Trail Updates - Friends of Pathways

Trail Conditions for 7-24-20

This week the crew continued working on some new footbridges on Cache Creek between Noker Mine and the Wilderness boundary. We used the griphoist to swing the logs into place which involved some tree climbing and pulley work. The crews then peeled the logs, milled them flat on top, and built approaches to easily step on and off of the bridges. We rebenched several sections of eroded parts of the Cache Creek trail where mud slides had occurred. They also added gravel to the ridge trail with ambassadors Randy and Cam as well as cleared a few fallen trees off of the trails. With the bit of rain this week the trails are in great shape so get out and enjoy the weekend!

July 24, 2020/by FOPMaster

Trail Conditions for 7-17-20

News & Announcements, Trail Updates

This week the crew went up Game and West Game and brushed back willows and rebenched narrow outsloping sections of trail. They also continued the good fight against Musk Thistle which has crept up the drainages over the years. It looks like the beavers have also moved up canyon and there are several new pool and dams up West Game. The crew also took all our rigging in to Cache Creek to raise the Noker Mine bridge which has flooded the last few years. We were able to hoist it up, add more gravel under, set new higher sill logs, and make new approach ramps for the taller decking height. The crew worked with the USFS on the new Sheep Gulch take out trail adding a rope hand line along the steep sections of the trail. They also cleared the Big Kahuna Wave access trail and we surveyed the Rodeo Wall climbing trail for a project with the Access Fund and the Teton Climbers Coalition. With the dry weather the trails are a bit dusty so watch yourself and don’t slip or skid. DO however get out and enjoy a banner year for wildflowers, they are as vibrant as I have ever seen them!

Check out the MBT dirt report for the Teton Valley trails here:

Trails

July 17, 2020/by FOPMaster

Trail Conditions for 7-10-20

News & Announcements, Trail Updates

This week the crew cleared drains on Putt Putt and upper Blacks. They re-stained and fixed up the benches on Nelson Knoll and Putt Puttat the town overlook. The built a turnpike on the Big Rocks trail and cleared brush along all of those sections of trail. We also cleared trees off of Big Rocks, Snotel, Arrow, and Skyline that fell within the last week. As you head into the weekend remember that the Old Pass Road paving project will be happening Monday-Wednesday next week so please plan accordingly and use other trails in the area, especially if you are biking Jimmys as it will be hard to connect to Parallel as they pave past Crater Lake.

For reports on the trails in Teton Valley check MBT’s trail updates here:

July 6th Teton Dirt Report

July 10, 2020/by FOPMaster

Trail Conditions for 7-3-20

News & Announcements, Trail Updates

It looks like we will have some hero dirt for the July 4th weekend. All of the trails are drying out after the rain this week and are in great shape. The trail crew cleared the Skyline trail on Wednesday and cut 31 trees so everyone can enjoy a long adventure with great views on the ridge this weekend. The crew also brushed Munger Mountain for better line of sight and respite going through the Aspen thickets. They cleared a bunch of drains this week that were filling up with sediments from all the rain. That is why these are so important to get water off of the trail so it doesn’t erode the tread. Similarly the crew closed shortcuts on Ferrins and Sink or Swim where people are trying to take a straight line. The natural swoop and grade reversals on the trails act as natural drainage points for water to flow off. Please don’t short cut because you are lazy or trying to get a faster Strava time, and call out your friends if you see them doing the same. Fun fact the newer trails like Ferrins and Arrow only have a few drains because they were designed to shed water. However older trails like Ski Lake and Phillip’s Canyon have over a hundred drains each because they tend to be too steep and in a straight line down the slope. Have fun, stay on the trails, and enjoy some good weather this weekend!

Find MBT’s trail report on Teton Valley here:

June 29th Teton Dirt Report

July 2, 2020/by FOPMaster

Trail Conditions for 6-26-20

News & Announcements, Trail Updates

This week there is just a bit of lingering snow on Teton Pass but everything is getting to be very passable. If we get another week of warm temps we should make the July 4th date of all the trails being snow free and dry. Our youth crew has been hard at work over the last two weeks, building lots of turnpikes, clearing drainage, brushing along trails, and building some new features at the Blair Dr. Bike Park. We also adopted a viewpoint trail on Teton Pass that branches from the top of the History Trail and heads out for a few hundred yards to an overlook above Devils Slide. The crew lovingly named this the Teton Tourist Traverse from the number of travelers we saw hiking out to take a picture. We also surveyed the north side of the Big Munger Trail with the USFS and the crews from DIRT and Crosscut Trails who have a grant to reroute and improve the Big Munger Trail. The new route avoids the fall line climbs up the fence line and ridge and instead will climb through some beautiful Aspen ridges. This really is one of the most stunning trails on the frontcountry system with views of the whole valley and amazing wildflowers. If you get a chance go check it out this weekend!

Check out the trail updates for Teton Valley from MBT here:

June 22nd Teton Dirt Report

June 25, 2020/by FOPMaster