Enticer

 When Andrew surveyed the surrounding landscape where most of us would have seen an old rutted out road sprinkled with small jumps and failing water-bars, he saw potential for a world class trail.  Fast forward one year and we are elbows deep in creating something that will put Swasey Recreation area on the map for mountain bike enthusiasts.  Nothing of this scope and quality exists within a 200 mile radius.

Our goal with this project was to provide the mountain bike community  with a trail they could feel good about progressing on.  A trail unlike any other in Redding where riders of all skill levels can grow by pushing their limits, trying something new and feel comfortable while doing it.

But fun is only one of the goals of this project.  We want to work with land managers to create trails that are sustainable - ecologically, physically, managerially and socially - and we saw a great opportunity to meet these goals with the Wintu road-to-trail conversion.  Ecologically, we decompacted and narrowed the old road surface, tilling the hardened soil to allow water infiltration and provide an ideal surface for native flora to take root.  Physically, we created constant grade changes and out sloped the new trail surface, moving water off the trail as often as possible and minimizing erosion caused by surface runoff.  Managerially, we created a trail that drains well, creates a new recreation opportunity, is well signed, and will be maintained by a local volunteer group.  We also provided land managers with the skill, expertise, and labor to build a type of trail that isn’t in any handbook or standardized manual, but rather comes from years of riding and a passion for building great trails.  Socially, we have given riders a place to progress and have fun, satisfying an unmet need and hopefully curtailing the likelihood of illegal trail and jump building.