The Reno Western Trailbuilders Association
Conference was a big hit! Our Advanced Trail building School was the
biggest and best event I have ever experienced!
High profile land managers, trail users and trail builders from all over
the US and Canada attended our 3-day event. We covered nearly everything
including:
1. IMBA intro, 10 steps of design
2. Safety, basic construction, turns and bridges
3. Evolving MTB users, armoring for sustainability, Wales story.
4. Technical features for MTB trails, alternative sustainable trail design
for DH/Freeride trail users.
5. Trail system success from BC and Scotland.
6. How to foster Volunteer clubs and Partnerships.
The US Forest Service sent trails/recreation managers from California,
Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
The Bureau of Land Management had attendees from Alaska and Nevada.
State Parks, Department of Land and Natural
Resources, City Parks, Open Space agencies from California, Nevada, Maui,
Oahu, Reno, Chico, Breckenridge, Granby and Jefferson County.
IMBA club reps from SHARE Orange County CA, SBMTV Santa Barbara CA, MORC
Minnesota, PUMP Portland Oregon, TAMBA Lake Tahoe.
Old IMBA friends like Christopher Doues, Jim Schmidt, Woody Keenes and Ed
Sutton made it from all across the states.
Some of the most highly respected and influential trail builders, teachers
and land managers from the West got their first taste of IMBA.
Troy Scott Parker gave us an amazing introduction talking about the
youthful energy of our staff and Trail Care Crews.
On Valentines Day, Jim Schimdt introduced himself with countless anecdotes
of how every IMBA event he has seen ended in a collective "love fest."
New comers said they only came to witness the "IMBA phenomenon"!
Karl Knapp who consults works in 22 California state parks and is
considered to be "the trail guru" had a great time for the two days he
attended.
We worked towards finding solutions for touchy issues like illegal DH
trails, liability, user conflict and shrinking land manager budgets.
For the work day 50 students revolved through stations taking part in: a
450 ft Riparian Restoration Project led by Scott, a 550 ft bench cut
including a small crib wall led by Joey, a very difficult trail alignment
scenario led by Aaryn and 3 tons of rock were added to a DH trail to add
challenge and sustainability by Rich.
Everyone was truly blown away at how it all came together. Scott and Aaryn
rocked, and Rich pulled together some amazing construction logistics. For
me it was like a reunion with old trail care crew contacts from entire
Western United States.
We will have several new contract possibilities for Trail Solutions.
IMBA's notoriety with land managers from the west has never been better!
Thanks should go out to Dale Beesmer our Nevada state Rep, Land manager
Patti Bakker and Linda Nelson Washoe County Parks, Troy Scott Parker, Karl
Knapp and all our IMBA friends.
Joey Klein
IMBA Trails Specialist
joey@imba.com
cell: 303-601-2410
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Rich Edwards from IMBA gives the traditional
"tool talk" before trail work begins
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