TRAIL PROJECTS 2022
PROJECT NAME
CRÊTE DE GLAISETTE
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 1
MUNICIPALITY:
Château-Ville-Vieille [05, France]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/4586020
WHEN?:
MAY 2022
WHAT?:
New cut link trail from top of Catinat Téléski to Canal d’Arvieux
WHY?:
Lack of existing options to descend from Crête de Glaisette to Souliers Valley. Aim was to provide a complete enduro stage, remaining on singletrack and without excessive ascending, neither of which is the case if the course of the Glaisette ridgeline is followed.
HOW?:
Deadfall clearing followed by grass strimming and “riding in” to create the line. Minimal shaping required. Sparse woodland meant very little vegetation to be removed.
WHO?:
Glenn Macarthur (financed by Stone King Rally)
PROJECT NAME
COLLE TERZIERE
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 2
MUNICIPALITY:
Casteldelfino [CN, Italy]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/4586160
WHEN?:
May – June 2022
WHAT?:
Clearing and re-benching an abandoned balcony trail from the Strada dei Cannoni strategic road, to the start of PS5 (from where the trail was otherwise well preserved in North-facing coniferous woodland.
WHY?:
2022 / PS5 is too good of a trail to have no access to its start!
HOW?:
Big shrubs and bushes cleared prior to working on the trail itself. Hand tools to re-bench the parts reclaimed by the mountain. Some retaining bridges required. Very extensive grass strimming as a final touch.
WHO?:
100% voluntary work as a result of a collaboration between Transvaraita Bike & Stone King Rally
PROJECT NAME
VALLONE DEGLI SPAGNOLI
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 3
MUNICIPALITY:
Sambuco [CN, Italy]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/4586186
WHEN?:
June 2022
WHAT?:
Rejuvenating a remote trail in a high mountain zone between the Maira and Stura valleys
WHY?:
Lack of watershed-straddling singletrack routes between Maira and Stura valleys. This is one of them but, from Colle Serour, the trail towards the Stura Valley is underused which has led to some bench reclaim in the upper sections, and some route confusion below the tree line.
HOW?:
Essential benching with manual tools in the upper parts, establishment of a clearer, more coherent line below the tree line. Manual tools and power tools used.
WHO?:
Stone King Rally
PROJECT NAME
MONTE AUTES
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 3
MUNICIPALITY:
Vinadio [CN, Italy]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/4594961
WHEN?:
May 2022
WHAT?:
Rejuvenation of a somewhat remote, underused summit-to-valley mountain trail
WHY?:
This unique trail – from a prominent mountain summit to the Stura Valley – required renovation to create versatile usefulness for a range of users in the area. It was perfectly placed for integration in SKR Vol.1 [2022] itinerary.
HOW?:
Extensive manual bench repairs in the middle / traverse sections. Routing improvements (clarifications) in mid/lower parts. Rut repairs in lower section, but better drainage and/or more corner creation will be required in future to minimise recurrence of water damage.
WHO?:
100% voluntary work as a result of a collaboration between Vinadio Enduro Bike & Stone King Rally .
PROJECT NAME
VALLON DE BACHIALON
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 4
MUNICIPALITY:
Tende & La Brigue [06, France]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/4586204
WHEN?:
April – June 2022
WHAT?:
Rejuvenating a remote, underused trail in an isolated part of the Haute Roya
WHY?:
Rare and (potentially) key singletrack route from the Route du Sel / Via del Sale corridor, down towards Tende in the upper Roya Valley. Required reopening in order to be usable to, in turn, become reestablished.
HOW?:
Cambering work in the upper section, extensive reshaping of long series of corners in the middle section, and removal of long-established aggressive vegetation in the lower section.
WHO?:
Santa Cruz Bicycles’ PAYDIRT fund financed the employment of local workers. Some voluntary work was also provided by VTT Haute Roya association & Stone King Rally.
PROJECT NAME
ANTISKID
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 6
MUNICIPALITY:
Perinaldo [IM, Italy]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/4586259
WHEN?:
April 2022
WHAT?:
A sustainable singletrack link from the Nervia Valley to the Verbone Valley (SP59 road), making the most of shuttle possibilities between the two.
WHY?:
Existing lines down the East side of Cima Rebuffao were steep. This, in combination fragile, sandy terrain led to extensive erosion damage and, ultimately, a deterioration in trail quality and experience.
HOW?:
Addition of many corners, resulting in a longer and therefore less steep (and more fun!) track. Construction on steeper parts of the hill including wooden construction for bench support.
WHO?:
100% voluntary work by Supernatural association (Dolceacqua).
PROJECT NAME
VAMOS A LA PLAYA
SKR YEAR / DAY:
2022 / 6
MUNICIPALITY:
Bordighera [IM, Italy]
WHERE?:
https://www.komoot.com/highlight/947509
WHEN?:
June 2022
WHAT?:
Creation of a singletrack itinerary from the summit of Monte Nero towards the outskirts of Bordighera, with a view to using this as PS24 (final Special Stage of the race)
WHY?:
Referred to as a “blank white paper” just Southwest of the well-known San Romolo trail area, Monte Nero has plenty of unfulfilled potential as a small but unique, year-round MTB zone.
HOW?:
Clearing of vegetation, establishment of new lines to link in with existing lines to form one, coherent corridor. Maximum usage of natural features (e.g. granite slickrock), minimal shaping of corners.
WHO?:
Combination of voluntary work by Supernatural association (Dolceacqua) and financing / equipment provided by the Municipality of Bordighera.