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Mountain Trails Foundation

Mountain Trails Foundation

We build, maintain and protect Park City, Utah's trails

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Rick Fournier, Field Manager

Meet the 2025 Trail Crew

May 13, 2025 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

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May has traditionally marked the kickoff to the dirt season here in Park City, a time when we welcome back our seasonal staff and on occasion, bring new faces into the fray.  Such is the case this year with four new hires.  More often than not, the hiring process coalesces organically, stimulating our team with passionate, talented and unique individuals.  The latest rendition of this long-running Mountain Trails ritual now includes a cast of 11, our largest trail crew to date. 

Twenty years ago, my first “crew” consisted of myself and the boyfriend/girlfriend duo of Phil and Jess.  In the two decades since, many things have changed, but the one constant has been the quality of the staff who’ve crossed the MTF orbit.  I can’t help but smile looking back on the long list of amazing individuals (and individual characters), who’ve left their mark on our local trails and on me, personally. 

As I enthusiastically look forward, I’m stoked to introduce this most excellent trove of humans who comprise the 2025 Mountain Trails Trail Crew…  

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Trail News

March Trail Report – Third Winter

March 10, 2025 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

As the snow falls in earnest outside my window on a Monday morning I ponder, is this 3rd winter?  I say this because just yesterday, as I was skate-skiing at 8,500 feet in beautiful Bonanza Flat sporting only a t-shirt and windbreaker, it most definitely felt like second spring.  March came in like a kitten but you knew it couldn’t last.  Fast forward to Thursday morning and we’ve picked up 6-8 inches of Sierra cement at the Quinn’s trailhead.  Here we go again boys… time to pack some glop.   

It has been an extremely challenging winter from a trail management standpoint, and in the nearly 20 years that I’ve been involved with winter trails and grooming, I can’t recall a season where Round Valley melted out completely, twice.  And experiencing “mud season” any time before April is no bueno!  I’d prefer that Slicky the Bear remain in hibernation until 3rd and final spring.     

On a positive note, as the Round Valley winter trails rise from the ashes (gravel) once again for what will likely be a short-lived weekend grooming mission, Park City Municipal is trying hard to reboot the Transit to Trails program for the remainder of March and early April weekend service. Can I get a HELL YEAH!?  If the City can align the stars, we will have FREE weekend transport to the spectacular, higher ground bounty of snow that is Bonanza Flat. In the meantime, the MTF team will continue lay down some farm-fresh cord and classic Friday through Sunday (weather dependent) for those who care to hike, skin or ride up to Bonanza Flat.

Despite this less than stellar winter, our crew has managed to stay busy with weekend grooming in Bonanza Flat, planning for the upcoming dirt season, interviewing new staff for hire, grant applications, map production and miscellaneous signage work.  And then there’s the never-ending punch list of shop projects and equipment maintenance.  It may be “third winter” but we’re officially less than two months out from dipping our toes in the dirt once again, and we’ll be ready.

Have a great one out there!  

Filed Under: Trail Report

February Trail Report

February 2, 2025 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

It’s February 2nd, Groundhog Day, and earlier this morning in Punxsutawney PA, the town’s namesake rodent soothsayer, Punxsutawney Phil, allegedly saw his shadow, suggesting six more weeks of winter.  Meteorological science aside, here in Park City, after an extremely chilly and dry January (no I haven’t quit drinking), the traditional January thaw has procrastinated and opted to present itself this first weekend of February, with rain and temps pushing 50-plus degrees.  Thanks for the heads up, Phil!    

Winter trail management and grooming operations are an extremely fickle and challenging endeavor.  In recent years we’ve experienced increasingly more variable and extreme weather patterns, adding to the challenge.  Who could forget the record snow year just two seasons ago when the vault toilets in Bonanza were submerged beneath several feet of snow and Round Valley was an unrecognizable sea of white, with all but the tallest sagebrush engulfed in nearly 5 feet of snow. 

Contrast that to this less-than-stellar winter, with well below average snowpack (60% of avg), where full-fledged Round Valley grooming ops didn’t truly get rolling until late December.  In fact, our team has yet to rock ‘Roy, the City’s high-tech grooming machine and snowflake slayer, on the Round Valley Nordic trails.  There just hasn’t been enough snow and ‘Roy remains camped out atop Empire Pass, for weekend grooming missions in Bonanza Flat, sans Transit to Trails. 

Up until this warm, wet, week, and despite a marginal base, our team has been able to provide a consistently good snow surface, thanks to daily tandem snowmobile and drag grooming efforts.  The operators lower an electrically actuated “tooth bar” into the groomed surface, renovating the snow, while a weighted, polyurethane comb leaves the telltale corduroy finish.  This team of two regularly grooms nearly 30 Km of trail- that’s roughly 18-20 miles a day.  The cold temps we experienced during the latter half of January and consistent weekend “storms” that delivered a big toe to ankle deep refresh, have been key factors in enabling our team to do a lot with a little. 

In low snow years such as this one, groomers are quite often at the mercy of the elements, and hopping on a snowmobile at 6am with single digits temps and a sub-zero windchill is not for the faint of heart.  It can feel like a 3–4-hour cold plunge without the physiological benefits. Our crew must also contend with the original “Postholios”, those entitled and ill-behaved elk, who think they own the place and regularly post-hole the crap out of the Nordic track.  But you can’t explain etiquette to Elk.  Seriously though, they can do a number on the track, but it’s all part of the adventure and we love seeing them.

Not only has the Nordic been surprisingly good, the low snow, cold temps and high pressure have contributed to a great fat bike season, with over 20 miles of groomed, rock-solid singletrack online throughout the month of January.  So, even in an off year we’ve had it pretty darn good but it’s not without effort.       

Meanwhile, I just returned from taking the dog for a run on the Rail Trail, where the snow surface had the consistency of a 7-11 Slurpy. While I’m not going to place much weight in the prophesizing of an oversized, shadow-seeing ground squirrel, I do have faith in the Open Snow forecast provided by my man, Evan Thayer.  Evan’s latest forecast calls for colder temps later in the week and a solid shot of a storm rolling in on Friday.  So, hang in there, Park City.  We’re not done just yet…             

Have a great one out there! 

Filed Under: Trail News, Trail Report

January Trail Report

January 3, 2025 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”  Vern McLellan

Last week we ushered in the new year and with it, welcomed the return of winter to the Wasatch Back.  Thanks to a few well-timed holiday snowstorms, the Mountain Trails crew was finally able to ramp up grooming operations in your favorite winter wonderlands.  We’re super excited to get the snowball rolling and provide some amazing winter recreation to the greater Park City community once again.     

The curators of corduroy this season include 3rd and 4th year groomers, Matt Jones and Alec Johnson, respectively, along with this salty dog.  New to the program are rookie groomers and year-round staff, Zach Strickland and Emil Harry.  Zach and Emil have been getting dialed in on the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of pre-dawn, winter trail operations.  We’re super-stoked to have these guys onboard for what we hope will be another stellar winter trails season. 

For the third consecutive year, our partners in snow, Park City Municipal and Utah Open Lands, have been providing transportation via the Transit to Trails program, shuttling skiers, snowshoers, fat-bikers, and four-legged friends up to Empire Pass and the Bonanza Flat Conservation area. Until we have enough coverage in Round Valley to warrant the relocation of ‘Roy, the City’s awesome new grooming cat, we’ll continue to groom Bonanza Flat Thursday through Sunday for some spectacular, high alpine and lung-busting, winter recreation.   

Besides the early/late season grooming in Bonanza, our team will be crushing snowflakes on all the usual suspects – 30km of multi-use Nordic in Round Valley and another 5km on the Rail Trail from Bonanza Dr. to Hwy 248.  For our fat-tired friends, we’ll once again be grooming nearly 20 miles of singletrack in Round Valley along with the 3.5-mile Sparky loop at Clark Ranch. 

Daily Winter Trail Updates

As always, we’ll be posting daily grooming updates on our Facebook, Instagram pages and website.  For a visual look at what cord and classic has been set along with recently groomed singletrack, be sure to check out the interactive map on the Trails Resource Page as well:  https://parkcitytrails.org/winter-interactive-map-conditions/

Also listen in at 7:21am daily on local radio, KPCW, at which time members of Mountain Trails, Wasatch Trails and Basin Rec teams will provide up-to-date info on regional winter trails.

Winter Etiquette

Winter trail etiquette is all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T!  Make it your New Year’s resolution to acknowledge that ALL winter trail users have an equal right to a great experience out on the snow, whether that’s on fat tires, skinny skis, snowshoes, trail running or taking the pups for a cruise.  We want everyone to have the best possible experience out there and that means being considerate and appreciating the needs of your fellow trail users. 

Late last season, we worked with our long-time graphic designer, Scott Collett, to create a simple, yet comprehensive, winter etiquette overview, showing a variety of winter trail users and the expectations of each.  Here are a few more winter etiquette dos and don’ts…

•Fat Bikes– Don’t ride down the middle of the Nordic track – stick to the outside edge (opposite the classic lanes) or consider using the groomed singletrack.  If you are creating a rut deeper than one inch, conditions are too soft. Try lowering your tire pressure (2-5psi) or turn around and give the trails a chance to firm up. #RutsSuck!

• Foot Traffic– Please stay to the outside edge (opposite the classic lanes), on the wide-groomed Nordic track and avoid blocking the trail for other users, especially skiers.  Don’t run or hike on the singletrack if you are leaving a footprint deeper than 1-inch, especially in soft, post-storm conditions. Consider taking the snowshoes out for a tromp instead.  Don’t be a Postholio! 

• Skiers– Contrary to summer bike etiquette, skate skiers trending in the uphill direction should yield to the downhill skiers. Remember that Round Valley is NOT a Nordic center, it is a public, free, multi-use trail system. Please SLOW DOWN at busy intersections and alert other trail users when passing.  Pass with patience.

• Dog Owners– Maintain control of, and keep your dog(s) within sight, AT ALL TIMES! Always carry a leash in case you run into wildlife out on the trail. Pick up after your pups (including tossing sticks/sage off-trail) and DO NOT leave poop bags lying on the trail. There are 14 trash cans spread throughout Round Valley. PLEASE use them!

Lastly, because Round Valley is a truly special place for so many, let’s also make a concerted effort this winter to “leave it better then we found it.”  That can be as simple as picking up a forgotten poop bag or trash, tossing sticks off the trail, picking up a sign that’s blown over, or simply avoiding negative wildlife interactions and alerting others. And Charlie’s 10 Seconds of Kindness is always encouraged. 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year, filled with plenty of playtime on and in the snow!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

30,000 Foot View

October 4, 2024 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

“From the flight deck, we’ve reached our cruising altitude of 31,000 feet”, says the pilot over the intercom.  I’m on the front end of a 7- hour flight to upstate NY for my niece’s wedding and the only trails in sight are of the vaporous con-trail variety.  Sitting on a plane for several hours is a challenge for those of us who are constantly in motion, but I do find that air travel is a great opportunity to slow down and reflect on recent experiences as they relate to work, relationships and life in general.  It’s where the 30,000-foot view comes into focus both figuratively and literally.   

With September seamlessly flowing into October and summer into fall, it’s a great time to reflect on the season that was, and shift focus to the upcoming winter trails season.  Historically, October has marked the end of summer trail operations, as well as the month we say “so long” to our seasonal staff as they take a much-needed break before moving on to their winter gigs.  And in the case of third-year crew member and all-around great guy, Derek DeHaas, that new gig also included the consummation of a life-long partnership.  This past Wednesday, our team celebrated and sent off Derek as he prepared to drive back to his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico to marry his best friend and partner of 12 years, Kendall.  Congrats to the newlyweds!   

Last week we also said goodbye to crew member, Sean “Hoopty” Ward, as he would call it a season – his third as well.  Sean has put in his time behind the sticks, gaining valuable experience as a machine operator and trail builder.  He did a great job this season with tread and drainage work on both Rusty Shovel and Jenni’s trail, as well as cutting his teeth on a significant chunk of the challenging Bonanza to WOW connection, “Wowza”.  We wish him all the best and many deep powder days this winter.        

In the coming weeks we’ll say goodbye to more seasonal staff as our year-round team prepares for the upcoming winter trails season.  Winter prep includes mowing the soft-surface pathways for better snow retention as well as the installation of several hundred PVC markers on the Nordic trails throughout Round Valley, Clark Ranch, the Green Heart and Bonanza Flat, to keep the grooming cat, “Roy”, on course. 

In addition, there’s also over 20 miles of singletrack to mark for fat bike grooming.  And lastly, before the snowmaking guns are fired up, there’s the required removal of nearly 80 on-mountain wayfinding signs located on ski runs at Park City Mountain and Deer Valley.

The winter trails season is just around the corner, but in the meantime, have a great fall, y’all!  

Filed Under: Trail News

Falling for Trails – July Trail Report

July 13, 2024 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

All trail projects begin with a unique vision, an idea based on a specific need or purpose with some challenge, fun factor and a little dose of adventure. Lines are drawn on maps, a detailed planning process is initiated, stakeholder approval is requested, and funding mechanisms are sought after.  That’s the abbreviated version.  Sometimes several months or even years pass before the actual dirt work begins. 

It’s been my experience that the more interesting the project, the more challenging it is to lay out.  And while lines drawn on virtual maps require only mouse clicks, “ground-proofing” or physically walking that imaginary line, is the designers first interaction with canvas earth.  We can and often do, run into roadblocks in the form of impenetrable rock bands, cliffs, mine shafts, sensitive wildlife habitat and wetlands.  It’s a dynamic process and one that often requires hiking the same area several times, tweaking the route as needed and always looking to incorporate unique terrain features discovered along the way.         

The process of physically laying out a trail typically begins by flagging the alignment – measuring grade with an inclinometer and attaching florescent ribbon to trees, brush or rocks to clearly identify the intended route.  It can be a physically challenging endeavor, as we’re quite often at the mercy of steep, unforgiving terrain, elevation and weather, as well as dead-snags, biting insects and wildlife.  Mid-summer undergrowth hides downed logs and loose rock, creating unseen tripping hazards.  While laying out the Bonanza to WOW trail this past week, all three of us took nasty, hematoma-inducing falls.       

This past month our team performed the flagging ritual on three unique projects.  In early June we completed the layout for a continuation of the Silver Queen flow trail, extending it below Mid Mountain and down to the top of Jenni’s trail.  After several challenging outings, the Bonanza to WOW trail has now been flagged in its 4-plus-mile entirety with just some fine-tuning remaining.  And just last week we began flagging a new, upper elevation hiking trail between the Mid Mountain trail east of the Montage and Charlie’s 9K just below the Io trail. 

There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a trail project go from vision to flowy fruition.  It’s a process and art-form unlike any other- one that involves many moving pieces and many creative, passionate humans. Though it’s often wrought with hoops, hurdles, bumps, bruises, equipment failures and horsefly bites, I wouldn’t trade any of it.   

Thanks for being part of the MTF community. Your support makes trails happen.        

Rick Fournier, Trails Manager

Filed Under: Trail News, Trail Report

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