GIVING BACK TO OUR TRAILS
BY BEAR ADVENTURE
We have been thinking about writing this blog for a long time now and we are eager to finally sit down and share this information with you! Bear Adventure is passionate about dividing our limited free time between adventures and giving back to our trails.
A lot of people wonder, who builds these trails? How can I give back to the single-track trails that I love and ride all the time? Chances are the trails you ride are not built by a group of paid individuals that work for the state or city and are funded by taxes. It is almost guaranteed that most trails are built and maintained by volunteers and organized by a local non-profit group. I would like to introduce some ways to give back to those trail groups if you desire.
This blog is not affiliated with any singular non-profit, but rather as an informational blog. At the end there will be a list of trail building associations and the areas or the city(s) in which they are located.
A new segment of trail was built at Exchequer Bike park in spring of 2020. This trail was planned and organized by the Exchequer Riders Club.
Ashley and other volunteers working with Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition to build a new single track near Salmon Falls.
WHAT IS A NON-PROFIT?
A basic definition is that a non-profit does not gain a profit for their time and energy. Most non-profit trail groups have a board of supervisors and hold monthly meetings to plan and discuss objectives for how to use their donations. Also, some nonprofits are associated with the International Mountain Bike Association or IMBA. IMBA organized the zip codes in an area for a non-profit to manage and this is how some organizations became responsible for such a large (or small) area. There are a lot more intricacies to this, but I wanted to provide a background for those who might not know this information.
Pre-work safety meeting with Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC).
5 WAYS YOU CAN GIVE BACK
1) DONATE
Most trail groups have a website with a donation page. It depends on the organization of the trail group, but generally, you have the option to do a one-time donation or join a subscription or core membership. Some trail groups even have posted QR codes along the trail for those who want to donate easily. Talk to a local bike shop and you can find out what trail group works on the trails near you. If finances are available and time is not, this is an option that is easiest for you.
2) VOLUNTEER
Fairly often trail workdays or event volunteer opportunities present themselves through the non-profits. The COVID-19 pandemic put a shortage on these days in 2020, but slowly more trail work days are popping up. Facebook and other social media platforms tend to be the source of advertisement for these trail workdays, but the group’s website is also a great source of information. Sometimes other volunteer opportunities open up as well, such as volunteering at a fundraising booth at an event. Either way, if you feel inspired to give back, but don’t feel as though financial support is an option, volunteering is a great way to give back to the trails and make some new friends!
Nathan and I try to divide our weekend time and energy between trail work and adventure. The trail workdays always end up being a lot of fun and we walk away with a special appreciation for the trail with which we worked. A few of the trail groups we have worked with include Folsom Auburn Trail Action Coalition (FATRAC), Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA), the Exchequer Riders Club, and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS).
Working on a section of Stanford Rock Trail in Tahoe with the Tahoe Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) circa September 2019.
3) PARTICIPATE AT EVENTS
A lot of trail groups create fundraising events to get the word out and spread the fun of riding bikes. A great way to support your trails is to participate in these events by volunteering or racing. It's fun and you can help out! A few events we have participated in include:
- Foresthill Fondo with FATRAC
- Rose to Toads with TAMBA
- Downieville Classic with SBTS
- Lost and Found with SBTS
Some volunteers working at a private ranch in Nevada City.
4) SPREAD THE WORD
If your local trail group is having a workday or another event share the word! The more people who know about their trail group the better. In a lot of cases, trail expansion or initial trail building projects have to go through quite a bit of permitting and steps before they can be built. Public comment is often required during these permitting reviews. Sharing this information and providing public comment is an important way to give back and grow the trail systems around you.
5) PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS
Usually, there is a monthly board meeting with your local group, especially if it's an established non-profit. These meetings are generally open to the public and there is a lot of information to be found in these meetings as for the use of donations. Referring back to the public comment period during permit reviews, meetings with counties or other public boards are required and any member of the public is welcome to speak at these meetings and advocate until their heart's content.
A volunteer building new single track at Exchequer Mountain Bike Park.
The following is a list of CA nonprofits in Northern and Central California. This list is by no means complete, but it’s a good place to start.
- Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC) - Sacramento, Folsom and Auburn Areas
- Bicyclists of Nevada County (BONC) - Grass Valley and Nevada City Area
- Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA )- Lake Tahoe Area
- Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) - Downieville and the Lost Sierra Area
- Groveland Trail Heads - Greater Mariposa County area and the Stanislaus Forest
- Exchequer Rider’s Club - Exchequer Mountain Bike Park near La Grange, CA
- Bear Valley Trail Stewardship (BVTS) - Bear Valley, CA and the nearby area (Hwy 4)
- Pinecrest Mountain Bike Association (PMBA) - Pinecrest Lake Area
- Mother Lode Trails - El Dorado, Yuba, Placer, and Sacramento county as a trail resource
- Rails to Trails Conservancy - Sacramento, Elk Grove, and surrounding areas
- Chico Velo - Chico, CA
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and we hope to see you back soon! Until then keep those wheels spinning and faces smiling!
If you ever wanted to check out more from bear adventure please check out our Instagram @calberadventure and our Patreon page.
Nathan & Ashley
Click here to read more about Nathan and Ashley from Bear Adventure!
Patreon website: patreon.com/bearadventure
Facebook page: facebook.com/CaliforniaBearAdventure
Instagram: instagram.com/california_bear_adventure