All Episodes

April 30, 2024 32 mins

Summary


In this episode, host Joel Zieve interviews Alan Wheelwright, the executive director of Eden Valley Trails, about trail building in the Ogden Valley. They discuss the process of trail building, including factors such as user type, skill level, and soil conditions. They also explore the purpose of switchbacks and rock gardens in trail design. Alan shares his vision for the future of trails in the valley and discusses upcoming projects for Eden Valley Trails including exciting plans for 2024 at North Fork Park! The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to support trail building organizations and get involved in trail maintenance.



Keywords


trail building, Ogden Valley, target audience, soil conditions, switchbacks, rock gardens, directional trails, Eden Valley Trails




Takeaways


Trail building involves considering factors such as user type, skill level, and soil conditions.

Switchbacks are used to alleviate steep grades and improve safety on downhill trails.

Rock gardens are often used to armor trails and prevent erosion.

Directional trails, like Spork, reduce conflicts between trail users and improve the riding experience.

Eden Valley Trails aims to connect the Ogden Valley with a comprehensive trail network and improve existing trails.

Eden Valley Trails has big plans for new trails and a skills course at North Fork Park.

Listeners are encouraged to support trail building organizations and get involved in trail maintenance.



Titles


The Art of Trail Building: Understanding the Process

Switchbacks and Rock Gardens: Designing for Safety and Fun



Sound Bites


"Trails just don't appear. They take a tremendous amount of work to maintain."

"Switchbacks went in to alleviate the grade as you were dropping down."

"Rock gardens are put in as a source of armor in the trail."



Chapters


00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:50 Guest Introduction: Alan Wheelwright and Trail Building in Ogden Valley

04:09 Understanding the Trail Building Process

06:30 Factors in Trail Design: User Type, Skill Level, and Soil Conditions

07:59 Purpose of Switchbacks and Rock Gardens in Trail Design

12:11 The Success of Spork and the Future of Directional Trails

16:00 Repairing and Maintaining Existing Trails

25:45 Upcoming Projects for Eden Valley Trails (including North Fork Park specifics)

31:13 Conclusion and Call to Action


Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.