Annual CBMBA trail build this Saturday, June 6 in Cement Creek (original) (raw)

“Truly the most challenging terrain we’ve worked in”

by Than Acuff

Imagine coming down off Hunter Creek Trail and having 10 more miles of singletrack to ride down the Cement Creek drainage rather than dodging cars, trucks, ATVs and UTVs and getting covered in dust on Cement Creek Road. Or starting a ride up Cement Creek off the road sooner than ever before.

Well, thanks to the efforts of the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA) and the throngs of volunteers over the past several years building Upper Cement Creek trail, Middle Cement Creek trail and the planned extension of the Lower Cement Creek trail, that will become a reality.
CBMBA has put the call out once again for its annual trail build day on Saturday, June 6 sponsored by the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. The plan is to extend the Lower Cement Creek trail 8/10ths of a mile to the Caves Trail continuing their efforts to get riders off the road. And while CBMBA director Dave Ochs seems to say this with every trail build, this time he’s serious.

“This will be the hardest trail we’ve ever built,” says Ochs. “Truly the most challenging terrain we’ve worked in.”

The weekend for CBMBA kicks off Friday, June 5 with their annual meeting sponsored by Bluebird Real Estate at the Depot starting at 5:30 p.m. There will be pizza from Mikey’s Pizza, libations from Zuni West Brewing and the public is welcome, CBMBA members or not, to hear about what CBMBA is up to as well as additional presentations from their partners.

Then on Saturday at 10 a.m., it’s go time.

CBMBA is putting the call out to volunteers for their annual trail building day and the particularly nasty section of landscape will make this project more unique than any other before.

“The issue with it is that it’s steep, all talus, all rock, there’s no dirt up there,” says Ochs. “And the rock is pretty useless.”

In addition, there’s the “Fortress of Solitude,” a rocky outcropping forcing the trail alignment to go up and around it. That said, it helps keep the trail away from the road and the layout is such that no switchbacks are needed to get up and over the cliff.

“We wanted to avoid switchbacks to maintain a nice steady grade,” says Ochs.

In addition, due to the “Fortress of Solitude,” the new section of trail will not just run parallel to the road but actually get folks riding and/or hiking up away from the road, much like the recently built Pointed Laccolith trail.

“The topography makes it a game changer of an experience. Great terrain, great views,” says Ochs.
There will be a couple switchbacks at the base of the Caves Trail but those are being built to maintain sustainability as well as provide a little speed check for when riders are coming off the trail and onto Cement Creek Road.

But, as mentioned before, this build is unlike any other before. In addition to hauling gravel and road base and moving rocks to build the trail, CBMBA will also need volunteers on the Cement Creek road monitoring for rock fall.

“Some volunteers might not even be picking up tools,” says Ochs. “We will need folks hauling gravel and road base in wheelbarrows as well as people at seven different spots along the road watching for rocks.”
The Crested Butte Conservation Corps (CBCC) has already done some prep work on the trail, and the hope is that with a throng of volunteers, the section of trail will be completed in a day. Given the limited parking available at the Caves trailhead, CBMBA asks volunteers to carpool, ride or walk there if at all possible. There will be snacks available and then a BBQ and giveaway at 3 p.m. Shoe up, glove up and rally for a new section of trail.

“Getting off the road on that busy part of Cement Creek road is truly remarkable,” says Ochs.