Soilworks products are the industry’s top standard due to our insistence on creating high performance soil stabilization and dust control products that stand up to rigorous testing – both in the lab and in the field. Our commitment to quality and performance has led to our involvement and testing in hundreds of real-world situations. The following library of reports, presentations, specifications, approvals and other similar documents provide you, our customer, the transparency and dependable assurance that is expected from Soilworks.
The Common Mistakes in Improved Surface Trails document outlines best practices for trail construction, focusing on material selection, compaction techniques, and erosion control to ensure long-term durability and reduced maintenance requirements. The guide highlights the importance of binders and stabilizers to enhance surface integrity, prevent dust migration, and improve user experience. Among the recommended solutions, Gorilla-Snot®, a biodegradable polymer-based tackifier by Soilworks, is cited as an effective option for stabilizing crushed stone, decomposed granite, and compacted road base materials.
The document also emphasizes the necessity of proper compaction and moisture control, as well as the benefits of using binders like Gorilla-Snot® to enhance surface stability and reduce dust emissions. By incorporating polymer-based stabilization solutions, trail managers can achieve sustainable, erosion-resistant trails that support multi-use applications, including hiking, biking, and equestrian activities.
Common Mistakes In Improved Surface Trails
Surface Material Choices
l Wood Chips
l Decomposed Granite
l Road Base
l Milled Asphalt
l Crushed Stone/Concrete
Type: Wood Chips
Problems: Floats away!
Decomposed Granite
Angular Rock Theoretically locks together
Will not stick on more than 5% slopes
Can’t withstand shear forces
Expensive but looks pretty
Much more stable with binder
Road Base
Compacts Very Well
Not as pretty a material
Handles loads and shear forces well Relatively inexpensive
Milled Asphalt
l Already Contains Binding Agents
l Compaction is easy
l May not be inert
l Can be used on steeper slopes.
Crushed Stone/Concrete
Design
What Elements from natural surface trail design apply?
What Elements Differ?
Similar
Must keep the Half Rule
Grade Reversals are necessary
Water is your biggest enemy
Different
Slopes should remain as shallow as possible
5% is about Maximum
Raised Causeway with a crowned tread can give the best results
Lets Talk Compaction!
l Compaction is a must
l Mechanical Compaction is superior
l Moisture is critical
l Binders such as Soil Lock or Gorilla-Snot®
Weed Barriers?
Prevents Binding of materials between layers
Shows through quickly if design aspects violated
Can act as an accelerant for water
S&S Trail Services, L.L.C.
Professional Trail Building
Consultation
Construction
Education
512 Eberhart Lane #1303
Austin, TX 78745
713.446.6610
www.sstrails.com Ryan@sstrails.com
Outdoor Supervision Only
Large Build Projects
Bidding!
Determine:
Educated Trail Workers vs. Non
Benefits
l Stake Holder Buy In
l Empowering Volunteers
l Spreading Trail Building Knowledge
l Lower Cost for Manager
Weekends
l Land Manager may or may not be working
l Trail Professionals Need Weekends!
l EVERY WEEKEND IS TAKEN!!!!!!
l Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!
Promises, Promises!
l What happened to our volunteers?
l How to combat/plan for no shows
l How to plan workdays
Work Quality
l Volunteers may take short cuts
l May not uphold standards as readily
l May Not be as concerned with liability
l May not take all safety precautions
l Some volunteers do great work, but not all have a high level of experience
More Work!!
End Result
Questions?
S&S Trail Services, L.L.C. www.sstrails.com
Staff: Ryan 713.446.6610
ryan@sstrails.com
Susan 713.448.0161
susan@sstrails.com
Advocacy
Scientifically Proven Benefits of Exercise
S&S Trails Staff
25+ combined years of experience
Susan Stormer
Ryan Spates
Background
l Trail user
l Trail Builder
Background
l Trail user
l Trail builder
Cognitive and neurological benefits of exercise
l Physical exercise leads to significant improvements in:
– Memory ability
– Critical thinking skills
– Balanced mood
– Increased learning potential
– Finding is more pronounced in people over age 60
l Contact with nature can
– decrease mental fatigue and accidents
– enhance mood, concentration and problem solving
l Exposure to wildlife, horseback riding, hiking, camping and farms can be therapeutic for a variety of health conditions in adults and children
l An entire movement has begun to connect kids with the healing power of nature
– No Child Left Inside legislation (2008)
l Experts emphasize that you don’t have to trek to wilderness preserves to enjoy nature’s benefits– simply strolling in a city park or tending a rooftop garden can make a difference
Step 3: Determine the trail users
Trail Runners
Equestrians
Hikers
Mountain Bikers
Step 4: Sustainable Trails
Trail erosion is caused by a combination of trail users, water and gravity.
Water has the potential to do more damage than any other trail user.
What can go wrong?
Fall Line:
The steepest route of descent down a slope. Water flowing down a hillside will travel along the fall line.
Rolling Contour Trail
The Contour Trail
Don’t Rush!
