Camp Chosatonga
This project was focused on enhancing the mountain bike program at Camp Chosatonga by developing on-site skills areas that include short trails and integrated features designed specifically for instruction and progression. The trails and features will be intuitive for coaching, allowing instructors to easily demonstrate techniques while providing a welcoming experience for beginner riders and optional advanced lines for skill development. The work included clearing corridors and underbrush, constructing a green-level flow trail, a blue-level ‘natural’ style trail, and a skills area. Additional improvements included installing a culvert at an existing bridge location for a wider, safer crossing, constructing a new bridge to the grass field, and placing skills features throughout the skills area to maximize terrain variety and rider engagement. The project will also include cleaning and grading the drop-in areas, installing a large informational sign with a trail map and riding tips, smaller descriptive trail signs, and re-naturalizing all disturbed areas to ensure a polished appearance and long-term sustainability.
Week 1
The project began with removing the old bridge that spanned the creek between the field and where the trails would be built
The new 16ft bridge was then constructed to provide a more sturdy and safer exit from the trail system
The work on the trails would then begin with underbrushing and corridoring for the green machine-built flow trail, blue hand-built natural trail, and skills area
Week 2
Work continued on building the green flow trail with the machine, and completed by the end of the week
The blue natural trail, which was built entirely by hand, was finished by mid-week
The work on the skills area began at the beginning of the week and completed mid-week
The skills area includes a small jump made out of dirt for campers to learn to let the wheels leave the ground. We also built 3 progressive drops, all constructed out of wood, and set at slightly higher heights from one another
The skills area also incorporates a log that was milled flat on top by our in-house sawmill to act as a ‘skinny’ feature to give campers a chance to practice balance and control
This project was finished with re-naturalization to prevent erosion, stabilize soil, and give the trail system a better overall look
Continuation
We will return to the camp in the spring, before the camp season kicks off, to freshen up the trail after a winter of weathering
We will also install trail signs as well as a main trail map to give campers a way to orient themselves