Ester Dome Singletrack
Preliminary Proposal
The Interior region of Alaska has long attracted a varied range of outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers, mountain bikers, ATV riders, snowmachiners, x-c skiers, equestrians, and others share the hundreds of miles of doubletrack trails. Unfortunately, there is a void of narrow singletrack trails in the Interior.
Because singletrack trails are attractive to many users, we are proposing the phased construction of 30 miles of multi-use sustainably designed and constructed trail on the eastern and northern flanks of Ester Dome (see attached routing). The trail is primarily intended for intermediate level mountain bike riders, but is expected to attract hikers, runners and equestrians during the summer and x-c skiers and snowshoers during winter months. The trail will be routed on public lands owned by the State of Alaska and is expected to add immense recreational value for both local and visiting users and be an added in-direct source of revenue to local businesses.
The trail will be constructed using funds donated from the private sector and grants. The design and construction will follow standards established by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Alaska Trails. To minimize construction costs, mechanized equipment (Sweco 480, mini-excavator, etc) will be used with the final tread and corridor dressing by hand crews. Since the trail will be sustainably designed and constructed, maintenance costs are expected to be minimal and local users groups and the private sector have agreed to assist in the maintenance.
It is expected that there will be little conflict between different non-motorized user groups, and because of the nature of the design and layout, there should be no conflict between motorized and non-motorized user groups.
It is hoped that upon completion of the trail, that a recreational trail easement be granted to Fairbanks North Star Borough and that the trail be incorporated into the Borough’s Comprehensive Recreational Trail Plan.
Trail Design Parameters
- Trail Class: 2 **
- Tread Width: 12 - 24”
- Grade (Target Range): <12%
- Grade (Short Pitch, Up/Down): 25% / 35%
- Cross Slope: 5%
- Clearing Width: 48”
- Clearing Height: 7’
- Turning Radius: 6-8’
Stakeholders
Private Sector: Goldstream Sports, Beaver Sports, Frontier Outfitters/Woolly Rhino.
User Groups: Fairbanks Cycle Club, Fairbanks Area Hiking Club, Running Club North, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
Organizations: Interior Trails Preservation Coalition, Ester Community Association, Alaska Trails, International Mountain Biking Association;
Agencies: Fairbanks North Star Borough (Dept of Parks & Recreation), Alaska Dept of Natural Resources (Div of Parks & Outdoor Recreation), Alaska Dept of Natural Resources (Div of Mining, Land & Water).
** Under current USFS design specifications, a Class 2 trail is one which is “suitable for many user types, but challenging and involves advanced skills.” Maintenance frequency and signage are low to non-existent.
Trail building update 2/4/08
We are building trails on Ester Dome this summer. I have a meeting Wednesday with the Borough Trail Coordinator about the exact location of the trail so it can be add to the Borough trails plan at some point not yet determined. After that meeting I will be contacting the DNR to let them know of the plans and get any permit that we may need the use mechanized trail building equipment.
Geoff Orth will be playing and key role in laying out the trail. He has extensive sustainable trail building training. He has been to the IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) Trails Building School. He is also the President of Alaska Trails http://www.alaska-trails.org
The Trail will be designed as a narrow single track with a nice flow and tight turns. It will have trail features to add a change for those wish to use them. My goal this year is to build 10 miles of trails. The trail will be suitable for bikers and runners in the summer and snowshoes ion the winter.
At this time we are in the planning stage and hope to have everything lined up and ready to start building this spring. We will be heavily dependent on volunteers. We hope to use mechanized building but need to raise money for that to happen. We can build a lot more and much faster if we can raise enough money. We will be announcing the projected budget as it is determined.
Goldstream Sports is taking the lead at this time providing newsletter and web site support and getting the plan off the ground. We are also committing a large amount of money that we will be asking our customers to match out contribution when they make bike purchases. One option we are considering is donation $10 per bike sold and asking our customers to match. We may also go with a donation and match of 2% of the price of the bike. Our goal with match funds from our customers is to raise $10,000.00.
We will also be looking to other businesses to support the effort. We welcome participation from other bike shops and businesses. We will be adding a sponsor page to the web site soon.
If you are interested in helping organize and get this project off the ground please contact me at joel@goldstreamsports.com.
I will update this page as new info becomes available.
Joel Buth
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