May 2025 Minutes
Co-Chairs: Liz Scherer & Mitch Waldman
Mtg took place in person indoors at the Village Station.
Commenced at 4:03 p.m.; ended at 4:51 p.m.
Members in attendance = 31
NEXT MEETING is August 4, 2025 @ 4:00. - Venue: TBD
FYI: Meetings are scheduled for the 1st Monday of 2nd month of each quarter
(i.e. first Monday of Feb/May/Aug/Nov)
NEXT WORKDAY: None scheduled; resting after the new signage project.
NEW & RETURNING MEMBERS & TRAIL REASSIGNMENTS
The following individuals have joined the BCTC. Welcome!
Les and Claudette Parker - assigned the Yellow & Purple Trails in the High Gap Park with Liz Scherer
Scott Hayes – assigned Nancy Womack from Valley View to Ponder Point with Mickey Greene
Betina Marr – assigned paved Red Loop at Wildcat and related access trails with Pete Stahlman
The following individuals have rejoined the BCTC. Welcome back!
Vic Shannon & Lin Crouse – assigned Indian Mounds Trail and Indian Mounds Loop
The following individuals have new assignments on the BCTC:
Greg & Marlyce Murphins – assigned to Jeep Trail team
Jim Harvard – assigned to the Upper Falls Trail
WORK HOUR METRICS:
2025 YTD: 1,100 + collective work hours from BCTC members.
NEW TRAIL SIGNAGE PROJECT – COMPLETED!
Why new signs needed: The old signs were wood and required recurring maintenance with new paint and/or replacement of rotten or deteriorating components.
Feedback from community regarding the new signs has been very positive.
Funding for materials was provided by RidgeRunners, Wildflower Bunch, and BC POA – Thank You!
Process in creating the new signs:
Joe Tipton created a signage concept that could be replicated among all the signs; created a prototype sign; and created a list of required components and fabrication steps. He described how the new signage materials and methods would be a more efficient fabrication method creating a more durable sign compared to the older signs (e.g. the High Gap Park signs). Photos were shared that compared the old signs, signage materials and fabrication methods from the High Gap Park signs vs the new signage materials and methods to illustrate the efficiency and durability of the new signs.
The new signage fabrication is modular, so if one part is damaged or requires replacing, it is easy to swap out that component. The new signs consist of a trail name engraved onto a ColorCore plastic placard using a CNC router. The placard, in turn, is attached to a wood backing (i.e. the wood sign) created from pressure-treated wood. (Depending on location, some wood signs have placards on both sides.) The wood sign is cut to include the necessary arrow on either or both ends to indicate the appropriate directional info for that sign. This sign is then attached with a metal rod to the signpost in the ground. Some signposts have more than one sign attached. Max is 4 signs per post for stability purposes.
Liz Scherer created a database containing an inventory of the existing trail signs to determine what signs were needed, the wording for each, and the arrow direction (if any) for each.
Additional signage was created: 21+ new signs were added to indicate access trails that were not marked at the street, causing unnecessary driving to main trail heads by neighbors who didn’t know they could walk there using these access trails.
Signage fabrication and installation process included cutting wood, metal and the ColorCore plastic material, engraving, drilling, planing, welding, attaching, threading rods, painting rods, assembling, transporting to trailheads, hauling on foot to signage sites, digging, installing, removing and hauling out the old signs, and updating the trail database.
Photos were shared showing the large quantity of materials purchased, fabrication efforts in progress, transportation of component parts, installation efforts of the new signs, and finished and installed signage.
BCTC contributors to the new signage project included: Joe Tipton, Mike Sheely, Alan Moffatt, Dion Golden, Bill Merrick, Les Parker, Claudette Parker, Scott Hayes, Sheila Waldman, Mitch Waldman, Jonathan Foulkes, and Liz Scherer. -THANK YOU ALL!
The Numbers to date:
Sign Locations = 134 (eff 5/10/25 increased to 144)
Wood backing components = 251 (eff 5/10/25 increased to 269)
ColorCore engraved placards = 365 (eff 5/10/25 increased to 392)
Hours worked by BCTC on the signage project = 300+ hours
ACTION REQUIRED ON ALL TRAILS
New Trail Signage – Confirm installed appropriately: If your trail has new signage that requires straightening or better stability, please handle that or ask for assistance.
Old Trail Signage – Remove as appropriate: If you see older signs on your trail that are redundant, unnecessary or outdated, remove them and bring to the Borrow Pit.
Clean up other signs - If other signs on your trail have moss on them, clean and spray with Miracle Mist. e.g. the round blue or red mile marker signs on the Red & Blue Wildcat paved trails.
Bridges with Tar Paper - If your trail has a footbridge with tar paper, remove the tar paper and nails, then replace with metal mesh or spray with Miracle Mist. The tar paper traps moisture and accelerates decomposition of the bridge. Use a pry bar or similar tool to remove hardware and paper. Bring a trash bag for the debris.
Trail Points of Interest - Let Liz know of any interesting features on your trail so that this info can be included on the new maps and trail kiosk posters. [see item #6 in “Upcoming Projects” below.]
UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Nature Valley Map & Kiosk - The existing Nature Valley map in the wooden kiosk at the trail head parking area is outdated. Plan is to (a) remove the map and relocate it to the BC Lodge for historical purposes; and (b) remove the kiosk.
Covered Bridge Trail – Fix sagging walkway that goes under the covered bridge.
NOTE: This project includes soil erosion that must also be addressed. Liz and Mitch are meeting with Lydell Mack about this and other topics on May 12th. More to follow.Covered Bridge Trail Stairs – Require replacement. Hansen brothers (John & Jim) will discuss next steps with Liz and Mitch.
NOTE: Bob Kenyon (BCTC member) has requested that any work on the Covered Bridge Trail be completed prior to the annual Boy Scout hike he has planned in August.Replace cable on bridges – Alan Moffatt has said he could use help with the bridges on his trail(s).
Nancy Womack Trail – Improve stream crossings: Renee Bourbeau is looking for ideas and assistance to address the stream crossing(s) on NWT between Valley View parking and Nancy Womack falls. The plank foot crossing is insufficient. One thought is to reroute the trail in that area, if possible. A particular difficulty is the challenge of getting materials and equipment to that location. Immediate concern: The possibility that the plank footbridge might wash away, so it was suggested to Scott that the bridge be tied off in some manner. Renee spoke to Joe Tipton who indicated he would go look at the issue and make suggestions.
Trail Poster Updating - Liz would like to update the trail posters located in the kiosks at various trail heads. Many of these posters contain photos of flora and fauna which may no longer be relevant to that trail. Also, most folks rely on phone apps to identify flora and fauna discovered on the trails. Goal is to “clean up” the posters to remove the flora and fauna info and instead include items of particular interest on that trail. If you have any items of interest affecting your trail, let Liz know.
INSURANCE INFO: Mitch explained that BCTC members are approved by the POA. As such, BCTC members are covered by the umbrella liability insurance policy carried by the BC POA.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
Red Loop Detour Q – What is the status of the detour for the Wildcat paved Red Loop proposed to address the new home construction impacting that trail?
Mitch answered that it was decided to do nothing. The options to relocate the trail in that area are not feasible. The detour would have put hikers close to vehicles on the busy Wildcat Parkway and would have been unsafe, in our opinions. It was also determined that, although people walking along the Red Loop will have to cross the driveway for the new home, this is not any different than having to cross the road. It is acknowledged that there will be more traffic along that driveway area during construction, but it is expected that it will calm down once the home construction is completed.
Utility Locate Process: Comment.
Liz explained the process she followed to get the utility company to locate any possible utility lines that might be impacted by the new BCTC signposts. Liz needed them to check 17 locations.
Carl Petersen (BCTC member) explained the process he went through with the utility company in locating lines at The Terraces in connection with the sign relocate for that property owned by the BC Chapel.