FUNDAMENTALS
 
 
The “fundamentals” are the backbone of good trails.  To us, that means the ability to provide a great user experience while also taking care of the land.  We use the latest technology, best tools, and most advanced techniques.
 
Natural Surfaces
 
    •    The proper surface insures a functional user experience.
    •    Erosion reduced with good surface preparation.
    •    The appropriate materials assure a natural look and feel.
 
We have substantial experience with a range of soft surfaces, including natural soil, wood chips, road base, gravel, crusher fines, and slag products.  Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, and results in a surface which may favor or disfavor certain users.
Erosion Controls • Offsloping tread, frequent grade reversals, and rolling dips. • Culverts, rock armoring, drains and catch basins. • Bridges and boardwalks, puncheons and turnpikes. All Alpine Trails projects have appropriate erosion controls designed and built in.  Whether that means simple grade reversals, rolling dips and an offsloping tread, or more intensive controls such as bridges or culverts, our work will withstand local weather conditions. Proper construction techniques applied to climbing turns and switchbacks insures longevity of turns which can otherwise be highly erodible. In addition, we are well-versed at making turns flow and roll so user abrasion is reduced, while user enjoyment is greatly enhanced. Sustainable Trails • Designed and built to last for decades. • Minimizing ongoing maintenance. • Enhancing the user experience. Building for the long run reduces overall costs without increasing initial costs.  Poorly designed and built trails leave ongoing maintenance headaches.  Properly built trails provide a smooth surface free of obstacles, which is more enjoyable for a wider range of users. Rocky Terrain • Specialized equipment for rock work. • Experience in the harshest conditions. • Working with the land to reduce scarring. The right equipment and experience allows us to work effectively in just about the nastiest rock imaginable.  The SWECO 480 trail dozer is capable of breaking through most rock, leaving a smooth trail behind. The SWECO is designed and built specifically for trail construction, making it the industry standard for efficient trail work. We use mini-excavators along with the dozer, for a variety of tasks. Mini excavators are used on most jobs for rock breaking and clearing, rock retaining wall construction, and rock headwall placement around culvert entries and exits.  This equipment, working together with the SWECO dozer, allows construction to proceed in nearly any condition.  Mini-Excavators, One With a Bucket And One With a Hydraulic Breaker, Work In Tandem To Clear Rock.  This Work Is Being Safely And Effectively Performed In An Area With 110% Cross-slope. Smooth Finished Surfaces • Good soils can yield surprisingly smooth trails. • Smooth trails accommodate a wider range of users. • A solid finished surface will last longer. If the customer so desires, Alpine Trails is capable of providing extremely smooth trail surfaces, to accommodate runners, elderly and young hikers, beginner mountain bike riders, wheelchair users, and those wishing to use baby joggers or trailers. Bridges • Using natural materials for natural appearance. • Allowing stream flows to follow unchanged courses. • Built to easily withstand all anticipated uses. Bridges of up to 20' length constructed in the field.  All are made to withstand heavy loads, including horses, big game, and even maintenance vehicles or trucks (where appropriate.)  Bridges are constructed of weather-resistant materials to handle moisture, snow loads, and heavy traffic in all seasons.  The 20' long by 5' wide bridge pictured above has been engineered to withstand 10,000 pound loads. Wet crossings can usually be handled with rolling dips and rock armoring, but in some cases a culvert or small bridge will be more effective, and even less costly over time.    Rock Retaining Walls • Providing trail support in soft soils and on steep sideslopes. • Support at steep switchbacks. • Allowing narrow trails in steep areas. Rock retaining walls to support steep sideslope trails, on switchbacks, and for erosion control.  Alpine Trails is experienced with both hand-stacked and machine (backhoe or excavator) placed rocks, of sizes up to about 4' in diameter. Sign Design & Installation • Informational, regulatory, and interpretive signage. • Chamfered wooden posts to vandal-proof fiberglass. • Trailhead information kiosks and directional signage. Alpine Trails has designed and installed a range of signage for various situations.  Experienced with everything from glue-lam trailhead markers to simple backcountry directional markings, we can plan and place everything you need. We have also done a range of custom signage to inform users of particular problems or liability issues, as well as provide a little humor along the trail. copyright © 2001-2009 Alpine Trails, Inc.