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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Trail builders teach skills

Mike Brixey of Spokane is one of several volunteers applying tips from professionals to improve local mountain bike trails.COURTESY FAT TIRE TRAIL RIDERS (COURTESY FAT TIRE TRAIL RIDERS / The Spokesman-Review)
Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Mike Brixey of Spokane is one of several volunteers applying tips from professionals to improve local mountain bike trails.COURTESY FAT TIRE TRAIL RIDERS (COURTESY FAT TIRE TRAIL RIDERS / The Spokesman-Review)

Mountain biking trail-building experts are coming to Spokane to give some TLC to budding trail system and teach locals how to keep up the good work.

The Fat Tire Trail Riders Club will be the host for a free two-day hands-on trail craft seminar presented by the Subaru/International Mountain Biking Trail Care Crew on Sept. 15-16.

“This will be the Trail Care Crew’s fourth visit to Spokane since 2000,” said Penny Schwyn, FTTR spokeswoman, noting that the crew travels around the world to teach volunteers how to create state-of-the-art trails.

Previous TCC projects have included trail improvements at Mount Spokane and Riverside state parks. “This year, the Trail Building School will focus on a demonstration project at Camp Sekani City Park that will be part of the proposed mountain bike park,” Schwyn said.

The Trail-building School includes a day-and-a-half of classroom and field instruction in sustainable trail design and basic construction, reroutes and reclamation, rock work, turns, drainage and bridges.

The FTTR is an active group, leading weekly mountain bike rides and women’s rides as well as volunteering to maintain local trails. The group has been awarded more than $3,200 in grants to invest in local projects.