Volunteers: The Heart & Soul of BETA

Amanda Grant’s (pictured) favorite mountain biking trail in Wilmington is the Ridge Trail. It’s a bit gnarly and she likes that it requires focus and technical finesse to ride it well. “That was where I started mountain biking in the first place,” she said. The Ridge Trail, part of the Flume trail system nestled in the valley below Marble and Whiteface Mountains in Wilmington, was one of the first in our area opened up to mountain bikes back in the 2000s. 

Our trail network has changed a lot since then. Many of our trails look and feel quite different than when they were first built and we’re committed to investing in their maintenance with the cherished help of many hands. At every phase in our trail network’s evolution, one thing has remained constant: volunteers are the heart and soul of the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) and the frontline stewards of the trails. Amanda is one such volunteer.

GOING ALL IN
Amanda guesses that she’s worked in most of BETA’s trail networks, but the trail that she’s the proudest of is the one she’s put the most work into: All In at Hardy Road. It was a trail day focused on the construction of All In back in 2010 that really connected Amanda to BETA in the first place. 
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It was the trail days and the community she found there that resonated with Amanda. She said, “The more time we spent here, the more we met people, the more we enjoyed being here.” The profound sense of stewardship for the trails and connection to community that was nurtured during the trail days was something that struck Amanda and Jim from the beginning. It wasn’t long before they relocated to Wilmington permanently. Since then, she’s become an avid rider, a longtime member, and a committee-leading volunteer, going all in as a BETA supporter.

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Amanda on a gravel bike ride in Upper Jay, taken by Jim Grant.

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HEEDING A CALL TO ACTION
Amanda, like most trail users, has observed changes in our trails over time. “Hardy is very different [today] from when it was first built,” Amanda said, recalling what the trail once looked and felt like in the early 2010’s when she helped build it. Like many of you, driven by a commitment to community and stewardship, she stepped up as a volunteer to address the very issues that she saw on the trails that are important to her.

​Volunteers are one of the main reasons our trail network is so incredible, both as a result of their hands-on trail work and their input on trail-related decisions. Moreover, volunteers are typically the ones managing day-to-day maintenance like getting out to clear trees, blow leaves, clear drainages, and snip branches each season, a tall order for 125+ miles of trail under BETA’s management. As people who are intimately familiar with the network and the needs of the community, their insight is a powerful guiding force for addressing issues and dreaming of improvements to the trails. 

Amanda managing the group ride postings during BETA's Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival.

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Amanda (left) and other volunteers digging new trail on Marble Mountain during a work day in 2018.

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A LOOK TO THE FUTURE
It is thrilling to see our network swell with the addition of new miles of trail each season. Seeing our trail network expand to include bike specific trails laced with the echoes of gleeful whoops and exuberant cackles is an exciting triumph. BETA recognizes that at the same time, some of our beloved older trails have matured to the point that significant restoration work is called for. We’re committed to investing in this effort through trail crew, contractors, and our ever important volunteers – this kind of collaboration is the secret sauce behind BETA’s success and sustainability.

Volunteers are a critical, inspiring part of building and maintaining trails. They are also supercharged powerhouses of community connection, the heart and soul of BETA. Amanda knows this well. “Jim and myself, we came here originally because of the activities. We quickly realized it was the community that kept us here.” Adventure lies in nearly unlimited places – you could enjoy trails all over the world, really – “but this great community is why [we’re] here.” 
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To Amanda and every volunteer like her, thank you. It cannot be said enough. BETA would not be what it is today without your diligence and generosity; we are immensely grateful for your continued support.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this story. It is the first in a series you’ll see through the end of the year that features a handful of incredible community members with a variety of stories and perspectives. We’re excited to share them with you as part of our Double Your Donation campaign.

​DOUBLE YOUR GIVING POWER
A generous anonymous donor has pledged to match every dollar of community donations, up to $12,500, made to BETA between November 15th and December 31st, 2024.

Give now to support critical projects that build and restore sustainable, smile-inducing trails to be enjoyed for years to come.

All gifts received by December 31st are eligible to be matched up to a total of $12,500, worth $25,000 if fully matched!

Together, we can ensure that our trails continue to be a source of connection and joy for our community.

Join us in making a difference.

Volunteers at Marble Mountain in 2018, including Amanda (right-most, middle) and Jim (right-most, back)

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