CURRENT AND PAST PROJECTS

Working in cooperation with the Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association (CIMBA), Alex led a volunteer work party to perform finish work on the Heinrich Demonstration Trail.  The event was a huge success, and we finished up our work as the snow began to fall!  Stay tuned for Spring work party dates...

During the last week of October, Alex began construction on the Heinrich Demonstration Trail, the first official single-track sidewalk in Valley County, Idaho! With over 70 miles of trail planned, the network will connect existing trails, mountain bike riding centers, and recreation destinations all across the valley and beyond. A huge shout out to the Valley County Pathways Committee, the Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association (CIMBA), the Valley County Economic Development Council, and everyone else who helped get the ordinance passed and put this project in motion!

During the summer of 2020 Alex has been advising the Idaho Trails Association with technical trail projects across the state of Idaho.  The first week was spent logging out and performing tread and drainage maintenance  on the beautiful Long Canyon Creek trail in Boundary County. The second week was spent on White Cap Creek in the headwaters of the Selway River, and the third trip took us to the abandoned Snow Peak Lookout, deep in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.  

During the last week of June, Alex led a training in grip hoist use, mechanical advantage, and footbridge construction.  Over three days, and using nothing but hand tools, the trail and wilderness crews were able to build a 24' bridge, a 15' bridge, and repair several tread and drainage issues on the trail around Strawberry Lake.

To help expand and connect the network of singletrack trails around McCall, Alex has been providing design and consultation services for Valley County Pathways, Donnelly Pathways, the Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association, and the West Central Mountains Economic Development Council.  With county approval, we hope to begin building later this year!

With a scheduled opening of summer 2020 (delayed due to COVID!), we have finished  the second trail of our Skills Park series for Facebook and the Central Oregon Trail Alliance, in Prineville, Oregon.  Check the gallery to see pics, or if you're in the neighborhood come out and see the park for yourself!

Now open, the 66 Trails Intermediate Skills Pod features 15 features across a 1/3 mile desert course.  From wood berms to dirt features to log skinnies, this trail has a little bit of everything to level-up your skills!  

Working with crews from the Forest Service and the John Day Watershed Council last summer, Alex led a four day training in proper and effective drainage design and construction.  With the crews working hard, we were even able to build a 24' turnpike to repair a boggy creek crossing.

Working with crews from the Forest Service and the Montana Conservation Corps,  Alex provided consultation and training services to repair trails in the Rapid River watershed and the McCall area last summer.  

As part of his master's thesis project, Alex analyzed threats to water quality from motorized recreation on Payette Lake.  To request a copy of the final report, prepared for the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Council, the City of McCall, and the Valley County Commissioners, please use the contact form.