Closing Time: Better Than It Was

We're excited to announce the opening of Galbraith's newest trail, Closing Time, a handbuilt trail envisioned by WMBC Trails Program Manager James Pulse and built alongside the WMBC community during the second half of 2025. Closing Time provides folks an opportunity to squeak in a last bit of singletrack instead of finishing their ride on Pipeline road.

As you're riding back to the parking lot on Last Call, Closing Time branches off to the left. It starts with a short straightaway then drops into a depression before popping back onto higher ground. The trail hugs the contour and meanders through the forest, squeezing as much elevation out of the terrain as possible. After a long straightaway, the trail quickly turns left, then right and descends over a roll where riders gain speed. The trail undulates for a stretch before a slight right under a cedar tree, followed by a slight left. After another undulation, riders crest onto a ridge that leads them to a rock roll/drop (with ride-around), and finishes across a bridge that spans a wet zone. The trail ends with a slight uphill to shed speed as riders exit onto Pipeline road just above the kiosk near the yellow gate.

This trail has been in the works since early 2025 and is part of the memorium to Nate Breaux (in addition to Zazi's and Apa's Lines in the Breaux Zone). Nate lived by the motto "Better than it Was" and this trail is a perfect manifestation of that. Instead of wasting the last portion of their ride on a logging road, riders now get to enjoy singletrack all the way to the yellow gate. Everyone's experience is truly better than it was!

James started full time with WMBC in April 2025, so initial routing and corridor clearing started in May, much later in the year than typical. In June, James hosted the Youth Dig & Ride summer camp and had the group focus on removing plant debris and getting the trail corridor down to dirt. Following the summer camp, James continued to clear corridor throughout the summer with friends and volunteers. Once the corridor was cleared top to bottom, sights were set on getting the trail rideable which involved two big tasks: 1) Build 1/4 mile of trail tread by hand & 2) Build a 35-foot bridge.

The artist with his paintbrush.

To build the trail tread, James invited the Bellingham community out to help bring the trail to life through numerous midweek dig days and random weekend missions throughout the fall. In total, well over 300 hours of volunteer time was invested in getting the trail tread built. To build the bridge, James asked Sam Brown to lend him his expertise, saw skills, and time. After sourcing cedar off FB marketplace, Sam peeled the rounds and freehand milled the decking. He sourced stringers and sill logs from scavenging missions around Galbraith and some additional FB marketplace honey holes. Sam put in a ton of time (well over 50 hours) and built a pretty swell bridge. Thank you for everything you put into this project Sam!

Building on the trail concluded yesterday, but James has some additional features in the works, including another small bridge and a wood A-frame coming later this Spring. Go check it out and let us know what you think!

Easter Egg: Keep an eye out for the old Suburban near the rock roll.

The first segment of corridor being cleared on Closing Time. The plants were in full effect! Typically we scout lines and clear corridor in the winter when plants are more wilted and wet zones are easier to identify.

A brushcutter and chainsaw were the tools of choice for clearing corridor.

The name Closing Time is a play off Last Call, as well as a nod to Nate Breaux's career in restaurants as owner of Harris Avenue Café and The Old Independent Coffeehouse.

Phase 1: Get rid of plants, logs, and other debris.

Phase 2: Remove organics, carry and stage heavy rocks.

Phase 3: Add mineral soil, pack it in, build drainage.

Volunteers removing organics and roots to get down to a suitable surface for adding mineral soil. The general sentiment was that building a trail by hand takes a lot of work!

Volunteers in the midst of removing organics and building drainage (far group) and raking out mineral soil (near group).

Ben showing James the ropes while using the Griphoist to rip out an old Cedar stump that was right in the middle of the trail corridor.

When James saw this rock, he knew he had to route the trail to it. With help from some friends, these big rocks were puzzled together and capped with dirt to make the rock rollable. A ride-around is also available to the rider's right.

The bridge coming to life after many days of prep and planning. Sam busted out his rope line to give a visual of where to line up the decking. Decking was attached using Timberloks.

Ryan doing some prep work on the apron of the bridge. We had to remove a ton of organic debris and garbage before we got to a rideable surface.

Sam putting the finishing touches on the bridge last week.

The entrance to Closing Time (on the left) as you ride Last Call from North (near the Breaux Zone) to South.