Luke Weir 540-981-3331
ROANOKE â With a leaf blower strapped to his back, Ian Bongard walks through the woods of Explore Park, blasting aside fallen leaves blanketing the forest floor.
Itâs a Saturday morning trail work day for volunteers of the Blue Ridge Off-Road Cyclists, the new name for the group formerly known as the Roanoke chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
âWe can build basically anything we can dream up,â said Bongard, BROC trails coordinator. âWeâve got the knowledge to be able to figure out how to build any trail.â
Following Bongard along his leaf-blown trail through the wet winter woods, four fellow volunteers push a pair of wheelbarrows packed with shovels and other digging tools, fire rakes and buckets.