LSLPM - Trail Building and Design Page

A well designed and built trail is a joy to use. Designing and building trails is more than cutting a path. It takes study, careful planning, technical know-how, the right tools, and time to get it right. You can learn a lot from books, and workshops, and being an avid trail user helps. There is also an intangible that I call "feel". The person designing the trail has to be able to see the trail, and feel how it will function before any building starts, just by getting to know the land where it will be built. "Feel" is to a designer what imagery is to an athlete. This ability only comes with experience and is something that can be honed, but not taught. You either have it or you don't.

I love trails, and I have "feel". I can walk through the woods, and just see how things can work. I like trails that use the existing terrain, and ones that fit their surroundings. I can just picture them in my mind as I walk through the woods, and more than that I can "feel" how it will be to ski it. A trail that reflects the character of the environment that it is in has great flow and just seems right. A new trail that is well designed and built can seem like it has just grown there. The best part is people seem to really like the trails that we have created because of how they flow and fit into their surroundings.

What it comes down to is creating the best trail for the use you are designing it for, and one that works with the budget that you have to work with. Planning starts with the clients wish list, and knowing the resources that are available.

My background with trails is extensive. I have spent a large part of my life hiking, biking, skiing, running, and trying all kinds of ways to get out on the trails. The next step in my learning process was maintaining and building trails at home, and for local organizations. I had the opportunity to update several race courses as well. The first trails that I created were just laid out. There was no real planning or design. Amazingly, they worked out well. After college I had the opportunity to design a ski center at Crotched Mountain Ski Area. When we bought Norsk in 1999 I was ready to go. At Norsk we completely renovated the old trail system, which was in complete disrepair when we bought the ski center. We built approximately 16 kilometers of new trails at Norsk, which were very well received.

We are currently creating trail systems here at our home in Springfield, New Hampshire, and in Sunapee, NH, at Dexter's Inn. Designing, laying out, building, and maintaining trails is as much or more fun for me than using the trails.

We design trails through Norsk Cross Country Ski and Winter Sports, and use our landscaping business to build the trails. It is a great combination. We would love the opportunity to work with you on your trail project. Please call or email me if we can be of help with your trail project.


TRAIL BUILDING & DESIGN LAKE SUNAPEE LANDSCAPING & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
A well designed and built trail is a joy to use. Designing and building trails is more than cutting a path. It takes study, careful planning, technical know-how, the right tools, and time to get it right. You can learn a lot from books, and workshops, and being an avid trail user helps. There is also an intangible that I call "feel". The person designing the trail has to be able to see the trail, and feel how it will function before any building starts, just by getting to know the land where it will be built. "Feel" is to a designer what imagery is to an athlete. This ability only comes with experience and is something that can be honed, but not taught. You either have it or you don't. I love trails, and I have "feel". I can walk through the woods, and just see how things can work. I like trails that use the existing terrain, and ones that fit their surroundings. I can just picture them in my mind as I walk through the woods, and more than that I can "feel" how it will be to ski it. A trail that reflects the character of the environment that it is in has great flow and just seems right. A new trail that is well designed and built can seem like it has just grown there. The best part is people seem to really like the trails that we have created because of how they flow and fit into their surroundings. What it comes down to is creating the best trail for the use you are designing it for, and one that works with the budget that you have to work with. Planning starts with the clients wish list, and knowing the resources that are available. My background with trails is extensive. I have spent a large part of my life hiking, biking, skiing, running, and trying all kinds of ways to get out on the trails. The next step in my learning process was maintaining and building trails at home, and for local organizations. I had the opportunity to update several race courses as well. The first trails that I created were just laid out. There was no real planning or design. Amazingly, they worked out well. After college I had the opportunity to design a ski center at Crotched Mountain Ski Area. When we bought Norsk in 1999 I was ready to go. At Norsk we completely renovated the old trail system, which was in complete disrepair when we bought the ski center. We built approximately 16 kilometers of new trails at Norsk, which were very well received. We are currently creating trail systems here at our home in Springfield, New Hampshire, and in Sunapee, NH, at Dexter's Inn. Designing, laying out, building, and maintaining trails is as much or more fun for me than using the trails. We design trails through Norsk Cross Country Ski and Winter Sports, and use our landscaping business to build the trails. It is a great combination. We would love the opportunity to work with you on your trail project. Please call or email me if we can be of help with your trail project.