Listen and read along with my new Blogcast
PQ Air Rescue
Exactly three years ago, I experienced my first air Iift rescue (Full story HERE). And it was four years ago when I broke my chain during a down pour and got caught in a flash flood (Read that story HERE). But there are countless untold stories of turning my bike around on narrow singletrack with a drop-off, flipping over off the trail, complete strangers helping me, close calls and getting stuck time after time. When any of this happens, it turns what is intended to be an enjoyable day into something not so fun and I ride with a little bit of anxiety every time. Its not like riding on the road, with a smooth surface. Riding on trail is an entirely different animal. There is no way around it. That is just the nature of the sport. I can flip over and get stuck at any moment and it is the smallest of things that can change the entire experience in a flash.
Hence, The UNPavement. The main purpose of the project is to propel a movement, of all people, off the pavement and out into nature. We spend so much time on our devices, which incredibly allow us to do so much these days, but that time renders us that much more in need of a nice big hug from Mother Nature. You know the feeling after spending time in the ocean or out on the trail — that feeling of relief, of feeling at home? Thats important. It’s how we are supposed to feel and we’ve forgotten it.
Old video but explains the rating system
The problem, for people like me, is that getting out there takes equipment that can potentially have issues on the trail and the trail information dedicated to this just does not exist. Well not until now. Two years ago, I started The UNPavement with the vision of gathering this data over time so that adaptive riders, like me, can get out into nature safely. Knowledge is power.
The first step was developing a rating system and getting TrailForks to adopt it. Check that one off. It was a huge step for the project. Right now its still in its infancy stages, but as more and more trails are documented, adaptive riders, like everyone else, will begin to use the app more and more for their trail information. Not having to coerce locals into answering a question they don’t really have an answer to or playing Russian roulette with route choice makes me feel a lot less like a weirdo and more like an informed trail user.
An Introduction to The UNPavement with Jeremy P. McGhee.
Now, the rating system does not exist on its own. An all-inclusive resource would be WAY too complicated and therefore convoluted. In conjunction with videos and a trail blog, the rating system gives adaptive riders all the information necessary to make an informed decision. Currently, we are in the process of training other adaptive riders on the trail documentation process and soon there will be an army collecting this data.
First signs indicating adaptive ride around in PQ Canyon
The next step is signage and I am extremely proud to announce that the first adaptive signs have officially gone up in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve in San Diego. Thanks to local trail advocate and SDMBA member, Mike Jennings, who took the bull by the horns on this one. This is a big deal. There is a ride around that Mike cleared for me on Tunnel 4 in PQ Canyon, but someone, meaning well in an attempt to protect the environment, keeps blocking it. So, that is where the first sign has been placed. Now, adaptive riders on that trail know where to ride around and the locals know why it’s being cleared.
When I imagine riding in a place I’m not familiar with, signage would alleviate a lot of my anxiety. Again, knowledge is power and we can provide that knowledge with a few well placed signs. The vision starts at main trail area signs with a short explanation of the rating system, what the acronym aMTB means and identification of the aMTB symbol. Then signs with the rating (aMTB 1, 2 or 3) will be placed at individual trailheads and signs with an arrow will indicate ride arounds. The latter is the first to be placed in the field and, like I said, this is a big deal. Good-bye anxiety and hello to a safer, more enjoyable trail experience. Hopefully this is just the beginning. Huge thanks to Mike Jennings and Gina Washington!
If you have questions, please go to www.theunpavement.org and email me at jeremy@theunpavement.org. Make sure to check out the YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/jeremypmcghee too!
Now, put that phone down and go get YOUR hug from Mother Nature!