Journal
A short story about multiple lines
Multiple lines are common practice, especially in open and higher terrain. Erosion, more land use and no clear visitor guidance go hand in hand with this phenomenon. But what can be done about it? A short story from the problem analysis to the solution approach…
Author: Severin Schindler
Parallel lines
Existing trails are often too steep. And when it’s too steep the water usually can’t escape anywhere, but rather flows constantly along the fall line. Fine particles are constantly being washed out and the trail is increasingly being eroded. Heavy rainfall in particular can accelerate these processes. At some point the eroded channel becomes so deep that walking and riding bikes in it becomes difficult. As a logical and convenient consequence, a parallel track is created next to it. It works, drives and runs well for a while because the grass is rooted, but over time the weather becomes noticeable: this track also turns into a deep channel. And the game starts all over again – until there are eight channels next to each other in the overall structure and the area that can be cultivated becomes smaller and smaller. In the worst case scenario, this would also affect an extensive location such as nationally protected dry meadows and pastures…
… that’s what happened at Lenk on the Stübleni Pass.
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Pragmatic approach with stakeholders in unison
As part of the trail network analysis carried out in 2020, the problem was identified and defined as a measure in a multi-year plan. The stakeholders community, cantonal offices, government governor’s office, tourism, Bernese hiking trails, managers and landowners have jointly spoken out in favor of a clear route and the dismantling and renaturation of the resulting channels. The original lines can still be easily seen in the picture. Based on detailed planning, a new trail design was developed in the multi-line corridor and the project was approved by the government governor’s office using a reporting procedure.
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Trail Design Trade Off
The trail design in open terrain for paths with ongoing use must not be too expansive. Or to put it another way: don’t get stuck on moderate average inclines like those often propagated in contemporary mountain bike trail design (e.g. < 10%), consequently the measures will no longer work for hikers.
So there has to be a trade off: The trail is designed in such a way that no shortcuts can occur (e.g. in close succession of 180° curves) and the users are guided intuitively through good integration into the terrain. A regular zigzag like the former lines, which are still faintly visible (see picture above), can quickly lead to shortcuts. Nevertheless, the trail must not be too steep so that the water can be regularly diverted away from the path surface. Slightly meandering design creates space for drainage. The drainages in the form of troughs with a transverse slope are additionally reinforced by deeply installed, non-protruding stone slabs and stones. Because the water cannot wash them away and flat tyre prevention is included.
In September 2023, the planned measure was carried out by the workforce of the municipality of Lenk and Vast Trails. Due to the excess turf, the groove structure could be dismantled and renatured almost across the whole perimeter. We are already excited to see how the trail users, whether hikers or mountain bikers, will accept the new route starting next year.
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