Boise, ID-April 22, 2014. In Idaho, there are thousands of miles of trails to ride and hike, both in metropolitan areas like Boise and Coeur d’Alene as well as the millions of acres of public lands that offer recreation at every level. Many residents of the state have chosen to live here because of this atmosphere and the opportunities and enrichment that come along with a mountain west lifestyle. Nestled between the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest and the Snake River Plains, Idaho has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast. Among the activities many Idahoans enjoy, biking is one of the region’s favorite pastimes. But unless you plan to ride the mountain byways like Boise’s Kristin Armstrong, or travel to the steeper slopes of the groomed Nordic and downhill runs around Sun Valley, Brundage Mountain or Bogus Basin Recreation Area, there is a labyrinth of mountain bike trails in the free and peaceful open spaces, all within a minute’s reach of the city and suburbs. The access is effortless and the ride arguably among the best of workouts for a health-minded community, but the trails must be maintained and managed to keep landowners and riders amicable. Luckily for mountain bikers, there are a sturdy few volunteers who do.
In Boise, one volunteer-based group has quite literally blazed the trails for enjoying the view, a healthy living, and a more educated biking population. Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association, or SWIMBA, has been at it for twenty-two years in Boise and its outlying areas. This group gets together and maintains the numerous trails surrounding the city slickers of the area who find balance in working hard, and making time to breathe in the fresh surroundings. Over the years, they have grown from a small group of like-minded trail riders, to a full force in the mountain biking community, educating the public on how to care for and maintain their cycles, the trails they ride on, and the open spaces that hook them all in to the beauty of the area. And although many of the group’s volunteers have been riding the trails themselves for much longer than SWIMBA has been around, they are all in it for the love of cycling. They hold workshops and clinics for people of all ages, educating them on riding responsibly. They are long-time believers that cutting a trail through the land unwittingly doesn’t create the relationship that fosters a solid future of riding the wind for anyone. In fact, they work to create the opposite effect, having proven that trails we build together through sharing common goals, autonomy, and responsibility empower the trust between land owners and riders alike. The sense of ownership and accomplishment SWIMBA volunteers and riders feel when they cut a trail for everyone to enjoy is immeasurable. Building together has advanced the progress for the betterment of the community as a whole and allowed everyone access to the beauty of healthy living and a physical connection to the Boise Foothills and Owyhee mountain range that are the backdrop for the area. Through their Trail Stewardship program, SWIMBA connects private land owners and land managers to dedicated volunteers who are creating a trail destiny and are motivating the people around them in the process.
This spring and summer, SWIMBA has effortlessly motivated Sockeye Brewing once again to create another run of its special “Trail Digger” Session Pale Ale to help raise funding for their many programs. Last summer, the two merged into a partnership with the goal of funding their Dig Deep Capital Campaign Fund to aid in the purchase of the Single Track 240, a specific trail building machine. With the help of $1 pint donations from Sockeye Brewing, contributions from other local craft beer retail supporters and sources like New Belgium Brewing and Boise’s Tour de Fat, the campaign was a big success. The session style pale ale was a refreshing hit for fans, and it helped SWIMBA reach their goal of purchasing the machine. SWIMBA members voted to name the beer “Trail Digger” in simultaneous honor of the hard-working volunteers and the machine they bought for use by the dedicated group. Now SWIMBA can continue its mission of creating even more miles of recreational riding experiences for generations to enjoy, and in a city that’s seen immense growth with no sign of slowing. That’s responsible leadership everyone admires. This year during Boise Bike Week (which coincides with American Craft Beer Week), Sockeye Brewing will release a new batch of “Trail Digger” with SWIMBA at Sockeye Grill and Brewery, 3019 Cole Road in Boise at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday May 15th. There will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the pub with their ST-240 at 7 p.m., and if you want to visit with the group before then, SWIMBA will be out cutting new tracks for Avimor on McCleod Way, Sunday April 27th at 10:00 a.m. Representatives from SWIMBA are also offering kegs of brew to local craft beer accounts, many who have also set special tapping event dates for the “Trail Digger” throughout the summer season in support of the partnership.
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