Trail Building Tips: Digging Bench Cuts & Making Crib Walls

UPDATE 6/24/24: I've heard the people and fixed up the audio as best as I could and reuploaded the video here • How to Dig Bench Cuts ...
If you like to read then visit www.imba.com/r... for all the juicy details on trail building. I barely scratch the surface of trail building in this video.
In this video I go over the 3 most common cuts that I use to make the tread for my trails in the jungle. Digging a trail takes some imagination and a bit of forethought. It's hard work and digging it wrong will wreck your trail & lead to erosion... so better make sure you do it right the first time.
The full bench cut is the most practical type of tread dug out of hillsides for trails and hopefully by the end of the video you'll understand why. As always, your slope, environment, and soil composition will determine which style will be best suited for you.
I filmed this in one afternoon and it took me two days to recoup and rehydrate. The jungle sure is gnarly. Yes, there's a typo in the video. I was tired when I was editing and didn't catch it (there's no spell check in my video editor).
Thanks for watching! Now go join your local mountain bike club and tell them Adam sent ya.

[@lemsy]

Easily the most useful video I've watched this month. Thank you, kind brother.

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

You’re welcome! Glad you were able to glean something from it.

[@kevinwood8021]

Watched in Scotland for a course on Saturday. Very well explained and demonstrated. Thank you

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Was this part of the course or were you just prepping for it? Either way, glad you found it helpful!

[@grbrown1922]

Good information, especially regarding the crib wall. Thanks

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@profesam8457]

Some good information. Thanks!

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Thanks for watching!

[@roaming.around]

Incredibly helpful video!!! many thanks!

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Thanks. I think I'll make an updated version now that I'm no longer digging trail in the jungles of Southeast Asia. It's much quieter outside in East Tennessee.

[@roaming.around]

@@A.T.TrailWorks yes please!! I’m doing trails in the temperate rainforest of Alaska and would appreciate any additional info on erosion or drainage. Really appreciated the tip about making sure the tread goes towards the outslope to help with erosion!!

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Every 10' to 30' depending on how steep your hillside is, you'll want a piece of trail to dip downwards for a little bit. This is called a grade reversal and it gives the water a chance to go across and out of the trail instead of flowing right down the tread. Having the tread pitched towards the outslope also gives the water a chance to move off the trail but grass and other things can dam up the side of the trail and grade reversals help to insure that water is given a chance to escape.

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Everything I know I learned from the International Mountain Biking Association's book called "Trail Solutions". Lucky for you they've made a free digital version with some updates. www.imba.com/resource/guidelines-quality-trail-experience

[@roaming.around]

@@A.T.TrailWorks this is a great resource thank you!! I’ve using this dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aktrails/aktrailmgthndbk2015.pdf and Lightly on the Land by SCA 🙏🙏🙏

[@outdoormusings7688]

Nice video on trail building!

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. More tool and trail content to come.

[@Kailuakara]

I don’t think you mentioned it in the video, but what is that tool called? It’s like a garden hoe but way more angled for scrapping the soil. Thanks for the video sharing the technicals of trail building! 👍🏻

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

I was in Southeast Asia when I made this and I was using a grub hoe, which was the best tool we could find locally. Here in the states I use something similar made by Rogue Hoe. They aren't cheap but they are incredibly strong and worth every penny.

[@fangtao7040]

😀first time see how build road by hand

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Glad you found it interesting. Thanks for watching!

[@fangtao7040]

@@A.T.TrailWorks 😁that's nice

[@russellturpin1259]

I enjoy the video and content but the background music is too much

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Sorry about that. The buzzing of the jungle was just too annoying. These cameras really pick up all those high pitched noises. I'll probably make an updated video now that I'm back in the States.

[@amaria7735]

Agreed, hard to hear you over all the bugs and music

[@Yusufmasron]

❤

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

Yusof! How are you, brother?

[@Yusufmasron]

@@A.T.TrailWorks hey im great brother, how r u and the family? hope all is good

[@A.T.TrailWorks]

All good here. Been working on my house while we work on the adoption process. Did a trail job early this year in a U.S. National Forest. Also been doing maintenance on the local trail systems here in Knoxville.

[@Yusufmasron]

Glad to hear that's all working out for you and Mary. Hey keep diggin' and i hope smooth sailing with the adoption, let me know of the outcome. Look forward to see him or her joining u on trail. take care brother