perma-grins installed here

after the final descent... hooray for singletrack!

In the fall of 2004, I went to a meeting of the Far North Bicentennial Park users. It was their first monthly meeting after returning from a summer hiatus. The room was packed. A few days earlier, someone had posted signs in the park urging park users to attend. There was chatter on the online forums.

The reason: some trails had been widened and smoothed to make trail grooming for skiing easier in winter. Cyclists were mad; skiers didn't get it. There was lots of frustration at the meeting. People weren't sure how to get all the user groups to get along. I remember finally saying something about people getting involved if they want better trails. Others said the same.

Soon, I received an email about a meeting to talk about what we mountain bikers could do next. What started was an idea for Singletrack Advocates (STA). We were going to maintain trails, preserve skinny trails. We would even create skinny trails. I don't know if at that time many in the group envisioned what would happen in the next few years. Trailbuilding schools with IMBA, consulting with the municipality and trail design experts, working with all the different park users to build understanding, organizing the mountain biking community. Attending meetings.

Then, last year the group put in nearly eight miles of twisty, rolling singletrack in the same park. An all-volunteer group. And like any group that gets things done, it's the unifying force of one person that makes all the difference. A person who can rally people, work with different user groups, find the resources and keep charging through, breaking red tape like a champion crossing the finish line.

When Jon and I rode the STA trails this evening after work, I knew that without our fearless leader, Queen Bee, I wouldn't have been wearing that perma-grin as I descended on Stinger. There would not have been a Stinger. Thanks Janice for keeping at it and for rallying all the volunteers. And thanks volunteers and steering committee. I'm proud to be a part of STA.

Please, sir, can we make some more?

the buzz

After over four years of work and talk, fundraising and planning, then even more work, Singletrack Advocates (STA) has a new network of trails that are open and ready to ride. And after last Friday, the trails have some possible names. I say possible names, because the names for which a group of STA volunteers voted must go through a lengthy process before being approved.

First there's a committee, appointed by the Mayor. The committee decides on the names, which go to the Parks & Recreation board. After approval, they go to the Anchorage assembly where they will, hopefully, be approved. Then the signs are printed and installed. Pretty soon the names appear on maps. Quite a process.

But for Anchorage-area cyclists and other trail users, I give you Trail Names. Because the only way for these trails to know their names is for us to use them. If you've been on the trails lately, you've seen signs for Intermediate, Advanced and Connector routes. They are:
The Hive (the outer-most loop which is marked with blue reflectors and signs that say "Intermediate);
Stinger (the inner, "Advanced" loop, marked with either red or white reflectors);
Janice's Loop (runs southwest of The Hive to a connector trail);
Drone Lane (connector trail which connects Janice's Loop to the trailhead which is just south of the Hilltop nordic ski jumps.

Are you lost yet? Ok. Then go to this website and register as a member so you can view the map that's posted there. It'll all make sense when you see the map.

Now get on out there. And may I suggest that if you are a snowshoer, could you go out and pack down that fresh snow?