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Published byBernard Booth Modified over 9 years ago
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“Man’s heart away from Nature becomes hard.” -Standing Bear
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Water is the Enemy High volume and high velocity water must be taken into consideration in trail design Where other areas can get by with 10% grade, desert trails should aim for no more than 5-7%
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Soils are Less Stable Sandy and rocky Little clay No organic binders Low shear strength
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Design a Positive Experience
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Design For Safety Calming devices Sight Lines Appropriate Width
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Protect Resources Habitat Historical/Cultural Trails that meet needs
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Give ‘em What They Want! Viewpoints Loops Places of interest Or they will go there anyway!
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Make it Fun! Contours, turns and dips Variety is the spice of trails
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Be Consistent Sudden changes = bad Sudden changes without warning = very bad
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Safety First Calming devices can be fun Open sight lines Wide at beginning Wide on steep side slopes
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Construction
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Crossing Drainages Check dams above and below Contour into large drainages Cross at a right angle
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Crossing Large Drainages Build up with crib walls Direct flow to middle Downstream side higher
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Rocks Rock
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Molars If placed by Nature they work well If placed by man, not so good If necessary, think big If not big, use several rocks to interlock
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Crib Walls Good when bedrock or big rocks make benching impossible Must be stable; pass the “jump test” The bigger the rocks the better… …But sometimes smaller rocks fit better
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Crib Wall Construction On rocky side hills, let wall be above tread a few inches to hold soil When possible, weather side out Fill big to small
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Armoring When all else fails… Leave an option for stock Find a molar
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Getting Water Off Rolling grade dip, not so good Grade reversal is best Done properly, knicks work well
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Diversions Why wait? Sometimes you can take the water off before it hits the trail
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Outslope Aggressive is good (5-8%) Ankle roll test
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Aesthetics Build with a light touch The desert recovers slowly Make a new trail look old
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Aesthetics Tips 1 Take clippings out of sight, cut end away from trail Palo Verde branches can be put under another tree, cut end to trunk (1-2) Prune for a natural look No hat racks Rub dirt on fresh cut
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Aesthetics Tips 2 Work dirt lengthwise on trail to keep it from spreading downhill from tread Pile dirt in middle, then broadcast (far) or cart away Save rocks with weathered side above trail, place strategically after tread is done
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Aesthetics Tips 3 Rocks without weathered surfaces (excavated) should be out of sight If you mine rocks above the trail, cover holes (and slides) with weathered rocks After work is complete, look above and below for any construction debris, cuttings
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Maintenance No trail is maintenance-free, but sustainable trails require minimal work Walk completed trail several times to look for potential trouble spots Walk after first significant rain to check performance
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Thank You!!
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