What a week we’ve had here for the outdoors enthusiasts in the Driftless area!

Let’s start at the beginning... Several years ago, the Human Powered Trails group in La Crosse received a visit from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Trail Care Crew.  The Trail Care Crew is a group of professional trail builders who travel the globe to consult and educate local clubs on how to create sustainable multi-use trails. For them to take interest in our corner of the world was exciting, to have them come to our local trails and work with our land managers, teach our trail crew, roll up their sleeves and build trail is a special privilege.  This put the Driftless area on IMBA’s map so to speak as well as mountain bikers all over the Midwest and beyond.  La Crosse quickly got the seal of approval from the “experts” for world class trails for mountain bikers to enjoy.

Currently, VT and HPT spent the better part of the week with three IMBA representatives from Boulder , Colorado and Hood River , Oregon .  A large percentage of our time together was spent talking to State Senators, DNR representatives, Federal Officials, La Crosse city and county officials, Vernon county officials, executive directors, corporate supporters, and private individuals about IMBA’s “Ride Center” initiative.

What is a Ride Center? IMBA was challenged by their own Board of Directors two years ago to create an initiative that would combine access and advocacy issues, encourage active lifestyles, and stimulate local economies through the development of masterfully designed trail networks and facilities.  Given this task, the IMBA staff designated five Ride Centers across the nation.  These five Ride Centers are providing successful examples of sustainable design, effective risk management and productive partnerships between public and private interests.  With these five projects underway, IMBA set out to designate five more areas as Ride Centers.

La Crosse Area to become a Ride Center… The IMBA Ride Center coordinators were blown away by their visit.  Naturally the topography of the Driftless Area is unique to only this part of the country, and provides some of the best terrain possible to design and build sustainable “shared-use” trails for all skill levels.  But the IMBA guys were also impressed with the positive attitudes and feedback they received from everyone they spoke with.  All of the interested parties involved, from city to federal officials were onboard with the plan.  Our focus areas for the three days of their visit was spent in La Crosse and their newly acquisitioned land from the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, three Vernon County Parks, a small parcel of private land within Viroqua city limits, and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.  Collectively, these lands work together to create a destination spot for outdoors enthusiasts to travel to from great distances.  Individually, each of these lands provides very unique experiences for trail users.

What is the next step? Back in Boulder , Colorado the IMBA staff is now working on a comprehensive plan for the local trail crews and public officials to work with.  Of course all of this is only made possible through funding.  With this plan we will begin to seek funding through various grant opportunities, donations through private sectors (i.e. hospitals, companies, and individuals) and public sectors as well (i.e. city, county, state, and federal offices).

What can you do? Get onboard! Contact your local group and find out how you can help.  It was through 100% volunteer efforts that we got to the point of being noticed by this International group, and it will be through those same efforts that we will succeed.  This is an incredible opportunity for our community with social, health, and economic implications that benefit us all.

For further information contact:
Vernon Trails - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or
Pete at Bluedog Cycles (608) 637-6993
Human Powered Trails - www.HumanPoweredTrails.com

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