NWTA Newsletter - March '10
In This Issue:
NWTA Signs Landmark Agreement with L.L. Stub Stewart State Park
Portland Bike Swap Meet Raises Record Haul
Local Businesses Step up to Support Northwest Trail Alliance
Trail of the Month: Nestor Peak/ Buck Creek
Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars
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NWTA Signs Landmark Agreement with L.L. Stub Stewart State Park


Oregon State Parks recently signed a historic agreement with Northwest Trail Alliance, allowing our group to design, build and maintain new trail specifically for mountain biking with L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. It is the first time the agency has allowed such an opportunity to a private user group.
 
Not only does the agreement afford for more off-road cycling opportunities in L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, 31 miles west of Portland, but the document itself should serve as a template for other similar arrangements. "We see this as a mechanism that we can use to approach other land managers, both public and private, to secure similar trail-building opportunities," says NWTA president Tom Archer. "The fact that the agreement has been vetted by the State of Oregon's Attorney General Office should give other potential partners a lot of confidence from a liability standpoint."
 
During the early design and public input period of planning the L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, NWTA advocates provided input that an area of the park should have singletrack trails, specifically for use by mountain bike users.  Park planners agreed and the Master Plan included an area on east side of Hares Canyon which bisects the length of the park. Once initial singletrack is completed to connect to existing trails at south end of the park (near Williams Creek bridge), there will be approximately 3.5 miles of mountain biking specific singletrack trails on the east side of the drainage. NWTA hopes to complete the north (upper) trail loop this summer. Check the NWTA calendar for work party opportunities.
 
Besides the NWTA volunteer points you earn towards end of year raffle, the work parties at Stub will always include a "door prize" drawing for bike gear and other merchandise.  Snacks and drinks to be supplied by various bike industry supporters.
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Portland Bike Swap Meet Raises Record Haul


With more than 500 visitors and featuring over 75 vendors from Portland, Eugene, Astoria, Vancouver, and the San Francisco Bay area, the February 28, Portland Bike Swap - organized by Northwest Trail Alliance - was a resounding success. Attendees began forming a line about 30 minutes prior to the door opening and the Sandbox Studio space stayed busy all day. BikeRacker furnished bike racks that were heavily utilized during the dry and sunny Sunday.
 
Northwest Trail Alliance raised a record $4,800, and many attendees and dealers said this year's Bike Swap was their best ever, pointing to the new date and the spacious, new venue as improvements over previous years.

Many thanks to Sandbox Studio and Cyclepath for their very generous donations. Thanks also to our many other donors and volunteers. Click here for a complete list of acknowledgments of all who made this event a major success.
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Local Businesses, Bike Shops Step Up to Support Northwest Trail Alliance!
Earlier this week, Northwest Trail Alliance rolled out its all-new Business Sponsor and Bike Shop Partner programs. The Business Sponsor program provides a framework for businesses of various size,  both from within and from outside the bike industry, to support the current and future growth of NWTA and contribute to the funding of some exciting new programs, such as our new Trail Development Partnership Program and Education & Outreach Program.

So far, more than 25 local businesses have signed up as NWTA Business Sponsors, with pledges ranging from $250 (bronze level) to $2,500 (platinum level). Yakima and Hopworks Urban Brewing, two local companies with strong connections to the bike and MTB community, even committed to join in at the top level ($5,000+), effectively becoming NWTA's first two "Trailhead Partners."

Our new Bike Shop Partner program got off on an equally strong start. No fewer than ten local bike retailers - including Bike Gallery, Bike N Hike, Fat Tire Farm, River City Bicycles, CyclepathSellwood Cycle Repair, Revolver Bikes, Camas Bikes & Sport, Oregon Bike Shop and 21st Ave Bicycles - signed up as Bike Shop Partners.

Says Tom Archer, President of Northwest Trail Alliance, "We are humbled and grateful for the generous support from this outstanding group of local businesses. It's a powerful testimonial of their appreciation for the work we do, their involvement in the mountain bike community, and their commitment to help us increase off-road cycling opportunities in Portland, NW Oregon and SW Washington."

We strongly encourage you to support these great companies with your business and to thank them for their support. And whenever you visit or purchase from them, make sure to let them know that you are a Northwest Trail Alliance supporter!

For more details about our business support programs, or to join Northwest Trail Alliance as a Business Sponsor or Bike Shop Partner, please contact Amy Singmaster ([email protected]).
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Trail of the Month: Nestor Peak/Buck Creek Trails

by Ted Dodd

Across the Columbia from Hood River, the Nestor Peak Trail system is a good choice for an early season ride, especially in a year with a high snow line. No matter how you ride the Buck Creek/Nestor Peak Trails, you are in for a strenuous experience. But the trail passes through a beautiful evergreen forest, pine needles coat the trails, and the downhill is fast and fun. Two routes can be ridden separately or combined into an 18-mile ride with 3700 feet of elevation gain. Buck Creek and Nestor Peak trails are multiuse, and popular with local equestrians.  Watch out for horses.  Please remember proper etiquette - when you see a horse, stop, get off your bike, talk to the horses and stay on the downhill side.  Help prevent user conflicts and ride responsibly. Signage is rare, so take a map, and if you like the trail, keep a heads up for the June 5 work party.
 
Nestor Peak (higher elevation option)
Length: 14 miles, Elevation Gain: 3,200 ft
Study the map before the ride and carry it in your hydra pack. Ride up the gravel road to Nestor Peak (tough 6-mile road climb). Ride down single-track trail that flows through the forest leading to the Trailhead 1 Camping Area. Ride through the camp area and pick up the trail again.  The single track quickly descends again as it weaves back and fourth around trees and over roots. Stay left as the trail takes you to Buck Creek at the bottom of the valley. At the "T" intersection, you can go right to exit the trail and head back to the parking area.  Or turn left and start up the lower Buck Creek loop (adds 5 miles to your ride via a lollipop route.) NOTE: This ride could be shuttled, which would eliminate the 6 mile road climb to Nestor Peak.
 
Buck Creek loop (lower elevation option)
Length: 12 miles, Elevation gain: 2,000 ft
From the parking area, ride up gravel road to Trailhead 1 Camp Area. Ride through the camp area to find the trail.  The single track starts its fun decent and weaves back and fourth around trees and over roots.  Stay left as the trail takes you to Buck Creek at the bottom of the valley. At the "T" intersection turn left and start the lower Buck Creek Loop.  You will climb up the valley along Buck Creek (multiple views) to a parking/camp area.  Cross the road and find the trail again.  The trail will eventually take you back down the valley via a fast downhill.

Nestor Peak/Buck Creek Map (PDF)

How to Get There: From Portland take I-84 to Hood River. Take exit 64 and cross the Hood River Bridge into Washington. Turn left onto Hwy 14, drive a few miles; turn right on the road just before the bridge crossing the White Salmon River (signs; Hwy 141 Trout Lake), follow the road to the end, turn left as it merges with Hwy 141. Drive about 2 miles; turn left at the sign for Northwestern Lake.  Follow road and cross over the bridge.  Parking area is located at the information sign located at the four-way intersection with Buck Creek Road and  Lakeview Road.
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Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar


Tue March 30 (7:30pm) - NWTA Monthly Meeting & Social
Join us at the NW Lucky Lab for an update on all the things related to Tillamook State Forest, with guest speaker Randy Peterson from Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). We will also provide a brief update on ongoing advocacy projects, upcoming trailwork parties, rides and other events. Social Time starts at 7 pm

Note: Several of our program committees meet at 6 pm before our general meeting. Want to know what we're up to? Come by early and pull up a chair at one of the committee tables and find out!

Wed March 31 (5:30pm - 8:30pm) - First Wednesday Night Forest Park Ride

Join Northwest Trail Alliance for our weekly Wednesday night ride in Forest Park. We typically ride 15 to 25 Miles on the firelanes, break into two groups, then meet for post ride-brews & food at Cracker Jack's pub. All levels welcome, No one left behind. Non-members welcome.

Tue April 20 (5:30pm-8pm) - Forest Park Single Track Advisory Committee - Open House
The Forest Park Single Track Advisory Committee is holding an open house to get input from the public on options for expanding singletrack riding opportunities in the Park.  The committee and the Parks Department will present their findings and recommendations. This will be a unique opportunity  to show your support for more singletrack bike trails in Forest Park! Location is still TBD, but please mark already your calendar and keep an eye on the calendar listing for any future updates.

Thu April 22 through Sun April 25 - Portland Trail Fest!
Northwest Trail Alliance and IMBA will kick off the 2010 trail riding & trail care season in earnest with the inaugural edition of the PORTLAND TRAIL FEST, a four-day-long celebration of trails, knobby tires, and the planet (yes, April 22 is Earth Day!) We enthusiastically invite you to join us for the festivities!  This new event - slated to become our annual signature spring event - will provide a great opportunity to connect with fellow riders, get your hands dirty working the trail (and earn some surplus trail karma), and get out there with new and old friends alike to ride some awesome trails. More...
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