Expresso Rebuild: Year Two
Despite the name we knew Expresso wasn’t going to be a quick fix. It had descended into unkempt nastiness and our goal was a ribbon of bermy, golden bliss. With Digger at the helm we had no choice but to build to his lofty standard. Last year’s re-routes were a little busted up by fallen trees but most of our labour, and that of our MEC partners, survived the winter unscathed. It was time to rejoin the old line and rehab the creek bed it had become.
So it was a day of hauling rock, sinking culverts and tamping down golden soil. A solid turnout helped raise our weather-dampened spirits and by lunch the old trail was looking a lot like new trail. Expresso is beginning to resemble a downhill pump track – but if that’s not your cuppa the old line is, aside from some deadfall, intact.
After a lunch of expertly grilled bacon burgers (thanks to Trevor Hansen for the flipping and Cristina Piccone for the shopping) we gave out enough prizes from Rock Shox, nsmb.com and Dissent Labs to satisfy everyone in attendance, without even a patch kit left over. Thanks to the great crew who joined us (including three trail runners who wanted to contribute) for killing it.
We’ll be announcing our next trail day soon; it’d be great to see you out!
Last year’s gold up top is sticking around nicely with few drainage issues. Photo Morgan Taylor.
The root mass on the side of the trail was a tree that came down during winter storms, taking the trail bed with it. Digger did a great job of fixing up the section. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Woodwork after a winter.
Smooth lines from Digger’s imagination. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Retrievers gonna retrieve. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Idyllic. Wallpaper-worthy. Photo Morgan Taylor.
More nicely aged trail bed. Photo Morgan Taylor.
To those who have come before us. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Choose your own old school adventure! Photo Morgan Taylor.
Water dispersal in this section proved tricky. Rocks, culverts, and gold, gold, gold. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Mining for nugs. Photo Morgan Taylor.
A solid crew of 20+ out for the day. Thanks so much to our loyal volunteers, and the fresh faces that also made it out this time. Photo Jerry Willows.
Here come the waterworks. Photo Jerry Willows.
Digger tries his best not to be animated on camera, so you have to shoot him through a crowd. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Making sure the gold and the drainage stay separated with the hammer of Thor. Photo Morgan Taylor.
The younger generation learns the Digger Dance. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Our trail boss, Jerry Willows. Photo Morgan Taylor.
A stoic Digger tries not to laugh while Cam McRae gives in. Photo Morgan Taylor.
NSMB Team captain and grillmaster, Trevor Hansen. Photo Morgan Taylor.
About to make sweet love to a pulaski. Photo Jerry Willows.
Moving on down trail. Photo Jerry Willows.
And installing another culvert. Photo Jerry Willows.
Those who make cookies also make friends. Thanks Ms. Mallett! Photo Jerry Willows.
Morgan 2.0 on the other side of the lens. Photo Jerry Willows.
Another gold mine. Photo Jerry Willows.
Grill’s on! And we’ve got bacon! Photo Jerry Willows.
T-Bone was flipping burgers like mad on two grills. He will be assigned this job again in the future… Photo Jerry Willows.
Cameron’s been showing up to our trail days since 2011 on Dales. His choice of headwear was suitable for the occasion. Photo Jerry Willows.
Looking good! Photo Jerry Willows.
NSMBA Program Manager Mark Wood stopped by for a couple hours – thanks boss! Photo Jerry Willows.
Plenty of gold here. It was a bit soupy, but will dry out as the weather gets warmer. Photo Jerry Willows.
Finishing up for the day, two Cams and a Digger all in good spirits. Photo Jerry Willows.
Unfortunately the ramp leading on to the iconic Expresso Smooth didn’t survive the winter. We’re lucky to have Digger on our team for this one. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Something conspicuously missing. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Carnage. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Still ominous from the bottom. And it will be resurrected. Photo Morgan Taylor.
And, as is the TAP mandate, ground work takes precedence and this eroded mess just won’t do. Photo Morgan Taylor.
Next trail day we will likely be down as far as this odd piece of history. Photo Morgan Taylor.
We’re making big progress on Expresso and we’d love to have you out to our next trail day. Keep an eye here and on our Facebook page for updates.
Comments
Lalena Desautels
10 years, 11 months ago
Great photo essay! I love seeing all the people putting in the work. I am working in Calgary for a year, and was on Expresso the weekend before the trail day. I wish I could have been there to help out. Hopefully next Expresso trail day, I'll be back in Vancouver for good. Awesome work everyone!
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thaaad
11 years ago
So sad I had to be at work that day, really wanted to come out 🙁
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nvrsmmr
11 years ago
Oh, I really like riding that funky rollercoaster in the last picture. Hope it stays! This trail is awesome! Thank you!
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mic
11 years ago
so glad to have these types of efforts being put forth, thanks to all! Once my kids grow up a lil bit more we'll be out there in force.
Amazing how fast and aggressive the erosion process is.
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