2022 Sustainable Trails Conference
Bentonville, AR // Core Conference, March 29-31,2022
Conference Workshops //March 27-28 & March 31-April 2
PTBA's 2022 Sustainable Trails Conference brought together more than 300 professional trailbuilders, land managers, trail volunteers, and trail advocates for 3 days of education, networking, and trail exploration. Trail industry exhibitors demonstrated and shared their products indoors and outdoors, and 88 participants joined optional PTBA workshops for in-depth and field-based learning.
2022 Conference Proceedings
NOTE: Conference Sessions are summarized below including a link to a pdf of the presentation if speakers shared their presentation for publication on the PTBA website.
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022
CONCURRENT SESSION A: 9:20 - 10:30 am
Trails: The Foundation of Outdoor Recreation Impact
Katherine Andrews, Director, AR Office of Outdoor Recreation - Presentation
Greg Mazu, Singletrack Trails (PTBA Member) - Presentation
Trails and the outdoor recreation economy are intricately linked. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation is an economic powerhouse in the United States, each year generating $689 billion in consumer spending and 4.3 million jobs. Join this discussion on where trails fit in and how the economics of trails can have a huge impact nationally, regionally, and especially locally.
Northwest Arkansas Trailblazers: Lessons learned from a 20-year history, organizational growth & structure, and community engagement
Erin Rushing, Trailblazers+ETHIC
Designing and developing a first-class trail system requires collaboration between community leaders, area non-profits and most important, the community members themselves. For 20 years, the Trailblazers has been a community-driven organization which has built 150 miles of trail, completed 45 projects, and has 20 more trails in motion. Join this session to learn about their growth, structure and lessons learned over the last 20 years.
Pumptrack Design Essentials
Jérôme Pelland, Sentiers Boréals (PTBA Member)
Learn about the essentials of pumptrack design to create a successful track. The session will explain various surface types, foundation and drainage considerations, planning and design abstracts and the math to make it work.
How to Lead the Tailgate Safety Talk for Volunteer Work Crews
Robert Fina and Martha Becton, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
This session is designed to teach crew leaders for one day volunteer crew trips how to complete the pre-trip planning and deliver the Tailgate Safety talk to lead a safe work trip. Pre-trip planning topics include what to bring, emergency planning, relevant forms, location map, weather report, and hunting season. The safety talk topics include the work plan, specific hazards on the hike in or work site, a review of hazards and how to mitigate, tool hazards, passing protocols, PPE, trail users, end of day checklist and pre-departure checklist at the parking area.
CONCURRENT SESSION B: 10:50 am - 12:00 pm
Trails Are Common Ground
Dave Wiens, International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Trails are Common Ground is a proactive, growing, and inclusive national community of passionate trail users woven together by our love for trails and respect for one another. Join this session to learn about how this coalition (and you!) can make the trails places of Respect, Inclusivity, Safety, and Enjoyment for everyone.
Arkansas Trailbuilders Forum
PTBA Members: Phil Penny, Rogue Trails; Aaron Rogers, Rock Solid Trails; Nathan (Woody) Woodruff, Progressive Trail Design. Facilitated by Hogan Koesis, Trailblazers+ETHIC
Join this facilitated Q&A so that you can ask local trailbuilders about the regional trails. Whether you want to know about a specific feature, design and construction process, planning, funding, or what's next - local trailbuilders are ready to answer your questions!
Trail Funding
Vivien Hoang, FHWA Arkansas - Presentation
Greg Mazu, Singletrack Trails (PTBA Member) - Presentation
From RTP to GAOA to LWCF, 2021 and 2022 are seeing new funding sources for trails in addition to the time-tested RTP funds. Join this session to learn what is out there and what types of projects are eligible for different funding sources.
Universal Emergency Trail Markers
John Purcell, Cobb County Parks; Joey Heairlston, Cobb County Parks; Dave Ablashi, Cobb County Police
With over 150 miles of trails and thousands of visitors every month in Cobb County, we needed a standard system of trail addressing to improve emergency response. We are implementing a marker system using the US National Grid (USNG) Emergency Location markers (ELMs) standard. This project involves the installation of over 1000 markers throughout the County, and each location is added to our GIS system and CAD Dispatch, as an address point. This is improving response time to locate incidents
Seminar Session 1: 9:20 am - 12:00 pm
Trail Management 2.0: A multi-faceted, collaborative approach to developing lasting and valued trails and trail systems
Scott Linnenburger, Kay-Linn Enterprises (PTBA Member); Dr. Jeremy Wimpey, Applied Trails Research (PTBA Member)
This session will provide best practices regarding the classification and balancing of ecological, physical, social, and managerial trail sustainability, commonly used trail inventory and assessment processes, and sustainable trail design, construction, and maintenance techniques. The information is tailored for trail managers at the site or departmental level seeking to improve the quality of the trail user experience, reduce maintenance burden of their trail systems, and preserve natural ecological functions and values.
Plenary session, 12:30 - 1:15 pm
Keynote Speaker: Gary Vernon, Walton Family Foundation
A lifelong cyclist, Gary was the local volunteer group Friends of Arkansas Trails (FAST) president since 2008 before joining Steuart and Tom Walton full time in 2015, directing cycling advocacy and trail building projects. Gary Vernon will share the northwest Arkansas trail journey, how Bentonville started with 5 miles of trail in 2007 and grew into the Oz Trails Region with over 500 miles of purpose built mountain bike trails today. Those trails and other projects totaling over 1,100 state wide make up a network that has made Arkansas a worldwide trail destination.
CONCURRENT SESSION C: 2:20 - 3:30 pm
Developing a Data-Driven Trail Competency Framework
Dr. Kristy Anderson, Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University; James Freeman, Trailhead Consultants and Virginia Tech
Have you ever struggled with describing your own trail expertise, assessing the skills of a trail crew, or writing a trail-related job description? In this talk presenters will share the efforts of several federal land management agencies, American Trails, PTBA, and Indiana University’s Eppley Institute to develop shared language around trail skills and expertise. Through conducting a stakeholder outreach process, this group of professionals ultimately developed a trail competency framework. Join the session to learn about this project, the results of the research process, the opportunities created by shared framework, as well as a sneak preview to a new website (in development) that will put these competencies in action!
Iowa Communities and Sustainable Singletrack
Alex Buhmeyer, City of Coralville
Iowa Singletrack projects are on the rise! This session will outline how volunteer grassroots efforts can lead to community supported and funded projects. Case studies in numerous Iowa communities will explore how momentum with volunteerism and local media partnerships can gain traction to leverage donations and grants. These funding sources can lead to professional trail construction. We will also discuss government agency support and considerations when ensuring sustainability of trail networks with long term maintenance. The session will also touch on the importance of promoting cycling and facilitating engagement within the community with bike friendly amenities, initiatives, and events.
Bridges 101
Charlie Dundas, Tri-State Company (PTBA Member)
This session will introduce the basic types of trail and pedestrian bridges and includes a discussion of the basic considerations of bridge design, site selection, the "physics of bridge functioning,” dead load, live load, and moment of load. The presentation includes photos, drawings, and animations.
Stone Structures for Pedestrian Trails
Erin Amadon, Town 4 Trail Services, LLC (PTBA Member), Willie Bittner, Great Lakes Trailbuilders (PTBA Member)
Stonework is not for everyone, but for those with patience, attention to detail, a hard work ethic, and a general love for puzzles, stonework can be one of the most rewarding forms of trail work. Explore, through a slide show presentation, the various stone structures which can be used in trail construction. This session will further explore the ideal rock size and shapes for structures, safe transportation methods, and construction techniques for stone structures.
CONCURRENT SESSION D: 3:50 - 5:00 pm
Master Planning to Reality: Creating a positive user experience at lift-served bike parks through smart planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations
Patrick Olstad, Senior Landscape Architect at SE Group; Mark Hayes, Owner of Highland Mountain Bike Park and Highland Trails LLC
This presentation will communicate the value of good master planning and provide insightful recommendations for operating a successful and profitable bike park. Drawing upon the results of an online survey of mountain bikers, the presentation will highlight key ingredients for a positive overall visitor experience and opportunities to broaden the market for lift-served mountain biking. This topic will be explored from the perspective of a resort planner and the owner of a successful bike park and trail building company.
Creating Sustainable Trails Systems in Working Timber Forests
Eddie Kessler, Ptarmigan Ptrails (PTBA Member)
Building out a trail system in an industrial forest that the county uses for timber harvest and revenue has its challenges! This session will share lessons learned after four years of work at Whisky Run Trails (Oregon) including: practical building applications; community development; political strategy; and ecosystem services.
WV Outdoor Recreation Economy
Rich Edwards, West Virginia University
The Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University (WVU) is using West Virginia’s outdoor assets to ignite the economy, develop world-class recreational infrastructure, and expand outdoor educational opportunities. Join this session to learn how they are leveraging the intellectual capital of WVU and the state's natural resources to create a powerful, sustainable, and community-driven outdoor recreation economy.
Basic Soil Mechanics for Trail Builders
Alex Man, Scatliff+Miller+Murray
Soil types vary widely all over the world - and even on a single trail! Understanding the physical characteristics of soil and having the ability to categorize soil is VERY important to successful trailbuilding. This session will provide trailbuilders with applicable knowledge of soil including soil description, grain size distribution and its measurement, clay plasticity, and compaction curves and the importance of water.
PLENARY SESSION: 5:20-6:10 pm
Keynote Speaker: Jeremy McGhee, The UNPavement Project
The UNPavement Project Founder and Pro Rider, Jeremy P. McGhee, has become a global leader in adaptive trail and feature assessment. Not only does his unique expertise bring the element of adaptive design to any project, but also enables him to perform actual ride testing, while considering all abilities, disabilities and equipment types throughout the process. Providing better and safer access for adaptive mountain bikers creates a more enjoyable experience for all.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022
CONCURRENT SESSION E: 9:15 - 10:30 am
Assessing and Designing trails for A-MTB’s
Jeremy McGhee, The UNPavement Project
The phrase Adaptive Trails bears an air of segregation, and this session will address major misconceptions. The session will share case studies on how to build trails that are exciting for everyone and how to identify the minimal obstacles to create the maximum mileage for adaptive friendly routes on your existing network. Jeremy will also provide an in-depth look at his unique rating system, rider spectrum, and some of the controversy.
Trail Planning Technology
Jon Altschuld, Chinook Landscape Architecture LLC (PTBA Member); Tony Boone, Tony Boone Trails (PTBA Member)
Chinook and Tony Boone Trails have completed several projects using drones to maximize efficiency and available data. This presentation will focus on the types of data drones can collect, and how they can be used on trail projects. In large part, this presentation will highlight the processes Chinook and Tony Boone Trails have developed to integrate drones at multiple stages of a projects ranging from pre-design to design to construction. We will discuss geolocated pictures and videos, GPS tracked flight logs for preliminary trail alignments, 3D site data collection, bringing data into GIS, and creating 3D models of proposed designs within the collected site data.
Mechanized Trailbuilding Primer
PTBA Member Panel: Cam Lockwood, Trails Unlimited; Jed Talbot, OBP Trailworks; Jon Underwood, Happy Trails Alaska
Mechanized trailbuilding has revolutionized the trail industry over the last 25 years. From specialized dozers to mini-excavators to crawler carriers, the advantages of small earthmovers include faster rates of production and the ability to sculpt a more consistent trail tread. Through a combination of field footage and expert speakers, this webinar will provide a primer on mechanized trailbuilding equipment including Mini-Excavators, Trail Dozers, Tracked Dumpers and Haulers, Skid Steers/Mini Skid Steers, and Compactors.
The DIRTT Project: A European Framework for Trail Builder Training
Thomas Larsen Schmidt (IMBA Europe), Mark McClure (TrailTools), Graeme McLean (Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland), Sylvain Haederli (BikePlan AG) and Lars Wraae Jensen (DIRTT project manager)
The DIRTT project (Developing Inter-European Resources for Trail builder Training) is the first joint effort to create shared educational resources and frameworks for mountain bike trail design, construction, maintenance, and management across Europe. The population of mountain bikers across the European continent is rapidly growing, and developing a system for creating sustainable, purpose-built trails is paramount. The organizations involved in the DIRTT project come from a variety of backgrounds, including municipalities, tourism, advocacy, sports associations, and government education institutions. The eight project partners involved are spread across the continent, representing Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland and Switzerland. Join us to dig further into this ground-breaking project!
SESSION F: 11:00 am - 12:10 pm
A-MTB’s, Wheelchairs and Trail Sign Information
Quinn Brett, National Park Service, Wilderness: Accessibility: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Programs.
This session will cover laws and regulations, as well as some discussion on how building quality sustainable trails naturally lend themselves to more usable trails for a variety of mobility devices users.
After the Build: Comprehensive Trail Stewardship
Steve Schneider and Justin Culpepper, Rogue Trails (PTBA Member)
In this session, speakers will discuss a mindful approach to creating a collaborative effort in support of trail systems timelessly. From connecting the dots of community resources to nurturing sustainable trail stewardship through local community engagement, speakers will highlight the value of placing the right tools in your post build toolbox so that you can hand it off to local stewards to keep the trail experience dialed.
Excavator Deep Dive
Jérôme Pelland, Sentiers Boréals (PTBA Member); Aaron Rogers, Rock Solid Trails (PTBA Member)
The mini-excavator is the number one piece of equipment used by professionals for trail construction. This session digs deeply into this venerated machine with information on different brands and models, costs for operation and maintenance, trail-specific modifications, and tips learned from the field from two of North America’s premier trailbuilders.
US Forest Service and National Park Service Partnerships: The Trail Partnership Research Project
James Freeman, Trailhead Strategies and Virginia Tech
The US Forest Service and National Park Service engage in partnerships with a variety of organizations to help support our national trail systems. These "trail partnerships" take many shapes with various goals, management structures, and levels of success. The USFS and NPS have partnered with Virginia Tech's Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation to research the factors that may make these partnerships more or less successful and develop recommendations to improve current and future partnerships. In this session, James Freeman, PhD Candidate at Virginia Tech, will discuss the existing research around federal trail partnerships, how this study will expand that knowledge, and he will share preliminary results from phase one of the research project.
SEMINAR SESSION 3: 9:30 am - 12:10 pm
Trail Contract Administration
Mike Shields, Mike Shields Consulting (PTBA Member)
This session will cover the the strategies for your contract performance to be a smooth versus nightmare experience for the client and/or the contractor. Mike will provide an overview with particular emphasis on contract lines of authority, pre-bid actions, the inspection process and problems, and contract closure. Please bring your own successes and/or failures to share. This seminar builds upon Mike’s decades of experience with the National Park Service managing trail projects and as a private consultant.
SESSION G: 2:15 - 3:25 pm
Taking on the Plunge
Greg Mazu, Singletrack Trails (PTBA Member)
The Palisade Plunge Trail project involved the planning, design and construction of a unique, world-class mountain biking and multi-use trail that connects the top of the Grand Mesa at the existing Mesa Top Trailhead parking lot to the valley floor in the Town of Palisade. At approximately 34 miles long and over 6000’ of vertical relief, the Plunge is one of a handful of similar singletrack trail routes worldwide and was the first mountain biking trail to be designed and built by Mesa County.
Assessing constructed features in the outdoors using DORAP
Todd Ackerman, Beneficial Designs
Access to developed outdoor recreation areas and trailheads is critical for the inclusion of all Americans but combining the words "Accessibility" and "Outdoor Recreation" may seem overwhelming or unobtainable. The Developed Outdoor Recreation Assessment Process (DORAP) has been created to systematically collect information about different types of constructed features such as picnic tables, grills, etc., in outdoor recreation areas and evaluate them for compliance with applicable federal guidelines and standards, including the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Recreation.
Trail Dozer Deep Dive
Tony Boone, Tony Boone Trails/Timberline TrailCraft (PTBA Member) - Presentation
Cam Lockwood, Trails Unlimited (PTBA Member) - Presentation
The trail dozer was the first machine ever designed and manufactured specifically for trail construction. Calling on their decades of experience, PTBA members will describe the evolution of these machines and present information on the choices of brands and models, costs for operation and maintenance, ideal vs suboptimal terrain types, and tips learned from the field.
High Community Impact Trail Systems: Successful and Innovative Approaches To Rapidly Creating A Trail-Rich Community
Scott Linnenburger, Kay-Linn Enterprises (PTBA Member)
Most of our common examples for healthy, happy, trail-focused communities developed organically over fifteen to twenty years and depend on access to hundreds of thousands of acres of public land conditions that simply aren’t viable for many communities. Many communities across the country have made up for lost time or lack of abundant land in innovative ways - from creating unwitting or unusual community influencers, to tapping into alternative funding sources and even private investment. By not following the rules of the past, these communities are proving that “going big” by being strategic is their charted course for a successful trails future. Scott has been involved with many of these projects over the last 15 years, learning to recognize and facilitate the key elements of successful, rapidly developed trails communities. He will present numerous examples and engage the group in an active discussion around these high-impact trail developments.
Women in Trailbuilding - Informal Gathering
Women only for this informal gathering! No presentations, just connections. Through informal discussions, PTBA is hoping to identify strategies to support current women trailbuilders and engage more women in our industry.
Thursday, MARCH 31, 2022
SESSION H: 9:50 - 11:00 am
Promoting Sustainable Trails in Patagonia
Jedediah Talbot, OBP Trailworks, LLC (PTBA Member); Willie Bittner, Great Lakes Trailbuilders (PTBA Member)
Patagonia is a region that represents the epitome of adventure travel. Paradoxically, few sustainably designed trail systems exist there. Since 2017, Jed Talbot has been coordinating efforts for the development of two major recreational trail systems. To date, over 100 Patagonians have been trained in the principles of sustainable trail design and construction with the assistance of over 25 trail professionals from the US. Hundreds of kilometers of trail are being built along with the infrastructure needed to promote responsible public use. Jed and Willie will share some of the highlights and lessons learned from these ambitious and inspiring projects. Learn more about the innovative new volunteer model for this project!
Boost your Productivity: Tools of the Trade
Jérôme Pelland, Sentiers Boréals (PTBA Member)
Discover tips & tricks of the trade. Join this session for an overview of all the new and time-tested products and solutions to boost your productivity in trail design & construction. This in depth and broad overview will include everything from project management software to mapping to mechanized equipment.
Cleveland’s Multi-Pronged Trailbuilding & Management Strategy
Cleveland Metroparks: Ralph Protano, Trails Development Manager; Andrew Weldon, Lead Technician; Jackson Wolf, Mountain Bike Trails Coordinator; Erica Hirsch, Trails Signage Coordinator
As a young program, the Cleveland Metroparks Trails Division has the luxury of forging their own identity with no prior blueprint. Attendees will learn how the Trails Division utilizes a multi-pronged approach to maximize its efforts. Anchored by a small in-house team, the Trails Division has grown its program by partnering with Professional Trailbuilders, volunteer groups, and local youth and national Conservation Corps. This flexible model allows it to form-fit the workforce for the task at hand, developing a mosaic of diverse, sustainable trails to accommodate one of the most heavily-used trail systems in the nation.
Educating Our Future Trail Professionals: Digging In Deeper
Tony Boone, Tony Boone Trails/Timberline Trail Craft (PTBA Member)
Rich Edwards, West Virginia University
Keith Gipson, Trinidad State College
Mark McClure, The DIRTT Project - Presentation
A shortage of trained trail professionals in all areas is being felt on a local, national, and global level. As a result, there is a need to provide high-quality employees to the trails industry and land management agencies, while helping promote professional activities in trail work as a legitimate life-long career, as compared to the traditional seasonal labor concept. Panelists will give overviews of programs they have contributed to and discuss the various pitfalls and successes they have encountered along the way. The session will conclude with Q & A.
SESSION I: 11:20 am - 12:30 pm
Bridges 103
Charlie Dundas, Tri-State Company, PTBA Member
Case studies of the construction of four differing trail bridge designs, detailing the thought behind the selection of the type of bridge, the process, material, and critical path of construction. Also included are display of the elements of construction control used by Tri-State Company, Inc. [Nikon Total Station EDM, Trimble Recon Construction Computer, and Nikon Auto level as well as older style of transit levels and measuring tools]. This presentation will focus on the following types of bridges: Cable suspension, glu-lam beam, prefabricated steel, and curvilinear screw-lam bridges.
Mountain Bike Destinations Are More Than Just The Trails—Lessons From The Kingdom Trails Network Capacity Study
Drew Pollak-Bruce, SE Group; Abby Long, Kingdom Trails (virtual)
Over the past few years Kingdom Trails has become one of the most popular mountain bike destinations in the US, with upwards of 150,000 annual visits. With this growth, the community has experienced increasing impacts – both positive and negative. The trails generate tremendous economic impact and are a fantastic recreation resource. However, the existing level of use places pressure on the community, its infrastructure, and the trails 100+ private landowners. This session will share results from our Network Capacity Study, which analyzed capacity and established balance across the trails and the community fabric and tourism infrastructure that surround them.
Roundtable: Trails, Climate Change, and Resiliency
Jérôme Pelland, Sentiers Boréals (PTBA Member)
What strategies can trail designers and builders implement to put trails on the ground that will stand the test of climate change including flooding, fires, extreme weather? What role to trails have in the larger conversation around community resiliency as it related to climate change? Join this conversation!
Hybrid Contracting
Ryan Spates, S&S Trails (PTBA Member)
Combining the efforts of volunteers, youth corps and/or agency crews with the expertise and "heavy lift" ability of contractors is commonly known as "Hybrid Contacting.” This session will examine the technical side of creating teaming agreements/contractual arrangements, as well as case studies with successful outcomes and lessons learned from less successful projects.
