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A small footbridge is seen here on the corner of Idaho-Maryland and Brunswick roads. On March 20, the Nevada County Land Trust will host an armchair trek discussing local trail bridges.
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ENLARGE
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A bridge completed last summer on the Sandusky Trail on Tahoe National Forest land in the headwaters of Oregon Creek. The bridge took three years to design and build.
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Besides offering a charming landmark, a well constructed bridge expands the trail experience for outdoor hikers and bicyclists.
On Friday, March 20, people can learn the ins and outs of trail and bridge construction, from acquiring the first land easement to the muscle building task of moving rock and earth.
Trails Coordinator for the Nevada County Land Trust Bill Haire and local mountain bicyclist Zachi Anderson will give a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Madelyn Helling Library. The land trust’s armchair trek costs $5.
“For so many places, trails without bridges are rather limiting. You can’t get to where you want to go without crossing over a river or creek,” Haire said.
A stone and arch bridge in the Oregon Creek Watershed near the old mining town of Forest City was recently built on National Forest land by the Bicyclists of Nevada County.
On Friday, March 20, people can learn the ins and outs of trail and bridge construction, from acquiring the first land easement to the muscle building task of moving rock and earth.
Trails Coordinator for the Nevada County Land Trust Bill Haire and local mountain bicyclist Zachi Anderson will give a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Madelyn Helling Library. The land trust’s armchair trek costs $5.
“For so many places, trails without bridges are rather limiting. You can’t get to where you want to go without crossing over a river or creek,” Haire said.
A stone and arch bridge in the Oregon Creek Watershed near the old mining town of Forest City was recently built on National Forest land by the Bicyclists of Nevada County.
Locally, volunteers have poured the concrete abutments of a 30 foot bridge that will span Wolf Creek near Idaho-Maryland Road. A $6,000 grant, donated materials, engineering and labor have shaved tens of thousands of dollars off the project.
“Having great local involvement assisting in little pieces puts costs down so we can afford it,” Haire said.
The bridge is part of a trail network from Old Tunnel Road and the Loma Rica area Haire envisions to connect with Empire Mine State Historic Park. Easements are still in the works.
State and federal grant delays have put several trail building projects on hold.
Work on the Hirschman Trail in Nevada City should resume sometime this spring, Haire said. The Tribute Trail, a project directed by Friends of Deer Creek, remains in limbo until a freeze on state funding is lifted.
“We’re kind of in that holding period for everything,” Haire said.
“Having great local involvement assisting in little pieces puts costs down so we can afford it,” Haire said.
The bridge is part of a trail network from Old Tunnel Road and the Loma Rica area Haire envisions to connect with Empire Mine State Historic Park. Easements are still in the works.
State and federal grant delays have put several trail building projects on hold.
Work on the Hirschman Trail in Nevada City should resume sometime this spring, Haire said. The Tribute Trail, a project directed by Friends of Deer Creek, remains in limbo until a freeze on state funding is lifted.
“We’re kind of in that holding period for everything,” Haire said.
State budget deficits will continue to impact funding for local trails in the coming years unless locals pick up the slack, Haire said.
“We can do a lot of work with volunteers. If people have a desire and the wherewithall to do so, we can still do fundraisers and get donations for materials and so forth,” Haire said.
To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
“We can do a lot of work with volunteers. If people have a desire and the wherewithall to do so, we can still do fundraisers and get donations for materials and so forth,” Haire said.
To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
