National Trail Surfaces Study

Soiltac Powder Mix-In

The trail segment is composed of the stabilizer, Soiltac Powder Mix-in, and is 5 feet wide by 30 feet long. The segment contains timber edging. The Soiltac Powder Mix-in is applied to a base of 2 inches of native soil. Soiltac Powder Mix-in is applied to the surface with a spreader, tilled, smoothed, and then compacted. It is then sprayed to seal the surface. The stabilizer has a penetration depth of 4 inches. This trail segment maintained itself through to the last date of testing, with only minor evidence of the surface softening, but always becoming firm again. There was no constructed drainage mechanisms that would be considered appropriate in the trail construction industry for this surface, therefore the water runoff from the adjacent earth mound flowed directly across this segment. Where there was water flow crossing the segment, the surface was soft under foot but returned to a natural surface state.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In is applied to a base of 2 inches of native soil.  June 27, 2007

Soiltac Powder Mix-In is applied to a base of 2 inches of native soil.  June 27, 2007.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In is tilled into the 2 inch base of native soil.  June 27, 2007.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In has a penetration depth of 4 inches.  June 27, 2007.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In is smoothed and compacted. June 27, 2007.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In is sprayed to seal the surface.  June 27, 2007.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In almost a year after installation.  March 13, 2008.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In trail segment maintained its condition a year after installation. March 13, 2008.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In softened surface would become firm again.  May 6, 2008.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In almost two years after installation.  March 17, 2009.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In does not have a constructed drainage mechanism considered appropriate for trail construction.  March 17, 2009.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In showed only minor evidence of softening at the end of the study.  November 2, 2011.

Soiltac Powder Mix-In trail segment with water crossing would soften and then return to natural surface state.  November 2, 2011.