We would like to publicly thank Zion Cycles for their recent donation to the cause.
When it comes to building and maintaining trails, our budget is tight and every penny helps us further the effort.
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July Board Meeting Minutes
July Board Meeting
- Last meeting follow up (30 minutes)
- Cryptobionic/Goosebumps Follow up – (3 minutes)
- Ribbon Cutting??? Sept/Oct
- Clayton – October
- Kenny – Group Ride
- Work being done? Looks like someone is working
- New trail proposal
- Bill
- Morgan
- Quentin and DJ
- Cryptobionic/Goosebumps Follow up – (3 minutes)
- Clayton to get proposal going using existing resources
- Forest Service Update – ( minutes)
- Lukas – set up trail day
- Newsletter – (3 minutes) – quarterly Lukas
- Twice/year mailer – (3 minutes) Monte,
- Glue Pad for bike shops – (3 minutes) Done
- Sell’s Pitch – Lukas (5 minutes) Lukas
- The why is important
- Healthy Lifestyle -also economic
- Obesity
- Economics
- Tourism
- Green Space Conversation
- MTB Project (5 minutes)
- Kevin
- Forest Service Update – ( minutes)
- Upcoming Trail Projects – Open Discussion (10 minutes)
- Where do we need work to be done?
- SCRR – Kenny November
- Church/Prospectors – Lukas October
- Cedar Mountain – Kevin August
- Schedule last half of the year
- Where do we need work to be done?
- Travel Management Plan (5 minutes)
- Update
- County – Monte, Kevin
- Meeting with Brad – Lukas/Chris/Kevin – (10 minutes)
- Getting letter of support
- Facts and figures for mountain bikers
- Tourism/economic side
- Rockville Bench Update – Monte (5 minutes)
- Kanab – Chris (10 Minutes)
- Feasibility study – IMBA funded
- Sand biggest concern
- Paiute Reservation – Kenny (10 minutes)
- Spoke with Manager
- Open to idea
- Damon Cooper
- Kyle Mcfee – Land manager
- Worried about trespassing
- Band Meeting Aug 4th
- Hoping for next meeting
- Possible hookup with future trails
- St. George Skills Park – Lukas (5 minutes)
- Waiting for land proposal
- City on board
- Quail Creek Development – Clayton (10 minutes)
- Americorp crew hopefully coming out
- Water Conservancy District
- Big possibilities
- All the way around lake
- Beaver Dam – Kevin (5 minutes)
- Potential
- One nice peak for gravity run
- Smooth, half pipe like washes
- Easy to build
- Monthly Rides – Open Discussion (5 minutes)
- World Summit
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Little Creek Trail Work Day
The Dixie Mountain Bike Trails Association will be hosting a trail work day this coming Sunday on Little Creek Mesa.
The plan is to meet at the trail head at 8 AM giving ourselves plenty of time and hopefully cooler temperatures. Depending on how many people show up, we will most likely divide into groups and take different sections. The plan is to trim back the bushes and trees that have begun to impede riders ability to maneuver the outer trails.
We will give a quick tutorial on how to properly trim the bushes to make sure the trail is not sanitized and maintains its picturesque beauty. It would be appreciated if those who attend can bring some tools. Namely, clippers, saws and trimmers. We would highly recommend you bring plenty of water and snacks. The weather is supposed to be in the 90s, so the morning should be nice, but it will most likely be hot by the time we finish. Usually these types of projects take about three hours. However, if you can only help for an hour or two, come out any way. We can use all the help we can get.
For up-to-date details, please visit the Facebook Event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/670240786381460/
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Spring Update
New Trails
The DMBTA designed two new trails for the BLM this past fall. Construction was scheduled to be completed this winter, but was delayed due to the snow and heavy rain we received. Fortunately, this was only a minor setback and we are happy to announce that not only are the trails open, but the tread has been compacted and the trails are as fun as we had hoped they would be.
The two new trails are Cryptobionic and Goose Bumps. These were designed as connector trails to allow for more variety in looping the JEM and the Hurricane Rim together. Goosebumps splits off of the JEM just after you emerge from the wash and hugs the mesa as it meanders its way to the water tank at the top of the unnamed singletrack. About half way through Goosebumps, Cryptobionic splits off and heads downhill. It hits Sheep Bridge Road where you re-connect with the JEM for a short distance. Cryptobionic splits off once again and heads to the bathrooms at the Hurricane Rim trailhead.
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/st__george/recreation/trails/hurricane_cliffs_trail.html
We are excited about these two trails and are working to bring you more singletrack in the future.
Gooseberry Trail Work Day
The DMBTA did its annual trimming of Gooseberry Mesa this past March. The trees and bushes on the mesa slowly overtake the trail. Each year the DMBTA goes out and trims things back so that you can ride the Goose without slamming into tree branches or being scratched up by scrub oak.
Clayton organized this trail day and we had plenty of people show up for us to split into multiple groups. Each group took a section of trail. It took each group about three hours to complete their portion, but we are happy with the results.
Zen Trail Work Day
DMBTA, in conjunction with the local high school mountain biking team The Flying Monkeys, had a trail work day on Zen at the end of March. Kenny organized the event and guided the Monkeys around the Zen. They worked to clear loose rocks, maintain the single track lines that we all love and ensure that the trail stays rideable.
Travel Management Plan
The DMBTA was originally organized as a direct response to the announcement of the BLM’s travel management planning process. As we have mentioned, mountain bikers run the risk of losing single track as part of this process or, if we play it right, have the chance of gaining significant access and additional trails. This will all be determined this fall as the public comment period of the process begins. Essentially, the BLM has logged each and every trail and road in Washington County. They have also logged countless miles of proposed trails and routes. The entire county has been divided into several areas. Each area will have three options. A limited option where many trails are closed. A compromise or middle option that will see some closures. And the third option that opens up trails to motorized users. It will be our task to ensure that the BLM receives more comments from the mountain biking community than any other user group to ensure that we don’t lose any trails and hopefully gain the possible 200+ miles of proposed trails.
We strongly suggest you check back here for updates and follow us on Facebook as we post more regularly there, https://www.facebook.com/DMBTA.
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November News
It’s November and I’m sunburned. I have to admit that is not a complaint as much as it is me bragging about how much time I’ve been “forced” to spend outside the last few weeks. Apparently spending 2-4 hours in the sun, even in November can make you glow, even if it is just a little bit.
If you follow us on Facebook (and if you don’t you should), you’ve seen pictures of pink ribbons strung throughout the desert.
The BLM asked the DMBTA for help designing the newest addition to the Hurricane Cliffs trail network. We were ecstatic to be involved. The project consists of a connector trail allowing for more loop possibilities on single track. Specifically, there will be a section that goes from the JEM, just past the Virgin River Dam road crossing, down to the bathrooms. Across Sheep Bridge Road, there is another section that heads toward the mesa. Once at the fence, it will split. The trail to the right will take you back to the JEM. Head left and it will drop you onto the unnamed single track by the water tanks.
As this project has evolved, we’ve become more and more excited about it. We were able to get local trail building legend Morgan Harris to lend his time on a section and parts have been described by the BLM’s Dave Kiel as “instant classic.” We are confident everyone will enjoy the new trails.
This trail will have a few sections where there are A and B lines. This means there will be sections that are more difficult and have some possibility for a whoa factor, but no one will be forced to walk as there will be a B or flat liner around every one of these features. The trail is designed with all level of riders in mind.
I think we can all agree new single track is what it’s all about. Construction is scheduled to start this week.
The DMBTA also has some trail maintenance scheduled for this weekend. We will be trimming the corridor on Gooseberry Mesa. This will take place this coming Sunday. Meet at the Little Creek gas station in Apple Valley at 10 am. We will carpool as needed from there.
Further details can be found on the Facebook event page.
This is just the tip of the ice berg. The DMBTA board is busy working on several upcoming projects that will keep your tires on sweet trail. If you haven’t, join our efforts here.
Build. Maintain. Ride.
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JEM Drop Trail Day
As promised, the DMBTA was out this past Sunday rehabbing the drop on the JEM. Recent rains had caused dramatic erosion. Luckily, last year’s armoring project had worked fairly well and we mostly just needed to replace the dirt that had been removed by the water.
Thanks to those who came out. Those of you who missed out, we will be doing another trail day soon so stay tuned.
DMBTA
Due to current weather conditions, today’s trail work has been postponed until next week. Same time same place, 7 days later.
So that’s 9 AM at the upper trailhead on the 15th. Bring a shovel/rake and some water and snacks.
We apologize for any confusion.
See you next week.
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DMBTA First Saturday Group Rides
Great news!!! Dixie Mountain Bike Trails Association (DMBTA) announces “First Saturday Group Rides”.
Beginning in September and on the first Saturday of each month DMBTA will be hosting a group ride. Our goal is to break the group into an “A” and “B” group. The A group will be faster and more accomplished riders who want to enjoy a more spirited pace and some more challenging features. The B group will be a “no-drop” ride for riders who a seeking to improve their skills and who are more comfortable at a more relaxed pace. “B” group rides will place an emphasis on skills and confidence building as well as fun times….after all that’s why we all ride….right?
We will announce the location and meeting place for each ride at least a full week in advance so you can make plans. Our intention is to select trails in Washington County. However, if we get enough interest we would like to do an occasional ride out of our area such as Thunder Mountain, Navajo Lake/VRRT or the Rainbow Rim of the Grand Canyon. These are all day trips to epic ride locations which become much more manageable and economical if we can all ride-share.
We suggest the following:
Arrive on time!!!!! We believe in punctuality. If you’re late, odds are we’ll be gone.
BIKE:
A bike in good working order. Prepare your bike BEFORE the day of the ride. You don’t need a brand new or $10,000 bike to have fun but you do need a bike in good working order. If in doubt, have one of our local shops preform a tune-up.
GEAR:
Helmet: A good helmet can save your life. We respect your right to choose not to wear a helmet, you just wont be riding with us if you do. No exceptions.
Hydration Pack: A hydration pack with at 50 oz of capacity, where we live 70oz – 100oz are even better.
Basic tools such as tire levers, a pump, patch kit, spare tube.
First aid: A kit should include basic items such as a variety of band aids, antiseptic wipes, wound pads, ace-type bandage wrap, pain relievers.
Food: This is up to you but part of enjoying a ride is not “bonking”. Select easy to eat items. A PB&J sandwich is a favorite.
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Building, Maintaining and Riding Trails
With the recent changes the DMBTA has seen, we saw an opportunity to re-think and re-focus what it is we hope to achieve as an organization.
As we looked back upon the couple of years that the group has existed, we can see the rallying of the troops around the announcement and public comment period of the BLM’s Travel Management Plan. The mountain biking community came to life as soon as it was known that we could lose, or possibly gain some trails. And thus the
DMBTA were born.
Since that time we have grown, our relationship with land managers has continued to mature and we are more organized. We became a Charter Chapter of IMBA last year and with the strength of that international organization behind us, we hope to be able to make Southern Utah an even better place to ride.
In our last meeting, there were a lot of ideas thrown around about what we wanted to accomplish. In the end, everyone agreed that it comes back to trails. Without ’em, we have no where to ride. And thus it was settled, our focus has been and will always be trails; Building, Maintaining and Riding.
