Summary of APMBI Mountain Biking Towns’ Breakout session on 11/07/02

Introduction of new towns involved in APMBI: Old Forge, Long Lake, N. Hudson, Tupper Lake, and Indian Lake

• Dean Nervik (Lake Pleasant) explained the process of using a GPS to produce both a map & brochure for the bike trails.

• Ted Christodaro (Inlet) explained his trail map system, and map, which he produced without the use of a GPS. He is planning on using a GPS eventually. He mentioned that his “Kiosk” is over 10 years old, and was build by the town.

He explained his trail system signage to us.

• Bert Yost (Wilmington) talked about the importance the DEC “Adopt a Resource” program, working with the DEC in developing a trail system. The benefits include: 1) Makes one outline goals, and define what you want to do 2) Develops good stewardship practices, and working with the DEC is a good and helpful effort.

• Bert further emphasized that the trails must be “multi use”, being used by bikers, skiers, and snowshoers.
• GPS/MAPS – Bert emphasized that the use of GPS in developing and planning trail systems is important, and great to show town officials and elected officials to drum up support and sell the idea of a bike system in the village/town/city.
• Bert also addressed the issues of Insurance coverage of volunteer workers on the trail. When cutting on state land with the DEC ‘Adopt A Resource’ program, one must attend a training class to receive a chain saw certification. This is a plus when covered by a town’s insurance policy. More research should be put into the insurance needs/coverage of individuals working as a volunteer.
• There was some talk of volunteers under the ‘Adopt A Resource’ program or involved with a town would have insurance coverage. More information is needed.

• Paul Capone: Discussed several areas pertaining to land use management and trail development.

1) Land categories need to be defined. For Example: Wilderness, Wild Forest, private, etc of the lands where trails are to be developed.

2) Find out who to work with on those lands, DEC, private landowners

3) Cooperation with all involved is necessary for success

· Chuck Smith (Lake Pleasant) brought up and discussed the special requirements by specific landowners (in his case International Paper Co) of requiring outhouses, garbage barrels, and signage necessary to keep wandering bike riders away from land leaseholders.

There was a small discussion of funding sources for towns and municipalities, not too specific.

· Bert Yost: Discussion of the noticeable, measurable “effect” of mountain biking on the community. Many questions were raised: 1) How can we measure the effect on the economy? 2) How can we measure the success biking has on the local economy?

This is tough to measure, but would be valuable in convincing town/village/local officials that Mtn. Bike riding would have a good effect on the community.

Day-Trippers vs. Overnighters: Overnight guests have a greater impact on the local area than day trippers. We’d love to have both, but the overnighters leave more money in the local economy.

General Questions:

1. Who owns Oak Mtn Ski area in Speculator? Norman Germain and his family, including Tom Germain the son.

2. How do you “write” grants? There are many requirements and sources, both of which are going to be compiled and collected. Grants are not all “easy” money, nor as numerous as people think they are. They take a lot of work and knowledge. When we work as volunteers in our Mtn. Biking areas, we must keep extremely detailed notes of hours worked, number of people working, money spent, supplies bought, etc. to count toward the “matching” dollars.

RECOMMENDATIONS / REQUESTS taken to the table after the break out session.

1) We must schedule the IMBA/SUBARU trail care crew to have a workshop local to all of the new towns involved NOW, for the 2003 Spring. We talked about having it in Long Lake.

2) It would be nice to have a somewhat “secret” source of grant resources, available to all of the APMBI people, with support to help draw up these grants. Perhaps successful writers could help the new towns, and established Mtn Biking areas as well. We would like to keep this bank of knowledge somewhat quiet as to assure us a better success rate at obtaining the grants.

3) It would be nice to have a centralized list of key resources of information, which would include each other’s email addresses, web sites, and government agencies which would help us in our trail building endeavors.

4) Bert Yost coined the phrase “The Endless Trail”, to affirm our unity in bringing Mtn. Biking trails into the ADK’s, as well as linking these trails, thus promoting the idea that the ADK’s will become a destination for Mtn Bike Riding. Amen!

Recorded by Dean Nervik, Asst. MTB. Coordinator, Speculator/Lake Pleasant