Inside Volume 3, Issue 2 of Trail Builder Magazine: Trail Building, Technology, and the Stories Shaping Our Trails
Trail building is evolving, and Volume 3, Issue 2 of Trail Builder Magazine reflects that shift through six feature stories on trail building, technology, tools, and global trail communities. From long-term stewardship to new jumplines, from digital design tools to remote trail networks, this issue explores how trails are being planned, built, and cared for today.
There is a quiet momentum building across the trail world right now. You can feel it in the questions people are asking, the projects getting greenlit, and the way trail building is increasingly recognized as both a craft and a career.
Volume 3, Issue 2 brings together six feature stories from writers working across different regions, disciplines, and perspectives. Together, they examine what it means to build trails that last, how communities are pushing their networks forward, and where trail building culture is headed next.
Below is a look inside the issue.
Trail Building: Leaving a Mark That Lasts Longer Than Wi-Fi
By Pat Pero
In a world obsessed with speed, Pat Pero makes the case for permanence. This piece reflects on trail building as a long-term act of stewardship, craftsmanship, and care. Pat challenges readers to think beyond trends and technology and instead focus on the legacy we leave behind in dirt, stone, and shared experience.
From that long view of legacy, the issue moves into a very real, very current project pushing a trail system forward.
A New Jumpline is Coming to the Flowtrail Stromberg!
By Fabiola Christian
Flowtrail Stromberg is taking a major step forward with the construction of a new jumpline designed for experienced riders. Fabiola Christian reports from Germany on how the project blends volunteer roots with professional planning, including the use of heavy machinery for the first time. It is a story about evolution without losing identity.
With physical infrastructure changing on the ground, the next story looks at how planning and design are evolving behind the scenes.
Technology in Trail Design
By Jack Rahilly
From mapping tools to modeling software, technology is reshaping how trails are planned and built. Jack Rahilly explores where technology adds value and where it can fall short. This article offers a thoughtful look at how digital tools can support better trails without replacing on-the-ground knowledge and experience.
From screens and software, the issue heads back into the field for a reminder of why place and people still matter most.
Northern Lines: A Road Trip Through Northeast BC’s Trail Networks
By Abby Cooper
Abby Cooper heads north with bikes, friends, and an open schedule to explore trail networks in Northeast British Columbia. What unfolds is part travelogue, part trail report, and part love letter to the builders and communities shaping riding in remote places. This story reminds us that some of the most meaningful trail experiences happen far from the spotlight.
Long days on the trail also demand tools that can keep up, which leads into a rare long-term gear perspective.
Trailtool Review: Two-Year Report on the French-Made Tool
By Willard Bruce
Most tool reviews stop after a few days of use. Willard Bruce takes a different approach. After two full years of real-world trail work, this long-term review digs into durability, design, and whether this French-made tool earns its place in a professional or volunteer kit. It is a practical, honest assessment grounded in experience.
Finally, the issue zooms out to address one of the most debated topics in trail building today.
Why Not Sanction It?
By Mathew Wanbon
Unsanctioned trails exist everywhere, but what happens when communities choose a different path? Mathew Wanbon examines the risks, opportunities, and realities of bringing informal trails into the sanctioned system. This piece asks hard questions about access, liability, and collaboration between builders, riders, and land managers.
A Global Conversation, One Issue at a Time
Volume 3, Issue 2 reflects what we value at Trail Builder Magazine. Real stories. Real places. Real people doing the work.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a volunteer digging on weekends, a professional builder shaping large-scale projects, or a community advocate working to move a vision forward; this issue is for you.
Print and digital editions are available now. Subscribers receive priority access and help make stories like these possible.
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag, a digital media instructor, and the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon.
