2 Day Workshop
Sunday, March 27 - 8:30 am - 5 pm
Monday March 28 - 8:30 am - 5 pm
Cost: $300
Location: Arvest Bank Conference Room, 201 NE A St, Bentonville, AR 72712
Instructors:
Michael Shields, Michael D. Shields Consulting, PTBA Member
Alex Man, PhD, PEng, Scatliff+Miller+Murray
COURSE SUMMARY
An in-depth look at the variable nature and mechanics of the ground we build trails across. Treats that ground as a dynamic "structure" and covers slope stability factors (including on flat ground); soil mechanics (deposition, granulation, density and porosity, internal friction, rock/gravel content, organics, soil chemistry, soil moisture); terrain hydrology (water entry, surface and subsurface water movement, drainage area, flat ground drainage, sheet vs channeled flow, the effects of freeze/thaw, "toe of slope" accumulation, "drainable edges" in topography); the roles of bedrock and vegetation; surface indicators of subsurface phenomena; and using this knowledge in the selection of trail routes, grades, structures, and drainage systems.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Awareness of the complexity of the ground we build trails on, and the variety of forces influencing slope stability and trail "sustainability".
2. Awareness of surface and subsurface water accumulation and flow mechanics.
3. Ability to sample and roughly analyze soils in the field, and at least generally predict their performance under traffic loads over time.
4. Ability to recognize surface indicators of subsurface conditions and trends.
Instructors
Michael Shields
Michael Shields Consulting
Mike Shields has designed, built and maintained trails throughout the western U.S. and Alaska since 1960, and managed trail systems from 1970 to 1996. Mike used his experiences as the Trail Crew Leader in Olympic National Park; Park Ranger at Big Bend and Canyonlands National Park; Roads and Trails Foreman at Big Bend; Trails Foreman for the then newly created North Cascades National Park; Facilities Manager at Kings Canyon and Asst. Chief of Maintenance in Rocky Mountain NP to build a truly exceptional professional trails career.
He retired as Chief of Maintenance for Denali National Park in 1996 and currently works as a consultant and educator.
Alex Man, PhD, PEng
Scatliff+Miller+Murray
Geological Engineer, Trail Designer
Alex has combined his passion for the outdoors and his background in engineering into a career of designing and building sustainable trails for mountain biking and hiking. He holds a PhD in soil mechanics and an MSc in environmental engineering. This unique combination of skills brings significant insight to current trail building issues and their solutions. Alex has been a competitive mountain bike racer at the expert level for the past 30 years. His cycling experience also includes international adventure races, coaching youth mountain biking, and assistant coaching for the Manitoba Provincial Cycling Team. He is an avid winter cyclist and participates in winter fat bike races.