News

SRRTF Director Joan Bouck

Project Places Priority on Non-Motorized Trail Experience for All User Groups

Shortly after its completion in early 2018, local equestrian and SRRTF Board member Joan Bouck noticed that the north end of the Rector Connector Trail near Bell Rock was not suited for equestrian use, even though the trail was open to equestrians, due to the trail's design over rock ledges. Joan also noticed a trend in that some multi-use trail segments, including old ones that are revamped and new construction, fail to achieve a multi-use design. While a very small percentage of the total available trail mileage, this trend was having an outsized impact on the quality of Joan's experience and she was sure she was not alone in this belief.

Joan shared her concerns and before you know it, the SRRTF created a committee for "small project" projects. This committee's purpose is to identify, assess and support small projects to ensure that our local non-motorized trails are suitable and enjoyable to the widest scope of user-types and skill levels. The most obvious small projects examples are: rock armoring that is too tight and thus becomes powdery and slippery…causing users to avoid it and create an alternate line; brushing that prohibits horse passage; and segments of trail that are too steep and are inconsistent with the rest of the trail, causing equestrians/bikers to have to dismount.

"Trail design and construction methods here in Red Rock have evolved and improved SIGNIFICANTLY in the past decade" said SRRTF Director Jen Burns. "The District used to just make trails point A to B, not really even thinking about the user!!

Now a real effort is made to have well designed trails. However, we need to keep pushing the evolution, and not backtrack either. There are quite a few challenges and opportunities I think, to improve the situation" Burns added.

When notified of this effort, RRRD Ranger Nicole Branton stated "taking this proactive approach to addressing how we might have inadvertently built to exclude some users is just another example of the kind of leadership that the SRRTF takes in our community. Not only will it help us be even better (and more inclusive) in the future, but it shows real compassion and professionalism."

The Small Project Committee is tasked with developing a process to create the best and broadest user experience on our non-motorized trails. The process will be limited to small projects on trail segments that fail to achieve a multiuse design. The process shall address:

• The types of small projects the process will serve taking into account the RRRD process of review, to include determination of cultural clearances and necessity of additional planning or assessment, if any.
  
• How user experience small project needs are identified – preferably crowd sourced – from existing local resources/capabilities.
  
• How small project needs are accessed on paper and field evaluations are conducted.
  
• How small project solutions are agreed to, documented and prioritized for the identified need.
  
• How small project solutions are recommended to the RRRD for work schedule inclusion.
  

Currently, this committee consists of SRRTF Directors Joan Bouck, Stephanie Giesbrecht and Jen Burns as well as local trail designer Phil Kincheloe. Since SRRTF committee membership is open to the public other committee members are Marty Glinsky, Pam Milavec, Don Kling and Linda Schermer to make a broad representation of trail users. The SRRTF sought passionate local hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts who would like to make the difference with our local trails to join this committee in its important work.

On November 8, 2018, 24 volunteers descended upon the Cultural Park to break ground on the Western Gateway Trail System in the first volunteer trail work day of the 2018-2019 season. Those volunteers constructed .14 miles of trail and cleared far more.

All in all, the RRRD scheduled 27 workdays with the last one ending right where we started at the Cultural Park on April 25th. Two work days were cancelled due to the Federal government shutdown and two due to snowmaggendon. Of the 23 workdays that were held, 19 involved building the Western Gateway, another officially opened the Transept Trail in the VOC, followed by workdays at Adobe Jack area, Boynton Canyon and Mund Wagon/Huckaby.

Workday sponsors included the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalitoin, the Friends of the Forest, Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Absolute Bikes, Keep Sedona Beautiful, Enchantment Resort, Wildland Trekking, Over the Edge Sports, and the SRRTF/REI.

550 volunteers contributed over 2,200 hours and constructed 7.88 miles of trail, maintained another 18.5 miles, adopted .6 miles and rehabbed 2.13 miles. 

A huge thank you to the volunteers, sponsors and RRRD! Photos courtesy of the RRRD.

The 2019 Sedona Mountain Bike Festival (March 1-3) was a huge fundraising success, due to the tremendous combined efforts by the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund and the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition. Final figures show a total of $22,635 was raised through our raffle giveaway, individual donations, a generous donation from 5.10 Clothing, and Festival beer sales & tips. This was more than double the amount raised at last year’s Festival. The raffle was the biggest winner, bringing in almost $16,100 in donations. More than $21,000 worth of donated prizes were gathered by the SRRTF and VVCC Festival committees. The accompanying picture shows some of the delighted raffle winners and a list of the prize donors.

When the Festival gates were open at 9AM every morning, riders were rushing to 1) Buy Raffle Tickets or 2) Get their demo bikes?

When 8+ inches of snow fell on February 21-22, the prospects of a having a 2019 Sedona MTB Festival were bleak. But where Mother Nature giveth, she also takes away as the temperatures warmed, the Forest Service gave the go ahead and the Festival began on time!

Leading up to the Festival, the SRRTF partnered with the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition (VVCC) on a combined raffle with ticket sales online during the month of February and onsite at the Festival. The raffle alone raised over $16,000 with the Giant bike giveaway a big draw.

VVCC beer token sales and tips generated another ~$3,200 in trail contributions. Exhibitors also got in the act with 510 selling hats to benefit our trails and Bike Magazine sponsoring Saturday night's film showing with those combined proceeds - ~$2,000 - all going to the trails.

A very successful Sedona MTB Festival is now in the books. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and/or purchased raffle tickets.

February 2019 will be remembered as the Sedona Westerners Hiking Club month as the club conducted a fundraising campaign benefiting our Red Rock Trails.

The Westerners and two anonymous donors matched the first $1,000 in donations that jumpstarted the campaign which hit the $1,000.00 donations in less than 24 hours and never stopped during the month

In all, 39 Westerners members contributed to the campaign which generated $7,875.00 in donations benefiting trail maintenance and Western Gateway construction!

A huge thank you to the Sedona Westerners’ Board and its members!

From left to right - Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarity, SRRTF President Kevin Adams, Sedona Chamber President Jennifer Wesselhoff, SRRTF Director Scott McFeely, SRRTF Treasurer Liz Sweeney, Sedona Chamber Immediate Past Chairman Lonnie Little, Sedona Chamber Chairman and SRRTF Board Member Stephanie Giesbrecht and Chamber Director Mike Herman

At a ceremony today celebrating a partnership geared towards Sedona's trail maintenance, sustainability and expansion the Sedona Chamber of Commerce presented $100,000 to the SRRTF. This contribution was made possible through the Sedona Trail Keepers - 35 local businesses that contribute $1,000 annually for trail maintenance that is matched by the Chamber thru the bed tax. Additionally, $30,000 is earmarked to Western Gateway construction.

Online Ticket Sales February 1-28, 2019

Onsite Ticket Sales March 1-3 at the Sedona MTB Festival

Winners Announced at the Sedona MTB Festival

Liv Pique SX Mountain Bike*

Giant Trance 29” Mountain Bike*

Shimano XTR M9100 groupset

Carbon 29” Whiskey No. 9 36w Wheel Set with 30mm internal width, DT Swiss 350 Hubs, j-bend DT Aerolite spokes/brass nipples, tubeless valve and tape

Dell XPS 13 9370 laptop with 1Y ProSupport - 13.3" - Core i5 8250U - 8 GB RAM - 12

2 person trip on any 3 to 4 day self-guided trip from www.hermostours.net or www.aztexpeditions.com plus 2 person Over The Edge 4 day Bike Rental in Arizona

Two night accommodation at Amara Resort and Spa

Rockford-Fosgate 10” 300 watt powered subwoofer, Punch 6x9” and 6.5” speakers, 600 watt 4 channel amp and installation kit

Marzocchi Bomber Z1 29 in Black 150MM 51 MM Rake Suspension Fork

Marzocchi Bomber Z1 27.5 in Black 150 MM Suspension Fork

Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sport Rider SE4 Bike Hitch Rack plus Kali Interceptor Cycling Helmet (1)

Two night accommodation at L’Auberge de Sedona & $50 food & beverage credit

Two night accommodation at Poco Diablo Resort

Red Agave Resort 1 night accommodation plus $50 gift certificate at Sound Bites Grill plus Kali Interceptor Cycling Helmet (1)

Red Agave Resort 1 night accommodation plus Sedona Bike & Bean Bike Rental for 2 plus Kali Maya Cycling Helmet (1)

Shredly MTB Shorts (1), Jersey (1) & Chamois (1) plus Kali Maya Cycling Helmet (1) plus The Melting Pot Glass Art Necklace

Pink Jeep Adventures Tours Coyote Canyon or Diamond Gulch Tour for two plus Enchantment Resort Dinner for 2 at Che Ah Chi plus Casey Cheuvront painting “Before the Hike (Girdner Trailhead)”

One night accommodation at the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock & buffet breakfast for two plus $50 gift certificate at The Hudson

* Must be present at drawing to win

2019 MTB Giveaway Official Rules

Bike drawing is planned for 3/2/2019 approximately 5:30 pm. All other prizes will be drawn 3/3/2019 approximately 12:30 pm

Any changes will be confirmed on its website at least 48 hours before the drawings will take place

A huge thank you to all sponsors who so generously donated the above prizes

With two volunteer workdays cancelled due to the government shutdown, volunteers from all over the United States made the effort to attend the 1st 2019 Western Gateway Volunteer workday.

Many of the volunteers at today's workday

Specialized is in town with a dealer event and over 20 Specialized dealers and employees from all over the United States decided to give a little back. Justin Ingles from REI raffled off several prizes and the volunteers appreciated the Famous Pizza and Lagunitas beer at the après.

With such a large contingent of volunteers, over 1 mile of new trail was constructed and much of Ledge-n-Airy received trail corridor lopping and trimming.

 

This morning, two four-person youth crews from the American Conservation Experience (ACE) began eight weeks of construction efforts on the Western Gateway. The ACE effort is funded by a National Forest Foundation (NFF) matching award grant awarded to the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund and mountain biker contributions from all over the Verde Valley, State of Arizona and United States that helped the Verde Valley Cyclist Coaition raise the required NFF grant match. The ACE crews are working on the Girdner re-route along with several new miles of trail added to the system should be completed in time for the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival that begins on March 1, 2019.

The Board of Directors of the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund recently voted Scott McFeely as a Director. Scott's term expires in September 2019.

Scott is a 15 year resident of Sedona, having relocated here from Nevada in 2003 with his wife Margery. He holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from CSPU at Pomona, Calif., and has worked for several international engineering/ construction companies as a specialist in synthetic fuels production since 1974. He retired in 2013, after serving terms as Group Manager for Jacobs Engineering in Long Beach, Calif. and Program Manager for Fluor in Anchorage, Alaska.

Scott divides his retirement time in Sedona between Verde Search and Rescue (VSAR), as a volunteer ground searcher, the Sedona Westerners hiking club as Wagonboss (VP) and has just recently been accepted into the Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) volunteer program in the Grand Canyon. Through the Westerners, Scott is familiar with most of the trails in and around Sedona and commonly leads hiker groups. He has also participated in a number of hiker rescue events in the Sedona area.