GO RIDE YOUR BIKE!

Go ride your bike. Seriously, we’re in that magical after-the-bugs-die-but-before-the-leaves-do window. The trails are primo. Go on, get outside.

In case you missed it in this week’s newsletter, here are some abbreviated updates on four major trail projects… 

WILMINGTON - Wilmington has a new trail for the first time in almost 5 years thanks to a partnership with owners of the Three Sisters Preserve, @adirondacklandtrust and a generous donation of services and equipment form @tahawustrails. In total, staff and volunteers logged over 900 hours on the project over the course of 26 days. 


KEENE - Phase 2 of the East Branch Community Trails project was completed on September 1 by @peduzzitrails. The new trail “Downriver,” is the first of several downhill-oriented MTB trails planned for the property. “Downriver” traverses a beautiful hillside with massive berms, rollers and jumps. This was made possible by grants from the Town of Keene and Cloudsplitter Foundation and over $25,000 in grassroots donations, business sponsorships, and local fundraising events. Over 100 hours of volunteer labor were logged as well.



LAKE PLACID - “Green Jacket” and “Gold Jacket” constructed by Max Van Wie of @backslopetrails are OPEN. “Green Jacket” keeps riders engaged with berms, hips, roller gaps and jumps. For advanced riders, a new pro line option, “Gold Jacket” was added and extends the old “Steamroller” jump line with two additional big jump features before merging back into “Green Jacket.” Friendly reminder - riders should “pre-ride” or walk these trails to inspect all features before committing, and remember to ride within your ability.



​SARANAC LAKE - In August we partnered with the Adirondack Mountain Club trail crew to begin construction on a new trail at Fowler’s Crossing trail network in the Saranac Lake Wild Forest (state Forest Preserve land). BETA staff and local volunteers are continuing work to complete it this month. Both SL & LP projects are supported by a grant from the North Elba LEAF program, as well as a handful of major donations and investment from BETA’s Sterling Watchorn Trail Fund.