Recap: Trail Crew Leader Training Sponsored by Santa Cruz Bicycles 2017

That's a wrap! Our 2017 Trail Crew Leader Training course sponsored by Santa Cruz Bicycles commenced on Saturday, Nov. 18, graduating 50 new Trail Crew Leaders. Over the course of three field visits, our students completed a reroute of the Lookout Trail in Pogonip, turning a highly eroded section of trail into a hiking paradise. We realize Trail Crew Leader Training requires commitment, with three classroom sessions and three field visits out on the trail digging, which is why we reached out to our friends at Santa Cruz Bicycles to help sweeten the deal. They happily obliged, and because of their support, we were able to offer custom rewards: hard hats, t-shirts, field guides, and handsaws, and a special commencement BBQ including an all-you-can-eat spread from our friends at Tacos El Chuy. We want to extend a huge thank you to Santa Cruz Bicycles for their ongoing support of our grassroots efforts to turn mountain bikers into trail stewards. We’ve now helped over 120 volunteers graduate from the class. Trail Crew Leaders are an integral part of MBOSC Dig Days, as we rely heavily on their training and leadership to guide crews of volunteers through trail work throughout the day. Trail Crew Leaders do everything from explaining how to build a drain, to making sure their crew takes a break to have lunch. In years past we have performed over 4,000 hours of trail work with over 300 volunteers, and that would not be possible without the many Trail Crew Leaders leading them. We are elated to have a new class with expertise lead our volunteers in the busy season ahead. We're happy to share photos from the class by Bruce Dorman with you! It was a beautiful day for trail work in Pogonip Open Space Preserve. With recent rains, the dirt was perfect for building a new trail. We had lots of friends from MORCA enrolled in the course. Our class learned to place tools not currently being used on the upside of the trail. Tom Wilson, longtime volunteer, opened his business, Geo H. Wilson, for all Santa Cruz classes, and a super fun commencement party. Students renaturalize the trail to make it look like it has always been there. Soil scientist, MBOSC board member, and head of the MBOSC Science Committee, Meagan Hynes, led a demonstration of "Dirt by Feel" for the entire class. She is a really good teacher. Students feel dirt to determine whether or not it is beloved loam. Flags mark what work needs to be done, and where. MBOSC staff mark the trail before all trail work events. Several Santa Cruz Bicycles employees graduated from the course. A few committed volunteers spent the day building a retaining wall for a switchback turn. Stirling Erikkson, owner of Cycle Works, took the course with two of his employees. He plans to attend every Dig Day this season.