Dig Day Recap: West Engelsmans Reroute
May 6, 2019
Words by Emma Ussat
Saturday, April 27 was our last Dig Day of the season with Current eBikes in Wilder Ranch State Park! Over sixty volunteers, staff, and CA State Park employees, worked hard all day in the glorious sun to try our best at getting close to finishing the new West Engelsmans Reroute. Volunteers and staff hauled over ten wheelbarrow loads of rock each to determined weak spots on the trail. We were thankful for all the rain a month ago because it allowed us to foresee areas that needed embedded rock before the trail is open.
Mike Ahern, owner of Current eBikes, has been a huge supporter of MBOSC since day one. Current eBikes sponsors a Dig Day every year as well as the Old Cabin Classic and Old Growth Classic. He goes the extra mile to make sure we have ebikes for course marshals and shows up to every public meeting we ask him to to advocate for mountain bike access. We are huge fans of Mike and his store, located at the end of Pacific Avenue, and we hope you will give him a high-five the next time you see him!
Some volunteers have been to every Dig Day this season and have seen the trail transform from pin flags to cemented tread.
“It’s been awesome working on the Englesman reroute and seeing how much progress has been made over the season. Each time I come out there’s something new!” Zach Kelly, devoted MBOSC volunteer, exclaimed. He went on, “MBOSC’s Dig days always inspire me. The feeling I get from giving back to the trails—something that brings so much joy—is one of a kind.”
Hello! I am MBOSC's Community Outreach Manager, and one part of my job is managing Dig Days. I’m so proud of everyone’s hard work this year and grateful for all the support from the local community to make these events happen. It really does take a village to build and maintain trails, and we could not do our work without our tribe of volunteers, staff, local industry, and community. It’s bittersweet to end the Dig Day season, but I am looking forward to next season already. The work doesn’t stop with Dig Days, though. We’re already moving full steam ahead into the next few projects!
I want to thank the MBOSC Trails Crew: Drew Perkins, Cob Hyde, Bruce Dorman, Peter Katsaros, Liam Ruff, for working day in and out on our local trails all season long. I want to thank Amanda Schaper and Ian Stowe for capturing the essence of Dig Days through video recaps, a first this year. Most of all, I want to thank Kristen Webster, my intern, for being the smiling, warm and welcoming face behind the MBOSC booth this year. Thanks, Kristen! We will miss you.
If you participated at a Dig Day this season, or volunteered with MBOSC in any other capacity, please join us for Camp Dig It May 31-June 2. We are hosting a weekend long campout at Camp Loma with riding, games, catered meals, live music, and adult beverages to say thank you! You can learn more and sign up here.
Saturday, April 27 was our last Dig Day of the season with Current eBikes in Wilder Ranch State Park! Over sixty volunteers, staff, and CA State Park employees, worked hard all day in the glorious sun to try our best at getting close to finishing the new West Engelsmans Reroute. Volunteers and staff hauled over ten wheelbarrow loads of rock each to determined weak spots on the trail. We were thankful for all the rain a month ago because it allowed us to foresee areas that needed embedded rock before the trail is open.
Mike Ahern, owner of Current eBikes, has been a huge supporter of MBOSC since day one. Current eBikes sponsors a Dig Day every year as well as the Old Cabin Classic and Old Growth Classic. He goes the extra mile to make sure we have ebikes for course marshals and shows up to every public meeting we ask him to to advocate for mountain bike access. We are huge fans of Mike and his store, located at the end of Pacific Avenue, and we hope you will give him a high-five the next time you see him!
Some volunteers have been to every Dig Day this season and have seen the trail transform from pin flags to cemented tread.
“It’s been awesome working on the Englesman reroute and seeing how much progress has been made over the season. Each time I come out there’s something new!” Zach Kelly, devoted MBOSC volunteer, exclaimed. He went on, “MBOSC’s Dig days always inspire me. The feeling I get from giving back to the trails—something that brings so much joy—is one of a kind.”
Two ways to wheelbarrow...
Team Work Makes the Dream Work
All Dig Days include bagels, coffee, bagged lunches from New Leaf Community Markets, as well as post work snacks and refreshments. Dig Day sponsors provide raffles, and in this case Current eBikes’ raffle included five gift certificates, really nice pedals, multi-tools, a full service suspension cert, and more. Thanks guys!A Special Note from Emma:
Hello! I am MBOSC's Community Outreach Manager, and one part of my job is managing Dig Days. I’m so proud of everyone’s hard work this year and grateful for all the support from the local community to make these events happen. It really does take a village to build and maintain trails, and we could not do our work without our tribe of volunteers, staff, local industry, and community. It’s bittersweet to end the Dig Day season, but I am looking forward to next season already. The work doesn’t stop with Dig Days, though. We’re already moving full steam ahead into the next few projects!
I want to thank the MBOSC Trails Crew: Drew Perkins, Cob Hyde, Bruce Dorman, Peter Katsaros, Liam Ruff, for working day in and out on our local trails all season long. I want to thank Amanda Schaper and Ian Stowe for capturing the essence of Dig Days through video recaps, a first this year. Most of all, I want to thank Kristen Webster, my intern, for being the smiling, warm and welcoming face behind the MBOSC booth this year. Thanks, Kristen! We will miss you.
If you participated at a Dig Day this season, or volunteered with MBOSC in any other capacity, please join us for Camp Dig It May 31-June 2. We are hosting a weekend long campout at Camp Loma with riding, games, catered meals, live music, and adult beverages to say thank you! You can learn more and sign up here.
That's a wrap on this season's Dig Days! We can't wait until they start again this fall!
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