Going the distance for MTB trails
Extra mountain bike and trail-runner traffic has led to higher than usual wear and tear on the trails we love. In Gatineau Park, just across the Ottawa River from the nation’s capital, key leaders within the volunteer trail maintenance community have been working independently or in small groups to get basic maintenance done and to keep trails in good shape.
“The season started slowly,” said Ottawa Mountain Bike Association member Lisa Willemse, who heads up trail efforts in the northern portion of the park, near Wakefield, Que. “Early closures because of covid meant we weren’t even able to access the park. Then we were permitted to work in pairs, and as restrictions lifted, we could have up to 10 people on trail days.”
The situation has been challenging for trail groups across the country as different jurisdictions attempt to navigate the balance between outdoor recreation and public health. It’s not as simple as the number of people who can work together at a time. Ordinarily, volunteers would share tools during the course of a night, but that has changed. Extra cleaning supplies have been brought in to disinfect handles. Gloves are in use. When practical, each volunteer sticks with one tool for the night. Work sessions are also being kept private.
“We can’t advertise widely ahead of a work session,” Willemse said. “It makes it hard to recruit new volunteers, and that means some of the bigger jobs have to be postponed.
“I have so much gratitude for the amazing people devoting their efforts to this work. With covid, this work helps us maintain a sense of community – if at a distance.”—
Deancampbell