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Question on trail surface???????
- Thread starter 79bombi
- Start date
I suppose I would not go for asphault. If you want to XC ski in the winter, it strikes me that the snow on my driveway melts long before the snow on the grass. I'd avoid gravel because it would tear up skis and I think it is hard to jog/run on. That pretty much leaves you with dirt as the alternative. Mud becomes an issue with dirt paths, and I suppose if there were low spots that were commonly muddy, then I would probably gravel those areas.
The one alternative I have considered and never gotten around to using is Poly-Pavement. www.polypavement.com
There are actually several brands of this type of product, some are better for use with clay, others for use with sand, etc. Determine your soil type, find the brand that works best for that soil, and you might end up with a very nice trail that is great for all your uses, stable for running and riding, and supposedly durable. Its also a do-it-yourself type of project if you have a tractor, tiller and a few other things. Price is also much much lower than asphault and probably cheaper than gravel.
The one alternative I have considered and never gotten around to using is Poly-Pavement. www.polypavement.com
There are actually several brands of this type of product, some are better for use with clay, others for use with sand, etc. Determine your soil type, find the brand that works best for that soil, and you might end up with a very nice trail that is great for all your uses, stable for running and riding, and supposedly durable. Its also a do-it-yourself type of project if you have a tractor, tiller and a few other things. Price is also much much lower than asphault and probably cheaper than gravel.
NorthernRedneck
Well-known member
Years ago, I had a summer job cutting a multiseason-use nature trail such as the one you're describing. What we did on the level areas that were prone to mud building up in the summer was put a layer of gravel over the dirt.(We have mostly muskeg swamp area up here) Then, there's always the problem of what to do with the brush/trees you cut down to make the trail. What we did was use a portable wood chipper to chip the branches and such and cover the gravel with wood chips. The wood chips created a barrier between the gravel and snow and sort of act like an insulator keeping the snow a bit longer in the wintertime for the x-country skiers. Just a suggestion!
Bobcat
Je Suis Charlie Hebdo
If this is a 'nature' trail, not just a jogger/dog walking trail then...
Not asphalt. Who wants to go hiking on the same stuff that's all around town. Also, depending on your climate, it may be hot and sticky in the summer. Then there is that early melt thing to bum out the skiers.
Not gravel. Riding bikes in gravel is no fun, especially trying to make that turn at the bottom of the hill. While hiking you can't quite hear nature over the crunch, crunch, crunch of gravel under your feet. And yes, those spring skiers will be cursing the gravel that seems to find it's way up a few inches of snow just to scratch the bottoms of their skis.
Dirt. That's the ticket. Free, easy to maintain. Easy on the feet. I look for the mud when on my mountain bike. If there is a problem with too much mud then do the wood chip thing like groomerguy said. It's insulating, quiet, soft, and smells good too.
That polypavement looks interesting, but how hard and how much?
Not asphalt. Who wants to go hiking on the same stuff that's all around town. Also, depending on your climate, it may be hot and sticky in the summer. Then there is that early melt thing to bum out the skiers.
Not gravel. Riding bikes in gravel is no fun, especially trying to make that turn at the bottom of the hill. While hiking you can't quite hear nature over the crunch, crunch, crunch of gravel under your feet. And yes, those spring skiers will be cursing the gravel that seems to find it's way up a few inches of snow just to scratch the bottoms of their skis.
Dirt. That's the ticket. Free, easy to maintain. Easy on the feet. I look for the mud when on my mountain bike. If there is a problem with too much mud then do the wood chip thing like groomerguy said. It's insulating, quiet, soft, and smells good too.
That polypavement looks interesting, but how hard and how much?