Trails are intrinsic to mountain bikes, and mountain bikes are at the core of Shimano’s beliefs and mission statement: to promote health and happiness through the enjoyment of nature and the world around us. For this reason, our team members donate their own time to help programs like the Laguna Canyon Foundation (https://lagunacanyon.org) repair and maintain the local trails they love.
The Laguna Canyon Foundation was formed in 1989 and maintains the South Coast Wilderness, comprised of 20,000 acres of parks, with almost 30 square miles of wildlife habitat. Without the efforts of this foundation, we wouldn’t have parks in our backyard like Laguna Coast Wilderness, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness, Crystal Cove State Park and more.
To show our support and give thanks, Shimano has revived our commitment to these trails and partnered with Alan Kaufmann and Cameron Davis of The Laguna Canyon Foundation to repair and maintain the recreational space they manage.
Our trail boss, Alan, tasked the team with cleaning up a popular multi-use trail in Laguna Coast with a number of issues like plant overgrowth, drainage, and overall upkeep for sustainable future use. Before we set out, he discussed safety precautions along with proper tool management and trail clean up.
The Shimano team cut back the trees arching over trails to clear up blind corners, allowing more visibility for both mountain bikers and hikers.
Seasoned digger, and Mountain Bike Sports Marketing Manager, Joe Lawwill works on creating a new drainage line to stop unnecessary erosion on the trail.
Be sure to check in with your local land managers to see when you can volunteer to help increase sustainability in your trail system. If you’re a Southern California native like Shimano, take a look at the Laguna Canyon Foundation calendar here:https://lagunacanyon.org/events/
