Red Rocks, Cottonwood Valley, and Vertical Deadfall
In one week we’ve gone from the deep forests of the Sierra to the stark beauty of the Mojave. Welcome to the West, baby…
I love the desert. To some it seems like a wasteland, but to me it’s beautiful. There’s no place else where you can witness life in such a delicate balance. Working in Red Rock National Conservation Area was a great privilege and a chance to experience the desert in an entirely new context.
Our work in Red Rocks focused on the Cottonwood Valley trail system, a network of fun and flowy singletrack action. At first glance, it might be easy to look beyond the flatter rolling terrain of the area, thinking that drainage would never be a problem. Contrary to popular belief, it does rain in the desert. When it happens, it comes in inches per minute not inches per hour. As a result, a seemingly benign trail can become a rutted trench in no time flat.
The weekend project was dedicated to re-routing one such trail. After working in the forests of the Pacific Northwest and California, we had to remind ourselves that vegetation is not quick to regenerate here. So, on Friday, we flagged a design that minimized the impact to existing flora. Instead of taking plant material out, we simply used it to anchor the trail. This wasn’t difficult since most everything around Red Rocks comes with sharp points, spines, or painful needles. I tested this scenario first thing Saturday afternoon as I backed into a large yucca – ouch!
Our small group of land managers and local mountain bikers were one stellar crew. They quickly split into two groups; one to create a new trail, and the other to make the old route disappear. Once again, we were amazed by the level of effort given by our newly empowered trailbuilders. Within a couple of hours we had 600 feet of well crafted singletrack and 200 feet of reclaimed trail. And I have to say, the reclaimed trail blew our socks off.
The one component that makes reclamation successful is vertical deadfall. What!? Vertical deadfall is the art of placing deceased bushes or trees upright, as if they were still alive. It’s a great way to break up the visual corridor where an old trail once passed through. I think it’s quite an art and the folks on the Red Rock crew created a masterpiece.
Thanks to all of our artists/trailbuilders. Your work will be appreciated by all those who use the trails throughout the Cottonwood Valley trail system.
More Photos from the Weekend:
http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=%22red+rock+national+conservation+area%22&w=61656055%40N00