Use the form on the right to contact us or email us: info@bikehinton.com
Hinton, Alberta
Hinton Mountain Bike Association. Our goal is to develop, maintain and promote the best possible mountain biking opportunities around the Hinton area, while ensuring responsible and safe practices in environmental conservation, trail construction, trail maintenance and riding.
Filtering by Category: Trails
Happy Creek Project update: boardwalks should be done by the end of Tuesday or Wednesday this week (September 1st or 2nd). The load of lumber in the photo shows you just how much was needed!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Happy Creek Trail Project progress. Posted by Jay Hoots on facebook, August 26, 2015.
August 26, 2015
Pictures from earlier dates:
May 18, 2015
August 19, 2015
August 25, 2015
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Happy Creek Trail Project progress. Posted by Jay Hoots on facebook, August 25, 2015.
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Please be advised that a section on the East side of the Happy Creek Trail is undergoing trail construction until approximately September 4th, 2015. Progress reports will be posted on our website (www.bikehinton.com) and on facebook. During this time, we ask that all trail users enjoy alternate routes on our trail systems and avoid passing through the construction zone, as that may cause more harm (i.e. trail widening and/or work interruptions). Thank you for your understanding and patience!!
Jay Hoots and crew are working on the Happy Creek Trail boardwalk repair - a 2014 Hinton Participatory Budget project. See green markings on the map below for area affected by this work. The trail section is found on Happy Creek Trail - East side, just past the Fast Trax intersection when going South. There are two long sections of boardwalk that have deteriorated beyond repair over the years and will be replaced with a new structure. The crew will be accessing the site via motorized quad/bike - but have taken precautions to minimize their impact. A lot of lumber and materials need to go in and out of the site.
Boardwalk repair area indicated in green. (2011 map)
Last September, the Hinton Mountain Bike Association had submitted a proposal for Hinton's Participatory Budget. Hinton's amazing signature trail, Happy Creek, needed some major work done on all the bridges and wood features. This is not just a project that will benefit the mountain bikers, but it will benefit runners, walkers, hikers, and visitors who enjoy using this great trail! In October, Hinton residents decided to award $30,000 towards the Happy Creek project!
This caution sign was posted at both ends of the boardwalks to advise all recreational users during the summer of 2015.
Photo credit: Sarah Burns taken in Fall 2014.
If you have any questions, comments or even great feedback about this project, please contact us via email at info@bikehinton.com
This project supported by:
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
This week, work is being done by Jay Hoots & crew at the Hinton Bike Park and on Happy Creek Trail East (boardwalk sections). As work progresses throughout the week, you may see piles of dirt or flagging tape in some areas. These sites will be temporarily closed until maintenance is complete - so we thank you for your continued patience throughout this important work!
If venturing out on or near Happy Creek Trail, you may hear a moto bike nearby. Please rest assured that this moto bike is setup to leave as minimal a disturbance as possible and is used to help transport material in and out of the area. As you can imagine, the two boardwalks add up to a lot of lumber! This particular project is funded by the Hinton Participatory Budget in the amount of $30,000 which HMBA was awarded in Fall of 2014. Thank you Hinton!!!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
On August 8, 2015, the IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew (aka Justin Truelove) came out to teach us trail building techniques on how to build and maintain our trails. The first day consisted of a 3-hour classroom session followed by an afternoon of putting our skills to work! The builders-in-training tackled a trail re-route on Gully Trail where it joins with the North access to Stinger, within the Hinton Bike Park. The re-route allows better flow and easier access to Stinger.
Justin and Kevin selected a site for the re-route and flagged the new proposed trail.
14 HMBA members attended the full day of training.
New trail built and old trail section reclaimed!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
The IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew is coming to Hinton on August 8th and 9th!! This is a great opportunity for ALL trail users to contribute to our awesome local trails. Learn about trail building and maintenance techniques to help sustain our trails for all to enjoy for years to come!
Directed by the Canadian office of the international Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and sponsored by Parks Canada, the IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew travels across the country in a Subaru Outback, giving workshops to IMBA-affiliate clubs, Parks Canada sites, and other land managers. The two-person team of professional trail builders educates Canadians on how to build and maintain sustainable trails, manage volunteers, and develop trails as community resources.
The IMBA Trail Building School is a half-day of classroom education followed by several hours of building new trail, rerouting and reclaiming old trail or adding new features to an existing trail. The goal of a TCC visit is education, not to build as much trail as possible. And remember: Sustainable trails don't mean sanitized trails!
Is the Trail Care Crew program only for mountain bikers and cycling clubs? No! The principals of sustainable trail design apply to all trails and all trail users, no matter if you are a hiker, a trail runner, or a mountain biker. We invite all members of the community to our events to learn something new, and meet fellow members of the trail
community!
Half-day classroom session on August 8th, 9:00 am to 12:00pm at the People's Center at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre.
Other locations and times to be determined - stay tuned!!
You must pre-register for this training:
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Our 1ft x 1ft directional trail signs (see images below) are out of date and need to be updated/replaced. However, we need to know how many are out there, or need to be out there - and WHERE they are. YOU can help by participating in a member-sourced inventory. Using your smartphones and linking to this form via your web browser (with GPS enabled), enter the info at the location of existing directional signs - or at locations where you think there should really be one! Unfortunately, we cannot put them everywhere ($$), so select the most optimal locations. THANK YOU!!
Bike Park and Happy Creek Trails are priorities at this time.
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
On a Saturday, May 30th, HMBA once again welcomed the Alberta Junior Forest Rangers! Together, we replaced a section of boardwalk on Happy Creek East. Check out the before and after photos. Thanks to Christopher Reid and the Town of Hinton for transporting lumber and supplies to the site!
BEFORE...
AFTER...
JFR leaders worked with the Hinton Mountain Bike Association to learn about trail building. To find out more about the Alberta Junior Forest Rangers, visit their website!
A hard working crew for a job well done!!! Thank you JFRs!!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
HMBA obtained permission for a short reroute between Halloween and Cleo's for ease of navigation between the two trails. The link is now more direct to help save confusion for riders who are new to the area. Thanks to Matt MacKay, Mike Langford and Brayden Langford!
The re-route provides a better connection between "Halloween Connector" and "Cleo's"
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Several sections of boardwalk on the East side of Happy Creek are in poor condition. The longer boardwalk sections have been signed with Caution. The smaller section closer to the Town of Hinton Beaver Boardwalk is not signed. Work has taken place to improve drainage however the structures are soft and boards are missing or loose. Work will take place this week to replace the shorter section near town. See full Happy Creek reporting on Trailforks.
Lots of great trail work happening out there, trail fairies abound. Corduroy and bridge decking on slow cooker, countless trees (bighorn, slow cooker, bubbas, gassifier etc.) and debris removal on just get there/the J. Thanks for the hard work HMBA members! FYI please note the status of Happy Creek East. Maintenance day to be announced for this week.
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
singletracks.com
Read MoreBACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
We ran into some "garbage angels" on the biking trails today. Thanks for taking the initiative to keep our town and trails clean and enjoyable. #hintonproud
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
With the good weather and recent winds the Bike Park is drying up fast. There are still some critical wet areas and subsequent rutting from riders who are too impatient to wait it out. The ground is still frozen and spring showers are sure to come.
The strong winds also present a hazard with unstable trees in many areas of the areas of the Park. Several of these trees will have to be professionally removed and this may take time.
If favorable conditions hold throughout the week, there will be a basic maintenance day on Saturday April 18th. This will include garbage cleanup, removing debris from the trails, raking leaves and debris from drainages and raking out the unfortunate new ruts.
Stayed tuned on our website calendar for upcoming maintenance dates!
When conditions are poor, you will see signs like these at the Hinton Bike Park.
The Happy Creek trail system has seen high use in the last couple of weeks with favorable temperatures and rapidly melted snow pack.
There are still a few areas with snow/ice and lots of wet problem areas throughout, especially Happy Creek East and Just Giver. All other trails are in awesome early season shape.
Downed trees on Slowcooker were cleared this weekend.
Report from Jack's Trails of downed trees and wet areas in the obvious spots.
As always, please let us know your trail feedback. Keep us informed on trail conditions and maintenance so we can pass it on to others.
See you at the AGM!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Please stay out of the bike park during these early spring conditions. The weather is great and we are all itching to get out, but please have some patience. It takes a lot of time and effort to fix ruts created when trails and features are muddy. Time that would be better used making the park radder for all of us!
Thank you!!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
Two of our local fat bike riding enthusiasts, Mike Mahoney and Mike Langford, have teamed up on this recent Winter Trail Pilot Project. With the support of the Hinton Mountain Bike Association and the Town of Hinton, this project will allow the grooming of some of our favorite established backyard trails!
The grooming will be done with a small snowmobile which is handy for mobility and keeping our trails narrow. Absolutely no trail work needs to be done in order to accommodate the grooming, nor will there be any erosion or damage to the existing trails.
The groomer is towed behind the snowmobile and it is exactly the same type of groomer that is used by nordic centres to groom for cross country skiing. The only difference is in the width of the groomer - only 30 inches (76 cm) wide, the ideal width for non-motorized winter activities such as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, hiking, dog walking and trail running.
Grooming is a slow process, the snowmobile runs approximately 5 kms/hr towing the groomer as it rolls and packs the trail down. Once groomed, it takes a few hours to "set up" or harden, then it is ready for use. Grooming will be done mostly at night when there is less usage, and a better chance for the snow to set-up.
There will be no cost to the town as Mike Mahoney has volunteered his time and money for this project. The HMBA has agreed to review progress in one years time, and if the project is a success, the association will become financially active with the project.
A groomed winter trail will further promote healthy, "green", carbon neutral activities within our community.
There is a potential to draw more tourist dollars to our town.
The HMBA and the town of Hinton are pushing for Hinton to be a "Alberta's Mountain Bike Mecca". What better way then to make mountain biking a year-round sport?
Dead-fall will be removed throughout the winter thereby reducing the spring workload for the trail crews.
The area that would be groomed include a connection of several small trails in the Happy Creek zone. Trails that will be part of the groomed loop:
The J
Ranger
GS connector
GS
Halloween
Phil's Thriller
Bubba's
Bighorn
Happy Trails!!
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
HMBA has submitted a proposal for Hinton's Participatory Budget. If you are a Hinton or Yellowhead County (west of Obed) resident and over the age of 14 - show your support by selecting our project on your vote!
Read MoreBACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
If you haven't been out riding or hiking these past few days - make sure you include it in your long weekend activities! Even a simple jaunt around our extensive town trails in this fine Autumn weather is sure to be enjoyed by all!
(click on photos to enlarge)
Halloween Trail
Cleo's
Happy Creek Trail
"Wellsite" between The J and Halloween Connector
The J
EZ Lookout
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
This week's gem has been a popular riding choice to many for the past few weeks. I have had the opportunity to have a good chat with HMBA's Trail Coordinator, Kevin Myles, and hope it will be a testament to just how much goes into adding trails to our amazing trail systems.
Location: Happy Creek Trail System, connects EZ Lookout and GS.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Type: Singletrack
Description: Like a Ranger patrolling the bush, scouting trails, scanning for wildlife, and keeping quads off protected areas, so too can you experience HMBA newest singletrack!
A pedally 2.4 kilometer trail that connects the EZ viewpoint with the GS trail in the greater Happy Creek trail system. Ranger has a different challenge depending on which direction you ride it with something new around every corner. As the trail is still new, your keen tracking skills will be useful for navigation and looking for flags on important corners.
Built with the help of the Alberta Junior Forest Rangers in the summer of 2014, Ranger is a fitting tribute. Also, if you’re into geo-caching, look for the cache that the JFR’s created near the EZ viewpoint.
Directions: There are two main ways to access this trail. The northern trailhead is found off the spur trail for the EZ Lookout, a favorite lookout spot after going up The J. The second connects from Halloween and a fun downhill extension with the GS trail.
HMBA: How did you decide to build where you did?
Kevin: In talking with Tim Trahan, the previous HMBA Trail Coordinator, during our master trail plan meeting about the potential GS connector and how the EZ Viewpoint is such a good spot. Normally you climb to the EZ viewpoint, take the Halloween connector and then rely on the pipeline/cutlines to link together with the other trails. It made sense to consider a new trail using the interesting terrain below to connect a longer perimeter style trail with the other dead-ends. The next step was to get TFA (basically permission to build) from AESRD. Tim guided me through the proposal and I gathered a rough trail location using map imagery, submitted the legal land coordinates and a description of the trail type, features and purpose and it was ultimately approved.
HMBA: How did you pick the route?
Kevin: Just started walking in the bush, looking at terrain, drainages, forest types, existing game trails, etc. Walked different sections and flagged what made sense. Tried to use side hills and elevated areas to maximize the terrain and stay out of wet/low areas. Linking tricky sections together, usually the hardest part, especially when there is no obvious route. Trying to minimize disturbance, avoiding cutting green trees, sensitive areas etc. Using natural terrain features and grade reversals for good water drainage and staying within the IMBA guidelines as much as possible.
HMBA: Did you do a lot of re-routes?
Kevin: Not really, there’s still a lot of cool terrain to work with though. I want to link to a new viewpoint and fix a few T corners. Tim provided good feedback, like avoiding high-traffic game trails, hiding sightlines etc.
HMBA: What were the biggest challenges?
Kevin: Running out of time with the end of the season looming and without volunteer support to dig the trail down to mineral soil. Having to rely on people riding it –which is great in the short term but may lead to more maintenance later as roots expose and corners and hill challenges get beat up. More chainsaw work was needed to remove potential deadfall to lessen potential future maintenance.
HMBA: What was the best part of building this trail?
Kevin: The best part is yet to come! More speed as it hardens up and we get familiar with the route.
HMBA: Tell me about the volunteer support
Kevin: The unsung hero is Gabby Lyons: she gets dragged out to work on every on-going HMBA project (sometimes willingly haha) and a normal ride will mysteriously turn into trail maintenance. Like after building Vigilante last year and having to hike out as many tools that we could pack or carry out in the snow. Also had a few organized trail days attended by HMBA members and the odd trail fairy clear a section of trail. Then of course the involvement of the Junior Forest Rangers -more later. So much more happens than what appears on Facebook.
HMBA: Which way should we ride it?
Kevin: Both ways. From Halloween and down GS, it continues the downward grade to the pipeline. Then steady mixed terrain and gradual climb to the viewpoint. The ride from the EZ out to GS is a bit more of a grunt on the last section. The goal was to have this trail link together with other trails back there and utilize more terrain and avoid using cutlines and pipelines. It makes for better loops, tying into Vigilante or longer rides along the perimeter.
HMBA: How were the Junior Forest Rangers (JFR’s) involved?
Kevin: The JFR’s were the big motivation for the trail. They have approached HMBA for several consecutive years now requesting projects where the JFR leaders can work and learn. So the building of the GS extension was the perfect fit and we organized 3 days of work on the extension (and one day on Jack’s). The JFR’s used this project to learn how to use GPS’s and maps to navigate to the site. They hiked from the beaver boardwalk in full nomex coveralls with tools and packs. They learned about the history of HMBA, our partnerships with land managers and the importance of outdoor recreation and tourism to the area. They Learned trail building techniques and got hands-on experience with tools such as polaski’s and mcleod’s. In total the JFR crews put in approximately 300 hours on this trail this summer on the first 0.5 kilometer of the trail. In total, over 400 hours was spent building Ranger!
HMBA: Why "Ranger"?
Kevin: After many hours of discussion over trail names with Julie, HMBA's VP, and whittling down some of my crazier suggestions, "Ranger" seems to be the most appropriate. A bit ordinary maybe, but there needed to be a tie-in with the Junior Forest Rangers. They contributed hundreds of man hours so I think it's a decent connection to their contribution (and hopefully on-going partnership).
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
HMBA has submitted a proposal for the 'Participatory Budget'. Hinton's amazing signature trail, Happy Creek, is going to need some major work done on all the bridges and wood features. We will keep you all in the loop with reminders to come down and vote when the time comes! This is not just a project that will benefit the mountain bikers, but it will benefit runners, walkers, hikers, and visitors who enjoy using this great trail!
Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process where community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. It is taxpayers working with local government to make budget decisions that affect their lives. It is a different way to manage public money that engages people and government. Click HERE for more information on this process!
Citizens of Hinton and Yellowhead County (west of Obed) over the age of 14 may vote on one of two days (a Wednesday and Saturday) by paper ballot.
Only ONE vote per person!
On Monday, September 29th, a group of trail users describe the state of the boardwalks found on Happy Creek:
“Howdy, had a man down while hiking on the Happy Creek Trail tonight. Several boards rotted through, one tipped up under foot weight. Didn’t have any tools with us and wasn’t sure how to leave this. Put rotted boards to the side, hoping the gap would be obvious to riders”
BACK TO TOP
BLOG INDEX
