NWTA Newsletter - February '12
It's Still Winter Out There!

What an awesome start to the NWTA new year! New board members elected, trail building machine recovered, additional trails and new parking areas/kiosks being built, and some serious riding still going on...whew! This newsletter includes information on upcoming events and things going on all around the region. Links are included to make it easy to sign up for events or to just find out more. Winter weather might keep some of us inside although there is more than one work party planned and the ladies still plan to ride but first - READ THIS NEWSLETTER! 

 

In This Issue:
Announcements
Project Updates...
NWTA in the Community
Spotlight on Service
Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars
Volunteer Opportunities
Call for Content

Announcements

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Alert: Sandy Ridge Trailhead Break-Ins    


On February 12 at 7 am, two riders in a brand new Toyota 4Runner were the first to park at the Sandy Ridge trailhead. They noticed a white pickup truck drive by, turn around, circle back to the gate across the new parking area and park. They didn't think much of it and headed up the road to ride. By the time another group of riders arrived at 8:30 am, someone had broken out every one of the 4Runner's windows except the windshield. The riders had left two bags with changes of clothing in view on the seats and, unfortunately, both their wallets. The thieves took everything out of the vehicle and managed to charge $1,000 on one credit card in an hour and a half. At least two other people have had their vehicles broken into at the trailhead in the last month.
 
The BLM is aware of the problem. Zach Jarrett, the BLM's lead outdoor recreation planer for the Salem district, has in fact had his own vehicle broken in to at Sandy Ridge. "It's something those of us who recreate in the outdoors are increasingly exposed to," he says. While the agency does patrol the trailhead, they obviously can't be there all the time. "We're looking at different solutions, particularly when the new parking lot is built this summer," says Jarrett. Solutions might include motion-sensitive cameras or lights, but either way, with  the addition of new bathrooms and more expensive facilities the agency will  surely  have a more regular, and deterring, presence. In the meantime, Jarett suggestions victims of break ins add the details of the crimes to this thread on NWTA website which should be up and running soon. Jarrett says the agency will examine the details of the crimes and see if they can spot patterns that may help them better patrol the parking lot.
   

First Aid/CPR Class Planned for March 11th  

 

Last year, NWTA member Dan Werle approached us about sponsoring a First Aid/CPR class oriented towards mountain bikers. NWTA put Dan, a registered nurse, through the class so he could provide training to our members at a discount. The first NWTA First Aid/CPR class will take place on March 11th. Take advantage of this opportunity to be prepared in the unfortunate case of an injury on the trail (or any other of the outdoor activities you enjoy). NWTA members will receive a discounted rate. If interested, please sign-up here.     

   

 

 

Project Updates...   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Sandy Ridge Trail Needs Five Minutes of Your Time

  

Since it opened in 2009, the 10-mile Sandy Ridge trail system has been a smashing success. As many as 25,000 people ride the system every year, according to the BLM. It gets better: In 2012, even more facilities and trails will be built by the BLM, IMBA and NWTA partnership, including a paved parking lot, restrooms, and most importantly, four more miles of trail in three new segments. We need your help in guiding further development. Please fill out this quick survey to ensure that the money, and volunteer effort, is spent in a way that makes us all happy. Link to the survey here.

NWTA in the Community
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Kids MTB Camp On Tap this Summer


Kids like bikes. Given the chance, they love mountain biking. Along with Portland Parks, NWTA is giving 20 kids from inner Portland that chance this June 10-13. The four-day camp for children ages eight-14 will progress from the Ventura pump track to the Lumberyard indoor mountain bike facility and the Cascade Locks and Sandy Ridge trail systems. Led by Portland Parks staff, the camp will supply bikes and helmets to every participant and will also contain an environmental stewardship component. "It's a great way to introduce kids to a lifelong and healthy activity," says outgoing NWTA president Tom Archer. "And we couldn't have a better partner in Portland Parks." In hatching the idea, the synergy between NWTA and Portland Parks was remarkable. "We came up with the idea at our last board meeting," says Archer,  "and literally the next day Portland Parks called and said: 'We've got a great idea for a kids camp.'" We're looking for sponsors to join the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Community Cycling Center to help reduce the $200/kid cost-which includes transportation, lunches, and staff wages. Additionally, we're looking for qualified filmmakers to help document the camp. "Ideally, we'd like to follow a couple of kids through the experience, literally, and make a great professional piece to serve as a platform for future efforts," says Archer. To help out, contact Joshua Hutchens: [email protected].For more info on the camp, go to the Parks Teen Adventure Web Page, or call Cole Robinson at 503 823 8840.

 

Volunteers Needed for NWTA Portland Bike Show Booth  

NWTA Booth at the 2011 Portland Bike Show
 

We're looking for people to fill two-hour shifts at NWTA's Portland Bike Show booth March 24-25 at the Portland Expo Center. You'll get free admission to the show and a chance to help us further our mission of spreading the word on mountain biking in the region. Conversation should be easy; you'll be standing beside the ST240 trail building machine, just back from being repaired at the factory after its recent adventure in the hands of thieves. "Outreach like this has a big effect on raising membership," says outgoing NWTA president Tom Archer. "Plus, you get to see the show for free." To volunteer, contact Raul Atencio, NWTA events coordinator: [email protected] 

 

 

Member Spotlight

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By now you've probably become familiar with one of our favorite sections. This is where we have the opportunity to showcase a different member each month who has, in some way or another, been an NWTA superstar.   

 

Tom Slovak    

  

Tom Slovak
No one has been more instrumental in the Sandy Ridge Trail System's amazing success than NWTA's Trail Care Director Tom Slovak. The Portland hospital software analyst has devoted countless hours to regional trail building and maintenance--both digging  dirt with a Polaski and in meetings with agency partners.
 
"I do more trail building than riding sometimes," says Slovak. "I do enjoy getting my hands dirty." Not just physically - he's a tireless worker when it comes to relationship building. According to Zach Jarrett, the BLM's lead outdoor recreation planer for the Salem district, Slovak has a valuable combination of trail building knowledge, passion, and the right personality to get people motivated. "He's committed," says Jarrett, "but at the same time not overbearing. He understands that sometimes things are complex, so he's patient." That, says Jarrett, is exactly the sort of person who gets things done on public lands.
 
The trailbuilding passion came early. As a kid in northern Wisconsin, Slovak says he spent his youth, "scratching out trails through the woods to ride BMX bikes on." When he visited Portland after college in the 1990s, the bicycling ethos of the town was one of the things that most attracted him to the city. In 1999, he spent a year working as a bike messenger in Portland, but soon landed a steadier gig in the health care IT field.
 
The political sensibility might just be second nature. When Slovak first joined the NWTA, he saw a need to bridge the gap between the organization's traditional cross-country roots and the burgeoning downhill riding community. He was the person who founded the NWTA's Gravity Group. "When I first ran for the board I really wanted to break through the divisiveness," he says. The more people uniting for bicycle advocacy, the more trails will be built - of all sorts.
 
Slovak still draws inspiration from the downhill community. He spends a fair amount of time each year riding and building trail with Washington's very passionate Coal Creek Mountain Bikers group. After 10 years of consistent attendance at meetings, last year the group won the right to build a downhill trail on Department of Natural Resources land. "Not many downhill trails get approved on public land," says Slovak. "That's a testament to the group's persistence and dependability." That's the sort of effort he'd like to continue to bring to the table with the NWTA's public and private land partners.
 
As for the future, Slovak plans to rally support for the NWTA's Trail Wiki. The site is a very efficient tool to monitor trail stewardship needs across the region, as well as get more people on more trails. People should note current conditions of trails they've ridden, and that info can be passed on to agencies-who appreciate the clear communication with the public. So far, the tool is underutilized. "It could definitely use a little love," says Slovak. [email protected]

 

 

Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar 

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Sat, Feb 25th (All Day)  easyCLIMB Trail Build A second work day on Saturday! Drop by for an hour or two and help rake and tamp the gravel berms. Bring a rake, shovel and cold weather gear. No donuts, no food, no toilets, no garbage (unlike when the Port of Cascade Locks rolls out the red carpet for a full build event) - we can call ourselves the hardcore build crew!   

 
Sat, Feb 25th (10:00 am - 1 pm)  NWTA Women's joint ride with the Growler's Gulch Girls The ride will start at 10am and will last approximately 3 hours. The trails are dirt singletrack in the trees with roots and log-overs. This is a rain or shine event, so come prepared! Contact Debbie Causey at [email protected] for more information.     

 

Sun, Feb 26th (8:45 am - 3 pm)  Stub Stewart State Park Trail Building - XC   Volunteer check-in at the Welcome Center from 8:45 - 9 am. Work will be done on the new trail on South Ridgeline with an after work social gathering at the cabin village. Tools and parking passes provided by Oregon State Parks. Bring your own water and work gloves. Bring your bike if you'd like to ride to the work area or ride after. Please sign up on the NWTA website so we know how many to expect and how much food/beverages to bring.    

Tue, Feb 28th (5 pm - 7 pm)  NWTA Women's Meeting The Women's Group meeting will be in the Banquet Room at HUB from 5-7pm. The focus of this meeting will be finalizing our monthly rides for 2012 and confirming ride leader commitments.

Tue, Feb 28th (6 pm - 8 pm)  NWTA General Meeting The NWTA General meeting will start at 7pm at Hopworks on Powell. Come at 6 pm to find ways to get involved and at 7 pm there will be a presentation on pump tracks and bike skills parks and the bikes made to ride them. Everyone always welcome!   

 

Sat, March 3rd (9 am - 3 pm)  Sandy Ridge Trail Maintenance Day  Expectations? A few hours of trail work then on your bike by 1PM. We'll get you and your bike up to the work area and then you can ride afterwards. Never been to a work party? No problem, come and we'll provide instruction.

  

Sun, March 4th and Sat, March 17th (9 am - 3 pm)   Stub Freeride Area Build Day W.T.F.  Join the Westside Trail Federation for a great day of building freeride trails out in Stub Stewart State Park.

  

Sun, March 11th (10 am - 2 pm)   NWTA First Aid/CPR Training  Dan Werle, NWTA member and first aid trainer, will be instructing an Adult CPR and first aid class.  This is a great opportunity to get trained/refreshed on the basics of first aid/CPR.  (Note: this is for Adult CPR and first aid; will not include AED or child/infant CPR.) The class will be held in Portland. Cost is $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Sign up on the NWTA website by clicking here. 

     

Sat, March 17th (9 am - 12 pm) NWTA Women's Group Ride NWTA women's group hosts a beginner wanting a challenge to intermediate ride at Scappoose. There is potential for groups of varying abilities depending on how many riders show up.   

 

Sat, March 24th (10 am - 2 pm) NWTA Women's Group Ride This time the ladies meet at Roger's Camp (AKA Brown's Camp or Historic Hiking Trail). The trail is about 8 miles with climbing, roots and potential for mud. If weather is a factor this ride may be moved to another location so check the NWTA site for more information closer to the actual date.    

 

Tue, March 27th (6 pm - 8 pm) General Membership Meeting  Come find ways to be involved or just grab a beer and talk bikes! 7pm News From the Trail.

    

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities 
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It's Not All About the Shovel...

 

Feeling like you want to give back after you've ripped down a trail in the dappled sunshine on one of those perfect Oregon summer days? Sitting around this winter watching bad reality TV on Netflix and thinking that there's got to be something better to do with your time? Have ideas on how to build excitement and awareness or other ways to get people outside and on their bikes? Do you own or work for a business that might be interested in giving back in some way? Harness those skills in the service of NWTA!

 

It's not all work gloves and shovels...here are some of the ways that you can give back, and have a great time in the process! If you don't see something here that interests you, or you have special skills that might be of help to NWTA, contact our volunteer coordinator Vic Sandrin.  

 

Sunday Parkways Volunteers -

NWTA's skills park has been one of the most popular attractions at Sunday Parkways over the last couple years. These events are a blast and a chance to introd

uce kids (and big kids too) to the challenges of riding "off street." We're looking for go-getters who could help with one or more events - setting up our snazzy tent, interacting with the public and showing people how to nail the "skinnies."  For more info, please send an email to Raul Atencio.

  

Mapping/CAD/GIS Experts 
With all the projects currently on the baords and in the works, we find an incresing need for people with CAD/GIS/Presentation skills.  Do you have experience making maps, figures, concept plans, drawings, etc?  If so, we'd love to get you plugged in.  This is a great opportunity to get a "behind the scenes" look at some of the projects we're working on.  Please contact Tom Archerfor more info.

 

 

Call for Content 
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We want your stories and ideas! Do you have an event to advertise, a ride or trail report or other idea that you would like to see in print?  Send story ideas and information to: [email protected] 

 

 

 

Support Our Sponsors! 

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This is the space where NWTA has the opportunity to thank some of our dedicated sponsors for their continued involvement and support. They have shown us true generosity and have been a tremendous help. Our family of sponsors have been more than donors, they are part the mountain bike community- and that sets them apart.  Whether its a place to ride, a bike shop and their service, gear for us riders, gear for our dogs, or a refreshing post-ride beverage - they are part of our lifestyle. Their committed support and donations have helped bring us to where we are today.  Next time you're restocking on all the goodies you need to ride, please be sure to tell them thanks.  When you patron our sponsors, you are supporting NWTA, and you are supporting our trails.

 

NWTA is proud to have great sponsors who have stepped up to help us out, but it never hurts to have Portland Metro by your side! Recently some faithful NWTA members did some major clean up and Metro chipped in for the disposal.  Thanks for keeping our trails clean!






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