HITCH 1 | Moab, Utah
3/11-3/18, 2026
SUMMARY
Our Trail Crew had a highly productive stretch on the ground, completing a wide range of trail improvements focused on sustainability, safety, and user experience.
Work began with a site assessment, followed by splitting into teams to tackle multiple priority projects. Early efforts included constructing a 270-foot trail reroute and improving a steep rock slab using a jackhammer. Crews later regrouped to complete the reroute, install proper drainage above and below the old trail, and fully rehabilitate the previous alignment.
Over the course of the hitch, the team:
● Completed multiple trail reroutes in challenging terrain
● Built retaining walls and finished durable trail tread
● Decommissioned and restored several unsustainable trail segments
● Installed extensive drainage to address erosion issues
● Armored heavily impacted areas with rock to stabilize the trail
One major focus area involved repairing severe erosion caused by fall-line trail design. This required significant rock armoring, installation of large drainage features, and reshaping the trail corridor—successfully restoring the section to a sustainable condition.
Additional work included refining previous reroutes, improving corners and technical features, and reinforcing trail surfaces in high-impact areas.
The crew also conducted a mobile maintenance day, covering a large section of trail by bike. This effort focused on closing unauthorized braided routes, installing confidence markers to improve navigation, repairing signage, and engaging directly with trail users to share information about the work being done. Overall, the team completed all identified project goals, leaving the trail system in significantly better condition for both current and future users.
HIGHLIGHTS
The TPA Trail Crew completed heavy duty rock and tread work near Moab Utah, completing several reroutes throughout the week. Areas with severe erosion damage were patched up and made sustainable. Clif from Ride with Respect lined out the work areas for the TPA Crew making for efficient and strategic trail maintenance work. Clif also secured an OHV grant from Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) to fund the TPA Crew. Two very experienced trail workers from Salida Colorado joined the TPA Crew for this Moab hitch giving the TPA a Crew of 5 strong and experienced trail workers for this first 2026 hitch!
STATS
● Hitch Number: 1
● Reporting Period: 3/11-3/18 (includes mobilization and demobilization days)
● RD/BLM: Moab BLM Field Office
● Trails worked: Sovereign trail, bushy basin trail, Dee flat trail, Guys trail, crystal geyser single track, Juniper trail, enduro loop, cow freckle trail
● Trail miles ridden: 90
● Trail miles maintained: 56
● Trees felled:0
● Trees cut:0
● Drainage cleared: 13
● New Drains built: 14
● Restoration feet: 1850
● Reroute feet: 2,083
● Reconstruction feet: 360
● Debris removed feet: 320
● Corridor cleared feet: 0
● Signage: 11
● Contacts made: 10
● Educational interactions: 9
● Volunteer hours:0
● Total truck miles per hitch: 700
● Hitch point of Contact: Clif Koonz