Tales from the Trails

In the spring of 2024, RCR and the U.S. Forest Service collaborated to hire a shared Seasonal Trail Crew Member position on the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. With support from both agency budgets, combined with a Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund grant, this new position helps to ensure that multi-use trails in the Yampa Valley are getting the extra maintenance and attention they need in order to remain sustainable and enjoyable for all trail users. Enter Michael Mott – our newest staff member, an avid outdoorsman and a solid addition to the local Forest Service trail crew. We caught up with him to hear a bit about the summer and how life is treating him as a newcomer to Steamboat.

RCR: Tell us a bit about what the trail crew position has been like for you this summer!
Michael Mott (MM): It’s been awesome. Our crew has been super fun and experienced, which makes working on the trails a blast. It’s been a great change of pace from working in a bike park up in BC. A different workload, for sure, not so much emphasis on shaping jumps and berms. The huge area we are responsible for maintaining (across the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District) shifts the focus to corridor clearing and preventing erosion.

RCR: How have you been liking the Yampa Valley? Any favorite trails/sights/rides so far?
MM: It’s been such a sweet place to spend a summer. Shockingly green and full of flowers for so long. The sunset Grouse lap is a favorite zone for sure!

RCR: Describe a “day in the life” for you as a trail crew member.
MM: It all starts in the tool cache chatting about the day. Once we’ve got a plan, we pack up the truck with dirt tools and saws and head out. The rest of the day is spent hiking, cutting, and digging. We try to find some good views or cool shade for lunch and breaks. We hike anywhere from 4-12 miles in a day, depending on crew size and workload. The slowest day we had was cutting out less than ¾ mile over 5 hours because of a huge blowdown out in the Bears Ears.

RCR: If you could magically have each of your arms/hands replaced with trail tools, which two tools would you pick and why?
MM: I think the obvious answer is a chainsaw and rogue hoe. But I would like to have my hands back during lunch – and at the end of the day. Not sure I could eat a sandwich with a chainsaw for a hand.

RCR: What’s your favorite trailside lunch?
MM: As the crew will tell you, I’ve become known for my veggie sandwiches, chocolate bars, and goldfish. Leftover pizza is deluxe too.

RCR: Tell us what’s next for you once the snow starts to fly and the trails are put to bed for winter.
MM: I’m staying in Steamboat for the winter. So I’m getting ready to hit some trails on skis and put in skin tracks in the mountains!