way, signs of erosion were visible and, in some places, there was complete displacement of the black organic soil that is typical at high elevations in Vermont.
To combat the problem, Casey and his crew spent weeks transporting buckets of soil to the trouble spots. They built bridges, installed innovative flexible water bars made from old Pisten Bully tracks and traditional culverts. Farther down the mountain, he displayed turnpiking that has been installed across a wet area; grass now grows where previously only mud existed.
The honesty with which Mount Snow personnel pointed out their mistakes along with their accomplishments seemed to echo the warnings of the morning session: plan, plan, plan.
“On a typical weekend (from May to October), we will have 200 to 300 riders on the mountain,” said John Redd, vice president of Mount Snow. Each rider purchases a $9 trail pass and has the option of buying a lift pass for $19. Lessons and tours are available at additional costs. The money generated from fees pays for lift operators, instructors and trail maintenance. But, Casey pointed out that much of the trail development on the mountain was only possible because of the revenue generated by races, which Mount Snow has hosted every year since 1989. For three years, it has been home to the Grundig/UCI World Cup’s only East Coast stop—that attracts more than 2,500 riders and 10,000 spectators a day.
Even with this extensive use, Carol Knight of the Green Mountain National Forest admitted, “The U.S. Forest Service plan doesn’t even address off-road biking.” But that will change, she said. “I don’t think we have any choice. The interest [in the sport] is carrying us forward. We need to be instrumental in pulling the user groups together to address these issues.”
On-trail conflicts between mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders have arisen almost anywhere there are multi-use trails open to the public. This has led to trail closures in some public areas. When you add the problems of soil erosion, intrusion on animal habitat and the cost of trail maintenance, Dave King said simply, “It’s easier to close a trail than it is to manage it.”
King attributes most of the challenges facing the sport of mountain biking to a poor public image, lack of organization and the absence of trail-use education. He also pointed out that only a small percentage of mountain bikers belong to organizations that promote such education. IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association), the leading advocacy group for recreational mountain bike enthusiasts, has only 3,000 members. NORBA (National Off-Road Bicycling Association), the official governing body for mountain bike racing in the U.S. has 32,000 members and this year issued 28,000 one-day licenses. This represents less than two percent of the trail riding public.
“We have a lot to learn from groups like VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, a snowmobiler group that maintains a large network of trails in the Green Mountains),” said King. “We need to explore partnerships with land managers, invest in signage, mountain bike patrols, cooperate with other trail organizations and learn to give back to the public lands which provide places to ride.”
The workshop’s question-and-answer period focused on money. From the ski industry personnel in attendance—Can you make money with this sport? From the agency staff with responsibility for maintaining public trails—What does it cost to build the trails?
The consensus seemed to be yes, you can make money if you’re willing to invest the capital from the beginning to avoid costly repairs and/or fines in the future. No one knows exactly how much a mile of mountain bike trails costs to plan and build. At Mount Snow, estimates range from $1,000 to $16,000 per mile depending on soil conditions.
Some tips for avoiding high costs:
- Stay out of high elevations—the soil is fragile and repairs can be costly.
- Avoid wet areas—turnpiking, a technique used to raise the level of the entire trail, can be cost-prohibitive.
- Control speed—skidding bike tires displace more soil.
- Develop partnerships—identify groups to trade trail use for maintenance.
- To disperse impact—change routes seasonally to allow time for vegetation renewal and soil healing.
- Educate—riders need to understand the impact mountain bikes can have on the environment and be encouraged to tread lightly and repair damage.
Deluged with statistics, technical jargon and a heavy dose of responsibility, some participants might have left the conference feeling as overwhelmed as a teenager who had just heard the facts of life for the first time. The test of this newfound maturity will be to see if ski resorts can operate economically sound trail systems that are no threat to the environment and at the same time preserve all the challenge, thrill and excitement of the mountain bike experience.
