Calling all trail hounds!
Want to help out with the budget issues at Soquel Forest and with other land managers? Did you know there is a fantastically easy way to contribute? You can help by just riding your bike on the trails!
What?? That’s what you do anyway, right?
What’s the catch? Well, we are trying to build up our National Mountain Bike Patrol program in Soquel Demonstration State Forest and with other bay area land managers. The Foresters need all the help they can get to keep the trails open. Becoming a certified NMBP patroller is easy, and incredibly rewarding. You get the pleasure of getting to know your land managers on a personal basis, and performing a needed public service while getting in some great riding.
You are invited to attend the NMBP Trail Patrol Training on May 8th. This training will give you the skills you need to be the eyes and ears of the foresters while you are out riding, and to assist other trail users including mountain bikers, hikers, dog walkers, and equestrians who use the forest.
The National Mountain Bike Patrol is akin to the National Ski Patrol, and we are over-seen by the International Mountain Biking Association. NMBP patrollers help by:
- patrolling the roads and trails and reporting issues to the land managers such as downed trees, landslides or erosion problems, vandalism or dumping, motorcycle use or other issues
- educating trail users about our Forests, its management and natural resources, and the unique trail maintenance program there
- giving out directions or maps, or water or energy bars to someone who is lost or in over their head
- giving first aid in case of injury, and assisting in getting back to the trailhead or helping with medical evacuation by ambulance or helicopter
- assisting with search and rescue if someone is missing in the forest
In addition to providing the NMBP training, we will also help you either get or renew your CPR and 1st Aid certificate. ROMP covers the cost of the NMBP training for members.
If you are interested in joining the National Mountain Bike Patrollers and attending the May 8th clinic, please contact Dave Wieland by emailing NMBP@ROMP.org.
Please forward this message to your friends if you think they might be interested!
