New Trail Approved in the San Gabriels

[kanga]

Hans (El Presidente) and I, along with some other dedicated Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) volunteers have been working with the Angeles National Forest Service (ANF) over the past year on an exciting new project. Last year we submitted a proposal to the ANF to build not only a new trail, but a new type of trail for the Forest.

We're happy to announce that the proposal was approved in January. The Chilao/Mt. Hillyer area is already a popular destination for mountain bikers, hikers, and rock-climbers. The Forest Service and CORBA see this trail as helping meet a growing demand within the community of trail users, and especially the increasing needs of mountain bikers.

The "Rock & Rail Trail", as the new trail will be officially known, will be approximately 1 mile long, running from near the summit of Mt. Hillyer northward to near the junction of the Santa Clara Divide Trail and the existing Mt. Hillyer Trail. This will make it easy to do loops of the trail and to "session" it's features.

CORBA's new trail proposal included mountain bike specific features such as log rides, bermed turns, boulder gardens, granite slick-rock, teeter-totters, log bridges, drops and jumps. While it will be designated as a multi-use trail, the trail has been designed by mountain bikers as a technical skill-building trail.

Trail features will be optional and graded in difficulty, allowing riders to gradually build up their skills. Signs will indicate advanced or difficult lines, intermediate options, and alternative bypasses for beginners and other trail users.

Hans and I have spent many hours hiking around Mount Hillyer looking for rocks, logs and other natural objects to be incorporated into the trail. The Forest Service has been very helpful and cooperative throughout the process.

The existing Mt. Hillyer Trail will also benefit from the proposal. We asked for and received permission to enhance the existing trail by adding features and more challenging lines. These will not significantly change the existing main trail, but will provide alternative lines and routes, some easier, some more difficult.

For the construction we will only use naturally occurring materials from the forest. This means ladders and wooden structures will only be built from existing downed trees and logs, which we have permission to utilize. We will be able to use fasteners such as screws, bolts and nails, etc. as needed. We anticipate a lot of rock armoring and chainsaw work to shape the fallen trees.

CORBA will need to raise approximately $82,000 in grants and donations to fund the project. Several grant applications have already been submitted and are being considered, and CORBA has committed $6500 from its general fund, and an additional $1000 has been received in private donations. The funds will be used to purchase tools, materials, machinery, fuel, signage, a kiosk and for other expenses involved in the construction. We hope to break ground on the trail in fall 2008, and be riding it next spring and summer.

CORBA has a good working relationship with the Angeles National Forest Service and many other land managers, having put in many thousands of person-hours of trail maintenance. We're excited to go one step further, into trail-building within the ANF.

It is our hope that with this ongoing partnership between the Angeles National Forest Service and the mountain biking community, we'll be able to get permission to build more legal multi-use trails with mountain bike specific features and mountain biker's needs in mind. We hope to thereby show other land managers our capabilities and what is possible when we all work together. This is a small first step, but an important one.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Mount Hillyer Project through Paypal on the http://www.corbamtb.com web site, or by mailing a check to CORBA, P.O. Box 57576, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 (Note Mt. Hillyer Project in the memo). You can also register CORBA as a designated charity for your Ralph's or Albertson's card. CORBA will then receive a small donation for every purchase you make. Just click on the Ralphs link on the CORBA web site to register your card.

We also invite everyone to come out and contribute a few hours of your time once construction is underway.

For news and updates on the Mount Hillyer Project go to: http://www.corbamtb.com

[Piranha]

It was certainly very exciting to hear about this project last night while we were sitting around the campfire at Chilao. Thanks for your dedication to the MTB community.

Will CORBA or the USFS be funding outhouse(s), trash bins & parking for this too?

I am just hoping that the new trail won't attract an undesirable element (gangs, underage drinking, drug use, graffitti, trash, etc.).

[jfromlv]

In my opinion, this has to be the most exciting news for socal mtn. bikers in a long time. Thanks for your dedication and hard work.

[EMrider]

Wonderful news and many thanks for your involvement. I'm already a CORBA member and supporter. It is very nice to see activity focused on new trail development instead of just access issues. I'll gladly contribute to this specific project too.
R

[mtb_prodigy]

Cant wait till the trail is done. This is great news. I really want to help build and get it done ASAP. Does anyone have any I love CORBA T shirts? Big thanks to everyone who made this possible.

[bighit8]

Thank you to all involved.I will have to make out to ride the trail.

[Pain Freak]

Steve are you going to be scheduling work dayI'd really like to be a part of this.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Steve are you going to be scheduling work dayI'd really like to be a part of this.

We will be, and we'd love to have you and your input. You bet we'll be announcing work days and hoping for volunteers. It will likely be fall before we get the funding and equipment we'll need, then work on it until winter snow puts the brakes on construction. We'd like to get it finished for next spring.

Originally Posted by EMrider

I'm already a CORBA member and supporter.

Glad to here it.... CORBA is an entirely volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, thus the tax-deductible status of any donations.

[BoingBoing]

Wow this is neat stuff. I will look for posts about workdays when fall rolls around. Thanks to all that have worked and are working on this!

[Nagaredama]

Whoa, thank you wouldn't be enough. I can't wait for the work day!

[Trailster]

was i reading that right... 1 mile, it's going to cost 82,000 to make a 1 mile long trail... Its great and all that there is more trails going up. I guess I just don't understand...

[Endo Verendo]

Can anyone say 'fundraising ride/party at Horse Flats'?

And Kanga, you better not think about building any steep uphills that only you and your Bionicman bike can ride up. I guess I'll have to be there to supervise.

[JoeTruth]

Steve and Hans, that's really great. Thanks for getting this rolling and proposing such a great idea and in the most fitting location. Just announce the work days and they will come and that includes me, of course.

Thanks again. You guys are great!

[Burner]

this is awesome!

something tells me this trailwork will be well attended.

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

Can anyone say 'fundraising ride/party at Horse Flats'?

And Kanga, you better not think about building any steep uphills that only you and your Bionicman bike can ride up. I guess I'll have to be there to supervise.

Not a bad idea at all,and if possible make a weekend event out of it.- Lloyd

[danlorek]

this is pretty cool! hopefully this being a successful project will help others that are similar kick off as well.

i'd have to agree with trailster on the $82K thing for 1 mile though... i mean, seriously?

[El Presidente]

Originally Posted by Trailster