This conflict apparently resulted in something positive: the official trails on the Höhronen were made possible because the corporation that owns the forest wanted to make a final offer to the bikers. If that doesn't work, there will be bans, was the announcement. Whether these would have had the desired effect is irrelevant, as the officially permitted "Mad Grouse Trails" have won over the local bikers behind them, as well as Pirmin Schuler, the forester for the corporation.

"So far I'm very satisfied and it's working surprisingly well, most bikers are riding the official trails. The rules of conduct have also been well observed so far," explains Schuler. Daniel Bürgi, the mountain bikers' representative at Höhronen, has also had nothing but positive reactions.

The forester feared at the beginning of the summer - even though the media reported on the project - that there would be even more mountain bikers on the Höhronen. Trip counters have only been in use since the start of the project, so there are no comparative figures. However, Bürgi believes that Strava data indicates that traffic on the Höhronen trails has not increased significantly. He also does not encounter more bikers than before. What is more important for the future of the project is that there are significantly fewer bikers on the trails that have been shoveled illegally on their own initiative.The "Mad Grouse Trails" are shoveled by hand, if any construction work has been carried out at all. They are neither reinforced nor mechanically compacted. According to Daniel Bürgi at least, the fact that these trails cannot withstand the load has not materialized. "Of course, not everything looks like it did at the beginning. We think it's okay that the paths continue to develop, that's part of the natural trails we build."

Winter closure as a test of endurance

So far, everyone is happy. But now comes the next test: the four official trails on the Höhronen are completely closed from the beginning of December until the end of March. "If the weather is nice in December, I can't imagine that everyone will stick to the ban," says Bürgi.

Forester Schuler is clear: "The winter closure must be observed, and that has to work too." Monitoring the winter closure is therefore the sword of Damocles hanging over the trails. The Wollerau Corporation actually wants to maintain the four trails, he adds, "it all depends on the bikers."

Monitoring the impact of the four trails on the Höhronen is part of a project being carried out by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. This will run until 2024, during which time the trails will also remain in place. The 2024 balance sheet will then decide whether the deal between the bikers and the corporation will stand.

Further information

Höhronen in the singletrail map: map.ride.ch