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“Man’s heart away from Nature becomes hard.” -Standing Bear

“Man’s heart away from Nature becomes hard.” -Standing Bear . 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%. Soils are Less Stable.

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“Man’s heart away from Nature becomes hard.” -Standing Bear

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  1. “Man’s heart away from Nature becomes hard.” -Standing Bear

  2. 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%

  3. Soils are Less Stable • Sandy and rocky • Little clay • No organic binders • Low shear strength

  4. Design a Positive Experience

  5. Design For Safety • Calming devices • Sight Lines • Appropriate Width

  6. Protect Resources • Habitat • Historical/Cultural • Trails that meet needs

  7. Give ‘em What They Want! • Viewpoints • Loops • Places of interest Or they will go there anyway!

  8. Make it Fun! • Contours, turns and dips • Variety is the spice of trails

  9. Be Consistent • Sudden changes = bad • Sudden changes without warning = very bad

  10. Safety First • Calming devices can be fun • Open sight lines • Wide at beginning • Wide on steep side slopes

  11. Construction

  12. Crossing Drainages • Check dams above and below • Contour into large drainages • Cross at a right angle

  13. Crossing Large Drainages • Build up with crib walls • Direct flow to middle • Downstream side higher

  14. Rocks Rock

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. Armoring • When all else fails… • Leave an option for stock • Find a molar

  19. Getting Water Off • Rolling grade dip, not so good • Grade reversal is best • Done properly, knicks work well

  20. Diversions • Why wait? Sometimes you can take the water off before it hits the trail

  21. Outslope • Aggressive is good (5-8%) • Ankle roll test

  22. Aesthetics • Build with a light touch • The desert recovers slowly • Make a new trail look old

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. Thank You!!

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