Help stop bike trails modifications

Help stop bike trails modifications

Maintenance/grooming, Safety
We need your help! We’re seeing a steep increase in unauthorized trail modifications lately — people putting in shortcuts, jumps and extra features — primarily off our singletrack trails. We get that our trails might seem a little bland for riders looking for a spicier experience. But this is not the way to get more challenging features at Tsalteshi. All trail construction has to go through a design process that includes safety, layout with other trails, sustainability (erosion control and ongoing maintenance) and approval by our board, insurance underwriters and our landlord, the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Renegade trail mods have been a problem throughout the history of the trails but it’s getting really out of hand lately — people doing dirt work, using saws, building structures, etc. We remove them…
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Moose alert

Moose alert

Safety
** 6/24: Moose charged a walker with leashed dogs near the Wolverine (K-Beach) trailhead around 2:30 p.m. **6/20: Mama with two calves spotted by Spaghetti Bowl (the Bear-Goat-Wolverine-Mosquito junction) around 6:30 p.m.. Riders gave her lots of space and she didn't react aggressively. Another mama with one calf spotted at the junction of Squirrel and Owl around 5:30 p.m. Again, riders gave her lots of space and she didn't seem aggressive. **6/19: Mama and calf seen near Motoboto entrance on Slikok singletrack trails. **6/15: Cow moose spotted near the Wolverine trailhead around 3:30 p.m. **6/8: Cow with one calf on Fox around 3 p.m., on the hillside below the water tower. Peacefully munching (please give her lots of space so she can continue snacking in peace). **6/7: Mama moose charged…
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Vandalism

Vandalism

Safety
Tsalteshi has seen a rash of vandalism recently. Several signs between the Skyline neighborhood and Skyview Middle School have been ruined — scraping off letters to leave profanity and racial slurs. Signs are expensive to replace, and every cost we incur to repair vandalism is money taken away from grooming, lights, parking lot plowing and all the other things we do to keep the trails safe and fun. If anyone sees or hears of anyone tampering with signage, please let us know. Please also remember to keep your vehicles locked and valuables secured. A trail user had a pair of skis stolen from their vehicle in the Wolverine lot recently. We like to think theft doesn’t happen at our happy place, but you never know. Let’s not give thieves easy targets.
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Tree cutting — permit required

Tree cutting — permit required

Safety
Tree cutting is not allowed on Tsalteshi Trails without a permit from the Tsalteshi Trails Association. We've got a lot of beetle-kill spruce to remove but we also have a lot of trail users and need to prioritize safety. If you're interested in harvesting firewood, please be aware: There is no fee for firewood permits but harvesters must be current members of TTA. Woodcutters must contact TTA and obtain a permit before tree cutting/wood removal. A limited number of permits are available at a time. Let us know when and where you'd like to operate. Woodcutting is not allowed when races/programs/activities are underway in the area. Woodcutters must be over 18, have their own equipment and sign a liability waiver with TTA. Woodcutters must display trail work signage (provided by…
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Moose warning

Moose warning

Safety
Keep an eye out for an aggressive cow moose in the Squirrel-Owl-Rabbit area. She charged a runner on Owl earlier this week. Calves were not spotted but they might be present. Please give all moose a wide berth on the trails, especially cows with calves this time of year. Keep dogs on leashes or under strict voice control. Help us track wildlife problems on the trails — report negative wildlife interactions to info@tsalteshi.org or message us on Facebook. And please keep the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in the loop. Report problem wildlife encounters here.
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