Mountain bike nonprofit cultivates new trails for riders

On a cloudy Sunday morning, a large group of volunteers with axes, shovels, saws and rakes gathered to help clear a trail on Moscow Mountain. 

The land these volunteers were working on is part of the Powell Project — land that was donated to the city of Moscow, Idaho, in the 1940s. It was designated for recreation and water conservation use.

A few years ago, the Moscow Area Mountain Bike Association, or MAMBA, asked if they could build trails in the area. The city agreed. The nonprofit was also able to access an Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation grant to fund the costs of tools.

On the day of the trail dig, the team of volunteers hiked up the rough trail. The group gradually became smaller as Sandra Townsend, the president of MAMBA, assigned small crews to work in different areas. She told volunteers when they’re digging, it’s important that none of the trails are completely flat.

Volunteers use various tools to cultivate the biking trails. (Credit: Phineas Pope / NWPB)

“We always want to have, like, about a 5% grade on the trail tread, so water will sheet off, and that just keeps the trails in better condition. And it’s also just more environmentally sustainable,” she said.

There were about a dozen volunteers. Most were with a student organization at the University of Idaho. The rest were community members like Russ Qualls, a professor at the University of Idaho, who began mountain biking around three years ago.

“I’ve ridden pretty much all the trails up here at least once,” Qualls said.

Volunteer Russ Qualls moves a large branch out of the way. (Credit: Phineas Pope / NWPB)

Colin Priebe is a longtime MAMBA volunteer. He said it’s been so dry on previous dig days, they’ve only been able to clear out organic material — they haven’t had the opportunity to work with the dirt. 

“Now that we’ve finally gotten some fall rain, we’re able to get in here and actually smooth the trail out where it’s needed, pack the dirt down where it’s needed. And hopefully, we’ll get enough of this done before the snow falls that the snow can do the rest of the packing for us,” Priebe said.

Townsend estimated in the course of a few hours, the volunteers worked three-quarters of a mile. 

“I think it looks way better. Definitely not finished, but no trail ever is, really. So we’ll be back on this trail a couple more times before it’s open,” she said.

This story is part of a continuing series highlighting nonprofits in the Northwest.

The view from Moscow Mountain. (Credit: Phineas Pope / NWPB)