West Engelsman Reroute Project Update

We started on the West Engelsman reroute project at Wilder Ranch last week, and completed a short section of elevated rock causeway at the bottom, as well as initial brushing on the trail corridor. Our hope was it would have rained a little bit by mid November and our plan was to start excavation this week. Alas, it has been a long dry summer and now fall and we don't have adequate rain for trail construction yet. This trail is going to be a busy multi-use trail with heavy traffic including horses and we want to ensure we can get good compaction in the tread, hence the need for moisture. We are hoping by the end of the Thanksgiving break we may have enough moisture to start, and if not we may at least build a short section (with full bench techniques) to access some of our other rock armoring projects and get started on those. We are still planning for a Dig Day on December 8th sponsored by Santa Cruz County Horsemens Association, and Trail Academy class 105 on Dec 15th. Look closely - you can see the flagged trail corridor! MBOSC trail staff have been busy brushing the corridor in preparation for excavation. MBOSC trail staff and the California State Parks trail crew hand picked every single rock (hundreds, maybe thousands of rocks) from a quarry for the rock causeway. This trail is built with intention. Bruce Dorman, our new Trail Builder, loves rocks! He has spent a lot of time at the West Engelsman Reroute Project... Joe Graney, Garen Becker, and Allan Cooke from Santa Cruz Bicycles came out to lend a hand. They helped us carefully place rocks (and smash them!). Thanks guys! The new trail will not disappoint those who seek nature's beauty on their trail adventures.