As we close out 2012, a big "thank you" to all the VMB trail committees, volunteers, and their families who sacrificed their time to make the trails we care for the best they can be. We generated over 900 volunteer-hours this year on a wide range of projects representing a good mix of storm-damage related work and permanent trail improvement and expansion.
Whether it was both cutting in new trail and cutting back the AO at Trex; trimming Sals in its entirety and other volunteering efforts in preparation for the inaugural Endurorama; working to clear literally tons of fallen pine at Nockamixon post-Sandy; as well as work done at SME/SMB - mountain bikers stepped up when asked. What's even cooler, is that this list includes only a small portion of all the work that volunteers undertook this year locally.
It's easy for us to forget that mountain bikers in many communities across the U.S. have no access to even one decent trail within a decent drive (let alone quick pedal) from home. Even if they are fortunate enough to have a trail, it may be dependent on budget-impacted government maintenance or well-intended but unorganized efforts by members of the public and the lack of care and planning shows. To have FIVE very diverse and well-maintained trail systems to choose from within a 45-minute drive of each other is awesome.
Thanks again and Happy New Year everyone!