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RST 644 administrative rewrite - Dr Brian - 22 Apr 18
If you are on here and not Facebook be alert the comment period ends 5/7.
Eric Troyer's letter is below.
See Facebook for discussion.
AJ Wait
DNR, DMLW, Northern Region Lands Section
3700 Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99709-4699
Re: Proposal to realign portions of the Cleary Summit – Gilmore Dome (RST 644) and Gilmore Hill (RST 1931) trails
To Whom It May Concern:
We have read the proposal by Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. (FGMI) to realign portions of RSTs 644 and 1931 as outlined in a March 16, 2018, letter to A.J. Wait, Natural Resource Manager at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Overall, we like the proposal, though we have a few concerns and suggestions about the design of the proposed partial realignment.
WHAT WE LIKE
A reasonable overall trail grade
Few switchbacks
Wide, sweeping corners and no blind corners
The addition of pullouts for passing and parking off the trail
Good connections to the remaining portions of the route
Safer trail crossing of Fish Creek Road
A trail design that is as good as or better than the current trail experience
Commitments by FGMI to provide a “trail fund” for maintenance and upkeep.
Efforts by FGMI to reach out to trail users to keep them informed
FGMI has clearly made an effort to provide a trail experience that is similar to and, in some aspects, even better than the current route. But with just a few changes or additions, the proposal could be greatly improved. These changes would add little, if any, cost or time to construction of the reroute.
OUR CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS
We do have some concerns and suggestions to address those concerns. Our concerns mainly focus on design and construction of the trail to help maintain the integrity of the trail surface. Specifically, we would like to see (in order of importance):
Grade reversals
These minimize the distance water can collect into “streams,” which intensifies its erosive abilities. Grade reversals are easily incorporated into the reroute and go a long way toward reducing water erosion and minimizing future trail maintenance. Please note that these are not the same as water bars, which have very limited use and life.
Outsloping on the trail tread
This also helps water to drain off the tread and is easily incorporated into the trail design.
A full bench cut trail
The proposed design uses cut and fill in some areas as opposed to a full bench cut. The problem with “cut and fill” is that eventually the fill part settles and slumps. The degree to which is settles and slumps cannot be controlled ahead of time. So, additional maintenance is required to add more fill to counter the settling.
These changes would go along way toward improving the trail experience and reducing the amount of maintenance that the trail will require. We have attached several pages from the USDA publication “Designing Sustainable Off-Highway Vehicle Trails: An Alaska Trail Manager’s Perspective” that go into these design elements in more detail.
Also, the letter from FGMI states that the rerouted trail “will be constructed with a durable surface and will be comparable or better than the original trail with regards to durability and functionality.” We are pleased to see that statement, but we would feel better if we had some idea of what the durable surface will be. Some durable surfaces are fine for motorized vehicles, such as coarse gravel, but not for other uses, such as running or biking.
One way these changes could be incorporated is to make sure a trail designer and/or builder is substantially involved in the project. However, anyone can use the labels “trail designer” or “trail builder.” We recommend someone who has been certified by the Professional Trailbuilders Association ( HYPERLINK "http://www.trailbuilders.org" http://www.trailbuilders.org) or a similar organization to guarantee they have the proper training and experience.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAILS AND FORT KNOX
Trails are an important aspect of life in Fairbanks. Many people like living here because they can get out and enjoy the outdoors in their backyard. Trails help keep people healthy, physically and mentally. They give tourists a way to connect with the Alaska wilderness in a very personal way.
The trails involved in this project are particularly important. They have some incredible views and provide a connection to other trails to the north and south. They are used in the Gold Discovery Run, as well as by many other types of trail users, including hikers, cross-country skiers, mountain bikers, mushers, snowmachiners, ski-jorers, ATVers, and berry pickers.
But we also appreciate Fort Knox Mine. FGMI has been a good neighbor and it is an important part of the local economy. We don’t want to keep it from being a successful operation.
We are glad that FGMI and the state are working together to allow expansion of the mine while saving this important trail connection. With our few added suggestions, the rerouted trail can provide an even better trail experience for years to come.
Sincerely,