Would you like to adopt a public trail?

yes!!! please keep Pisgah difficult

Why would I join a trial? Oops, its what I saw first. I will join.

yes

You have my support in whatever you decide. I suspect this would motivate more people to join SORBA and volunteer on trail days, even if just for a chance to meet you. That sounds like a win if they get involved. One concern - the trail name is unlikely to remain secret forever. I agree with trying to keep it secret, but it might help to make this decision with the mindset that at some point it will get out. If you knew 100% it would leak, would you still agree to adopt it?

(Thinking lawyerly), Will this run into concerns about embezzlement if you repurpose these funds to pay your friends? You are kinda advertising this Patreon as a purpose-specific charity, not a regular Patreon business where you could do whatever you want. Not trying to be a downer, just thinking worst-cases. People suck so you never know what they will try and sue you for.

Tom Slaney

It has been so amazing over the years watching Seth grow from a small mtb Youtuber in Florida who made interesting videos, to a trail-funding, park-building organization that makes some of the best content on Youtube.

yes

I think this a great idea if can help out SORBA even in a small way. as far as the overcrowding thing I wouldn't worry about it too much if it's not a trail near the edge of the forest. Pisgah is already a well known and popular riding/vacation spot. I doubt the trail being public would make a noticeable difference to the amount of users but I understand and am ok with you going that route if you choose.

Yeah this wouldn't be "building" so to speak, as Pisgah National Forest is essentially run like a national park. We would be clearing drains, fixing erosion issues, patching up "alternate lines" clearing trees, etc.

These are really good thoughts! I'm going to think on this and try to respond as best I can.

True that, but Berm Park isn't really a matter of resources right now. Bureaucracy and waiting is really all we need to do. Elevated Trail Design is finished with their work there, and we just need to wait until the town has all the liabilities straightened out.

I hope this means we’ll see a video about kevin’s certification. What doors that opens for him, and what skills/knowledge he’s picked up from the process.

I would hazard to guess SORBA doesn’t want to blow up these local trails with a ton of traffic, as it would likely undo the maintenance efforts being pursued. But I would hope Berm Peak/Patrons would get some form of recognition like a plaque at the trailhead or something like that. I assume the kickback to the patrons would be more in depth trail maintenance videos.

sure, I think that this would be a great idea, as pisgah can use all the help that it can get especially after the big storm. Also is the trail maintainence going to be just maintenence or will anything be built. Will it be done using the normal methods of signing up for the pisgah area sorba volunteer list, or will you just link to it

It would be terrific if all publicity on this initiative could be channeled to serve as education and an example for best practices for trail groups everywhere.

Let me just start with I'm 100% onboard with any sort of dollars going towards trail maintenance, i'm just concerned with the approach is going to lead to trouble down the road. Ofcourse we all love that Seth can lend his brand and get people stoked on donating toward much needed trail projects, but do we want Seth to be our benevolent dictator a year from now? 5 years from now and with no oversight and total secrecy about the trails involved to avoid the impact of his celebrity status amongst the MTB community. So we'd be funding Berm Park, plus this secret trail, but what about when people start pitching other trails once we've opened the flood gates to more trail options. Who decides the winners and losers when the demand outstrips the resources of this group? Maybe i'm overthinking this and taking it to a vote of the patrons is all that we needed but my personal feeling is that if we're committing to supporting existing projects financially over the long term we could operate a bit more formally or partner with an existing organization to take excess dollars to put towards trail maintenance if Seth doesn't have the bandwidth to take on something more formal. So TL;DR. Yes. I'd love to take on more projects, but want more transparency to head-off any accusations that things are not done above board.

Being in California and unlikely to ever contribute to maintaining the trails, it feels to me more like I am volunteering Kevin. I also am confused by the secrecy. Isn't one of the main selling points of companies or organizations "adopting" a road or a trail, the good deed/communal contribution branding? I get 'tis far nobler to do these things anonymously, but if it's Berm Park doing it, it's essentially your business promoting itself and it should have a sign or something. Are you really flush with extra cash? Are there no capital investment opportunities at Berm Park?

Yes but it has to be as close to the west of Asheville as possible ;)

I love the idea of this to promote people helping out at the trails, more than just the idea of it. Everybody says they'd love to come help but few do. I think it makes sense for Patrons to know where it is though.

Jeeze! Seth’s on track to transform his youtube channel into a trail building logistics and advocacy outfit. Keep on keeping on 👊

Sounds like a great approach. A trail kept on the DL for the Patreon’s to help maintain both financially and through hands on workdays 👍😉.

Sounds awesome, my only concern would be committing lots of time and money when Berm Park isn't even open yet, but you know better than me. We had massive trail damage here in NJ after Ida, so took a lot of volunteers to fix, and some bridges haven't been rebuilt yet. That was just from rain (about 9 inches in one night).

Tom Slaney

I'd be on board if we as Patrons get to know what the trail is. I get not making a big deal to the general population, but I want to be able to put my bike where my money is.

Odds are I'll never have the opportunity to ride there - or Berm Park. But I'm 100% behind trail adoption and more community engagement!

Hell yeah! The family and I have permanently relocated to Asheville/Brevard so I’d totally be game for this.

Would Patreons at least know what trail it is? I live close enough to visit Pisgah, DuPont, etc often and that is a contributing factor to why I support Berm Park, and your work. I'd would be happy to physically help if works days get approved.

I guess I don’t understand the need for secrecy, it’s a public trail. Is there fear it would get overwhelmed?

Love the idea of working on local trails as part of the channel. Not limiting yourself one specific trail couldn't help mitigate negative impact on any one trail. You could still have patron dig days. There are so many options in WNC, and you could easily expand outside of that area in the future.

Great opportunity to show the general public dig days, trail maintenance, etc etc. This stuff doesn’t happen on its own!

Sounds great! And I’d like to make an additional donation towards the cause.

Just moved back to Asheville, so would definitely love to get more involved.

Hell yeah that would be awesome 🤘and it would get the mtb community together with dig days