VICTOR — Mountain Bike the Tetons' trail crew put in more than 1,450 hours and maintained more than 180 miles of trail this season. Its Fall Raffle, drawn at the Community Trails Shindig on Friday, Oct. 16, aims to raise more than $4,000 to cover what the group calls the season's trail fund shortage.
This year, Executive Director Chris Brule said, "grant funding came in lower than expected and the AJ Trail project did not move forward as anticipated. Instead of scaling back trail crew hours and objectives, we kept working and trusted the community to support our work."
Brule called the season totals "unofficial." By MBT's count, volunteers logged 790 hours, and crews cleared 268 downed trees and 285 drains.
With the Forest Service, the crew built a new Horseshoe connector trail between Bovine and Channel Lock. At the Victor Bike Park it added a progressive drop area and low-risk skills features. At the Mahogany trailhead, MBT and the Forest Service rerouted the start of the trail and hardened a stream crossing.
On the Southern Valley and Training Wheels trails, the crew used machines to rebuild berms and drainage features and to rework alignment and tread. Following "a mix of community feedback," MBT, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP) and the Forest Service evaluated the work and made adjustments.
Crews cleared vegetation on Mahogany, Aspen, Sodbuster, Cody's Bumper, Nemos and Hillbender. In the backcountry they worked tread and drainage on North Fork Palisades, Elbow Fork, Mike Spencer and Fogg Hill, and installed a culvert on Spencer Mountain ahead of the Carriboo Jack race.
On Bureau of Land Management ground, MBT finished 4 miles of final trail alignments, and Victor approved the AJ Trail access easements in September.
The Shindig runs 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Wildwood Room, 7705 Lupine Lane in Victor. MBT's staff and board are hosting it as a thank-you to members and the community, with live music, light food and refreshments. All are welcome, and MBT lists no admission price.
