What's New at Trail Builder Magazine?
It’s been two weeks since we released our first print issue. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, and I worked hard to temper my enthusiasm and expectations. Many of you know any time you start something from scratch, it takes a while to get going. It’s been a year and a half building toward this day since I published the website and created our social media accounts back in February 2022. I was always aiming for this day with eager anticipation, and I couldn’t be more blown away (we’re already almost sold out of Issue 1). While working on Issue 2 and growing our online content, I wanted to take this moment to pause and catch you up on some exciting things here.
First, we continue to build better processes and systems. That means each issue will continue to get better. As I’ve shared before, there’s an element of figuring things out on the fly and seeing what works best. One of the topics I will be seeking your feedback on soon is pricing and shipping. I am finalizing a survey I will send you in hopes of getting your feedback. My goal is to make this magazine accessible. Many of you initially wanted to know if the magazine would be available in your country … Norway, Mexico, New Zealand, etc. I needed to land on pricing for the magazine and shipping that made sense.
Beyond that, we’re continuing to work to get to more events in person to cover. For now, it’s what I can personally hit up myself. That means covering regional happenings and finding and writing stories about places I can get to, whether by driving Nacho the Van or a short plane ride. Initially, it’s all out of pocket since everything we make on magazine sales goes directly back into the business. I also want to thank those letting me attend events free of charge, or like in the case of my recent trip to the Timberline Bike Park, getting hooked up with a free lift ticket. It all helps. I’ve been working on a travel schedule to attend more events, races, clinics, and workshops.
Another exciting happening is that more of you are reaching out about contributing articles and stories, both for our website and newsletter and the print mag. As I’ve said from the beginning, this is your platform, meaning I want you to contribute. I just shared that I can’t get to everything myself. You’re the local expert on the ground, and you know what is happening in your corner of the world. Please reach out to me.
That brings up another topic related to writing and content. What is the “voice” of Trail Builder Mag? It’s about maintaining balance. It won’t all be about stories. Why? Because trail building is also technical. Not only technical in the sense of building trails themselves, but we also know it’s the world of advocacy, policy, and research. Some who work in trail building spend most of their time lobbying in places like Capitol Hill. Others engage as researchers and academics. Those leading non-profits write grant requests and talk with land managers. Wherever the intersection of all of these topics and themes are, I want to talk about it. That means some articles will focus on inspiring stories. At other times we’ll drop formal press releases about new developments and share research.
The last topic I’ve been reflecting on as I interact with trail builders all over the world is this; trail building cuts across cultural and geopolitical boundaries. Trail builders come from all walks of life. Some of you live in large metropolitan areas (actually, most of you), and others live in rural communities. Culturally and politically, trail builders can be found in multiple camps; progressive, conservative, and moderate. Many of you hold to religious or spiritual beliefs, and many of you don’t. The point? The touchpoint is trails. I love that trails bring together a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities. Does it get messy at times? You bet. However, this is the tension we need to live in. This magazine celebrates trails and those who build, maintain, and advocate for them. It’s as simple as that. You belong here. We all have a seat at the table.
I cannot thank you enough for journeying with me on this adventure. Thank you to the sponsors who jumped in to support with paid ads; Backslope Tools, Singletrack Cat, Camelot Tools, and One Track Mind Foundation. Thank you to everyone who’ve bought a magazine, swag, and coffee. Thank you to those reading and following along. We’re in this together.
Words: Sean Benesh Photos: Sean Benesh
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
