The Mountain Biker Checklist: 10 Things You Should Do Before Fall
By NWTA President, Jon Pheanis
- VOLUNTEER: Help get the trails you ride into shape. Or help at any of our upcoming events like Sunday Parkways or Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. Check out the calendar to find out more.
- EXPLORE: Go somewhere new. Check out our website and see what's near you.
- GO FAR: Summer is winding down so now is the time to ride any of our regions' single track.
- STAY CLOSE: There's no need to drive. Ride the Springwater Trail out to Powell Butte or take Max to the Ventura Park pump track.
- INTRODUCE A FRIEND: Take someone new out on a mountain bike and share your passion.
- RECYCLE: Take your old mountain bike or bike parts to the Community Cycling Center. Someone will really appreciate it.
- DONATE: Your cash donations go directly to supporting all of our excellent programs. Even just a little goes a long way.
- TELL US A STORY: Go somewhere new this summer? Have advice, something amazing, or funny to tell us? Send us your story and we'll get it on our website or our newsletter. You can always submit a topic to present at our monthly membership meetings.
- LEAD: We need your help guiding a ride, heading one of our programs and volunteering your time as a board member. Contact us for more information.
- GET INVOLVED: Frustrated, passionate or just grateful? Come early to one of our monthly membership meetings and see what you can do. We're also looking for a few 2013-2014 board members.
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Updates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Huge thanks to raffle participants everywhere, and Universal Cycles, Moots and CyclePath for supporting NWTA!
We are so proud to have partner/sponsors Universal Cycles and Moots/CyclePath to help our organization.
Universal Cycles donated a one-of-a-kind Intense 6.6 mountain bike for leveraging support during this summer''s Trailfest. One rider went home with a sweet bike, and NWTA went home with thousands of dollars. Later this summer, NWTA partnered with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, local bike shop CyclePath and Colorado-based Moots to raffle another amazing bike, yielding thousands more.
Proceeds from these generous donations go directly to programs that get more people on bikes, more bikes on the streets and trails, and more cyclists advocating for greater opportunities and access. These partnerships are making a difference and leading the way, setting the stage for the next generation of cyclists. Thanks to all who participated in the raffle. Although not everybody won, your donations make a big difference.
And Thanks Chris King!  In yet another show of support for local cyclists, Portland's very own Chris King components wrote a $1,000 check to the Northwest Trail Alliance. The donation was part of a fundraiser held earlier this summer at River City Bikes to raise money for mountain bike access and advocacy. Collaborating with Levi's, Chris King helped design a custom (and very hip) Levi's jacket for the fundraiser made just for cyclists. Incorporating the iconic anodized top cap, the jacket was produced in a very limited number. Want your own? Well, they aren't for sale. But we will be offering a chance to get your hands on one soon. Stay tuned!  Pending adopt-a-trail agreement with Washington County enhanced by funding for new equipmentNWTA has scored high enough for 2012 federal Recreation Trail Program (RTP) grant funding that we will be "highly likely" to receive funding. When the process is final we'll be placing orders for "supplemental equipment purchases" to augment our custom Single Track machine (ST240). Here's what's on our "Dear Santa" (er, Uncle Sam) wish list... a wide  r bucket for ST240, a motorized tracked wheelbarrow with 1,000lb capacity, a general purpose compact utility machine (Ditch Witch SK650) with several attachments (bucket, 6-way grading blade, plate compactor, and 12" auger), WARN Pullzall portable winch, Stihl chainsaw, and a Stihl brush cutter. Recently the ST240 and a borrowed ditch witch were used on a reroute of part of the Henry Hagg Lake trail. The ST240 had the power for the initial cut and the ditch witch cleared and polished. The re-route project is lead by NWTA Trail Stewards Jon Peak and Joe Rykowski. There will be more volunteer trail work party events posted on nw-trail.org calendar for the upcoming 2012/2013 build season. Keep an eye out and consider signing up to help us improve Hagg Lake trail! |
Announcements ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------------------------------  Join the Board! Multiple Board of Director Openings This Winter Want to help lead our organization? This December, six of our twelve board members will reach the end of their two-year terms. We have begun the search for worthy candidates to take these positions next year. If you are passionate about our sport, know someone who is, or think you might have a skill set we could use, consider applying. Along with helping to guide the organization, board members also chair a range of different committees and programs. If interested, or for more information, contact Sonia at sonias@nw-trail.org.
NWTA Presenting at Oregon Recreation and Parks Association conference
The Northwest Trail Alliance will be presenting at this year's ORPA conference in Medford, Oregon September 9-11. Together with park and recreation planning firm MIG, and Portland Parks & Recreation, we'll be discussing how park agencies can work together with community and non-profit organizations to create more mountain biking opportunities. Check out ORPA's website to register or for more information. NWTA Patrol Helps at Hagg Lake XTerra Race Joe Rykowski, Travis White, and Lee Duncan represented the NWTA Bike Patrol at the XTerra race at Hagg Lake on August 11th. Joe wrangled the skills course, as requested by Jake and Shane with NW Epic Racing, and everybody helped man the NWTA Table, near the bike transition area. The race was a big success, with several dozen children enjoying the skills course, and over 300 participants, and many "Thank You"s to the Patrol for helping. If you like racing your bicycle, check out XTerra! You can join up with other racers and form a team, so you don't even have to swim or run unless you want to. Contact patrol@nw-trail.org if interested, and we'll put you in touch with the race organizers.
BBQ, Beer and Bike Bash at Pub @ the YardThe Lumberyard MTB and Pub @ the Yard are sponsoring a BBQ cook-off among some of the top BBQ restaurants in Portland on Saturday, Sept 15 with the BBQ cook-off from 12 - 4 and the Bash from 11 - 6. Come spend the day with us at 2700 NE 82nd Ave and sample some of the most delectable BBQ in town, have a beer at the Pub @ the Yard, and try out the bike park. Local celebrities and chefs will be the official judges for the top Portland BBQ award. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Northwest Trail Alliance scholarship for kids camps and programs. NWTA provides scholarships to disadvantaged kids to expose them to mountain biking and forest stewardship. Festivities include live music, BBQ competition, raffles, and a live bike demo. After School Skills Program  Hey Kids! Looking for something exciting to do after school? Have fun at the Lumberyard Bike Park and take your riding to new heights, literally! Try rolling over logs & skinnies or rail on some wall rides & bank turns! Get pumped on our epic pump track or catch some air on our jump lines! Our coaches will group riders based on ability and help everyone have a blast while making new friends. Other activities include bike games, basic bike maintenance and video feedback sessions. The program will cost $175 for a 10 week session starting Sept 17th. All ability levels are welcome and students will be grouped accordingly. Mondays: Ages 9-14 from 4 to 5:30
Wednesdays: Ages 15-18 from 4 to 5:30
Thursdays: Ages 6-8 from 4 to 5:30 Call the Lumberyard at (503)252-2453 or come on in at 2700 NE 82nd Ave to sign-up. 
Win a Transition Frame and Support Rad Trails! You heard it right! If you have $10 you could be the winner of a Transition Bike Company Frame. As part of the Cold Creek MTB Experience September 29th and 30th we will be raffling off your choice of a brand new BottleRocket or Bandit frame, you pick the size and color*. The proceeds from this raffle will go directly to help support the Cold Creek Mountain Bikers in their mission to maintain existing and construct new trails in Southwest WA! Enter to win the Transition and find out more about the Cold Creek MTB Experience HERE. *depending on availability To participate in this fundraising effort follow this link the the Bike Gallery Facebook fundraising page. 
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Trail Talk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | | Lakes Trail at Coldwater |
New Biking Access at Mt St. Helens Under the banner of Friends of Coldwater, there will be a huge volunteer crew on the north side of Mount St. Helens on Sunday, August 26th, to open the Lakes Trail (#211) to mountain biking on the north side of Coldwater Lake. This trail has been closed for many years and needs a lot of work to re-open it for hiking and mt biking. The Coldwater Lakes area is gorgeous terrain in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with incredible views of St Helens. The 211 trail is approximately 5 miles in length and leads to a waterfall at the east end of the lake. Gary Walker of the U.S. Forest Service signed off on the plan on June 18th, which marks the first change in trail access for mountain bikers on the north side of St. Helens in recent memory. The efforts of Brian Mahon and Growlers Gulch Racing (GGR) have allowed us to ride the 230A Trail at South Coldwater Ridge, directly across the lake from the 211. When the 211 is opened, it - along with a two-mile hike-a-bike section at the east of the lake - will connect to the 230A, giving us a fantastic loop. Organizers hope for a crew of 100, which is obviously an all-hands-on-deck situation. It is also a huge deal and not to be taken for granted. The main focus will be on clearing and benching the trail where necessary. There is also a very large slide near the east end that will require serious attention. We would like to have a large group from Northwest Trail Alliance to help in this effort. Contact Jim LeMonds at lemonds1@gmail.com if you are interested in helping to get your name on the list.
Notice: Scapoose Trail Closure
The South side of the Rocky Point Road has been closed for some time for logging, replanting and other activity. The land owners have expressed their appreciation of our group communications and the respect our members have regarding the closure. When work is complete, they will provide us with an update and we will likely be allowed to clear brush on the trail and make minor improvements to the existing trail to address drainage and erosion problems. We have recently been notified the North area will be closed no later than September 1 for road construction and maintenance activity. Heavy equipment will be operating in the area and all public access is prohibited. If you see equipment operating and/or notice closure signage, please do not enter the private land. Closure duration is unknown. Please respect all closures and posted closure signs.
Great Turnout at the Riverview Work Party
 Over 24 volunteers dedicated their after work hours to help repair sections of the Riverview property. On Wednesday, August 8th, Portland Parks hosted the work party to repair the lower end of the property near Hwy 43. Recently acquired by Portland Parks, the 146-acre property has been ridden for years but without any formal plan or design. Now the City is deciding what the site needs and is taking steps to repair damaged areas of the park. Why does it matter? Dozens of mountain bikers proving that they care about the condition of our parks and natural areas makes a big impact on the City and area neighbors. If we expect to ride these (and future) trails, these are the kinds of small successes that make it happen. Check out the BikePortland article for more news on the event.
The Disciples Of Dirt's 15-year vision to create a mountain biking area at Carpenter Bypass (Whypass) can finally become a reality with your help! Whypass is a homegrown singletrack network built by local mountain bikers. It lies mostly on BLM land just 30 minutes southwest of Eugene and affords over 20 miles of fun, bike-specific singletrack. Recently the BLM completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) and now it's our turn to ensure mountain bikers get what we've worked for all these years by emailing the BLM during the public comment period which ends on September 14th, 2012.
The EA includes three options. Option 1 = No change from the way things stand today (no designated mountain bike area). Option 2 = Designation as a mountain bike riding area including a sweet parking area with a brick & mortar bathroom plus pre-approval for 10+ miles of additional singletrack. Option 2 excludes equestrian use of Whypass trails. Option 3 = Provides equestrian use on a small portion of the Whypass trail network. Whypass trails are defined by their limited sight lines and steep, tight nature built specifically by & for mountain bikers. But equestrians recently heard the area may become exclusive to bikes so just this summer there's been trail damage by horse hooves, excessive horse manure all over the trails plus the potential for unsafe trail interactions between bikes and horses. For these and other reasons, Option 2 is mountain bikers' best bet. Please email the BLM at the address below in support of Option 2 in its Environmental Assessment of Carpenter Bypass. Equestrian organizations, including several beyond the local area are encouraging their members to write to the BLM during the public comment period in support of equestrian use. The sport of mountain biking needs a strong and united voice now in order to take what mountain bikers have built to the next level - a designated mountain biking area. Please help preserve Whypass for mountain bikers by writing to the BLM now!
Visit the Disciples Of Dirt's website to follow the discussion and find a sample letter to the BLM in the "Trail Conditions & Trailwork" forum: http://disciplesofdirt.org/content/whypass-ea-out Here's a direct link to the BLM's EA: http://disciplesofdirt.org/sites/default/files/EA-CarpenterBypassTrails.pdf Please send an email with your own comments to the BLM at: BLM_OR_EU_Mail@blm.gov.
Thank you! And please come ride Whypass with us! Dave Hallock daveysprockett@gmail.com Founder & Chairman Disciples Of Dirt Mtn Bike Club An IMBA Chapter |
| Volunteer Opportunities
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It's Not All About the Shovel... Not involved with NWTA advocacy efforts for a local riding area? Do you have friends in high places? Want to be a volunteer on a citizen board or committee that makes decisions about how parks and open space is used? Contact our advocacy director (tom@nw-trail.org) and we can find a place where you can make a difference. YOU CAN influence how far we all need to drive from the Platinum City to ride a Mountain Bike. Like it or not, trail riding starts by participating in the public process.
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Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar
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We're putting extra effort into organizing/hosting more group rides this year. Weekly outings to Powell Butte and Scapoose and campouts for the more adventurous. Keep any eye on our calendar for updates.
Click on any of the highlighted titles below to link directly to more information...
Tuesdays (6 pm - 8 pm) Weekly Tuesday Powell Butte Ride This ride happens weekly except when it conflicts with general meeting or weather. Variety of speeds and styles welcome the goal is to show a responsible MTB presence and enjoy the trails, of course. Contact Dennis - 503.860.2095 - dennisv@nw-trail.org
Fridays (6 pm - 10 pm) Dimwits Withbritelights Semi-Weekly Rides Rides begin at the easyCLIMB trail system at Cascade Locks. Semi-regular Friday Night Riding events depending upon the weather. We will announce a ride on the Monday prior to the Friday night ride. There will be a big bon-fire to keep everyone warm, so bring a beverage and maybe something to cook over the fire. Check the Dimwits page on Facebook for ride status.
Sat, Aug 25th Bike Patrol Training at Stub Stewart The second Bike Patrol training will be held the morning of 8/25 at Stub Stewart State Park. If you're interested in becoming a Mountain Bike Patroller at Stub Stewart (or any place else), there's still time. Contact patrol@nw-trail.orgfor more information.
Sat, Aug 25th (8 am - ?) Adventure Ride with Susan This is an advanced co-ed adventure ride at Dry Ridge/Grouse Point trail in Mt Hood Nat'l Forest with Susan Martin. Meet at the Gateway Transit Center at 8 am. Plan for 6-7 hours of riding on 18-20 miles of unmaintained trail. Call Susan at 503-703-4300 for information. Sun, Aug 26th (All Day) Coldwater Work Party NEW mtb trail access on Mt St. Helens in exchange for volunteer trail work. Join us on 8/26 as we (NWTA and our mtb partners) work to expand our riding opportunities. Location is Coldwater Lake, WA. Working toward a 100 + person work party! See Sun, Aug 26th (9 am - 12 pm) **Women's Group Ride at 8 Mile- Change in Date and Location** This ride has been moved to Reehers camp. will follow the Gales Creek trail and may be up to 13 miles. It is a great option for beginner/intermediate riders. There are options for longer and shorter rides. Contact Gwyn Blanton at gwynblanton@yahoo.com for more information. Sun, Aug 26th (11 am) Sunday Parkways Southeast We'll be at Colonel Sumners Park with the Skills Course, so come on down and say hi! If you're interested in volunteering for this or the September Sunday Parkways, we can always use more help. Please contact Sonia at Tue, Aug 28th (6pm - 8pm) General Membership Meeting Committee meetings and trail news will be followed by a MOVIE NIGHT! Come check out "Strength in Numbers". The meeting is held at Hopworks Urban Brewery on Powell Blvd. Members and Nonmembers are always welcome. Sat, Sept 8th (9am - 2 pm) Timberline to Town Co-ed Ride The Timberline to Town Trail is a newer trail that begins at Timberline and ends in Government Camp. No one will be left behind unless you sass your guides! Contact tgutzka@gmail.com or cburg@dadco.com if you plan to do this ride or if you have any questions. Sat, Sept 15th (9 am - 3 pm) Mt Hood Epic The Mt Hood Epic returns to it's roots...The 2012 Mt Hood Eastside Epic is returning to its roots of being a simple group ride. A group ride that requires that you come prepared and be self-supported. Sat, Sept 22nd Oakridge Fat 55 If you Like MTB Endurance Races, Consider the Fat 55 in Oakridge Our friends in Oakridge are putting on a race in Oakridge called the Fat 55, which is (you guessed it) 55 miles. Contact Eugene in person at the Oakridge Mercantile, or check out the race website: Tue, Sept 25th (6pm - Close) General Membership Meeting at The Lumberyard!! NWTA members will get the $15 BMX night pricing all night (normally only available after 7pm). In addition, NWTA members can add a bike/gear rental for $10 more (a $20 value). Food from the Pub Menu and beer will be available by the pitcher for purchase.
Check the NWTA website frequently, new things are always being added to the calendar!
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| 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: newsletter@nw-trail.org.
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