HAND BUILT TRAILS

VOLUNTEERS, TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND TRAIL BUILDING

Trail Maintenance and Building Policy:

Due to the formal agreements, we have with the City of Ishpeming, City of Negaunee, and CCI and in the interest of protecting our relationships with them and as the appointed trail steward, the following procedure is necessary. All trail maintenance and building on the RAMBA trail network needs to be approved by RAMBA.

If you would like to maintain or build trail on the RAMBA Trail Network the following must be completed and on file with RAMBA:

1. Contact RAMBA via rideramba@gmail.com with a proposal of maintenance (no Facebook requests)

   • Proposal must include a written detailed trail plan, map showing location, and timeline of work to be completed.

2. Plan will be reviewed by the Board of Directors. Review will include a physical inspection with the party of the proposal. The review and inspection process will be performed within 14 business days of the dated proposal.

3. Plan Approval or Denial provided.

   • Approval = Commence work based on provided and approved plan

   • Denial = Cease operation and work with RAMBA on alternative plan

4. Notify RAMBA of completed work. It is also recommended the party request a partial project inspection to ensure the project is proceeding as planned. Physical inspection of the work with the party of the proposal will be done before the trail can be implemented. The inspection process will be done within 14 days of the dated notification of completion.

5. Trail Approval or Denial provided

   • Approval = Open trail to users

   • Denial = Cease operation and work with RAMBA on corrections.

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1: ABSOLUTELY NO NEW trail is to be built. Trail users and volunteers may only maintain the existing trail. New trail can only be initiated by RAMBA due to the formal agreement and procedures in place with the City of Ishpeming, City of Negaunee, CCI and Landowners. We, RAMBA, are required to present and propose all new trails to the landowners for review.  

2. The mentioned procedure does not apply to trail cleanup such as clearing of trail. Trail cleanup efforts can be initiated by the user. 

Definitions: 

Trail Maintenance: Maintenance is considered the altering or reroute of an existing trail of its original intent whether it is to fix erosion, improve, or to create alternative lines. It would typically utilize the same entry and exit points of the created segment. This would include but not limited to the relocation of a portion of trail, moving dirt to or from a trail, removing and/or adding natural or manmade obstacles within the existing trail.

New Trail: Includes the overall planning, design, construction of a segment that does not utilize an existing trail in the trail system. This is a trail or segment that is created for reasons other than maintenance. Typically, a new segment or trail would utilize a new entry point, ending point, or both. It could also be considered new if it were to include the omission of an existing trail to implement a new trail that does not utilize the existing trail even though part of the existing segment. 

Trail Cleanup: The clearing of debris from the trail. This includes removal of windfall trees, uproots, leaning trees, loose limbs, wood chunks, leaves etc. from both the vertical and horizontal trail corridor. Common cleanup methods would be hands, rakes, blowers, saws, and chainsaws.