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NWTA's Top 5 Reasons to be Thankful
As winter approaches and we look towards a new year, the NWTA says thanks to all who have helped make it so successful and fun. There isn't space to list all of the reasons, so here are our top 5:
5. That we live in the age of mountain biking. Quite simply, the sport of mountain biking as we know i t is only about 40-years old. How lucky we are that it was invented in time for us!
4. That we live in a society that will listen. It may be controversial and painstakingly slow, and we may not always get what we want, but we get to organize and make the case for more trails. If we're unhappy that we can't ride somewhere, we have the ability to make it better.
3. That we are surrounded by such great trails. We have some of the best trails in the country within a short drive and are working on new places to ride closer in.
2. That we have such great partners and sponsors. Private businesses, public agencies and other non-profits have all helped our organization and sport grow.
1. That we have such great members and volunteers. We have some of the most active and involved volunteers around, and we are fortunate to have such engaged land managers to help us keep our trails open and care for our public lands.
Thanks to you all! NWTA is thankful for you.
Jon Pheanis
NWTA President
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Updates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Number of Board Postitions are Opening Soon
January brings election time to the NWTA general meeting. There are a number of board positions opening and if you don't like to dig in the dirt this is a fantastic opportunity to give back to an organization that works tirelessly at improving mountain biking opportunities for all of us. If you can't commit to a board position there are many other ways that YOUR talents can be put to use. Contact anyone at NWTA for more information...http://nw-trail.org/directors.officers Help Jumpstart NWTA Fundraising Campaign
NWTA will be undertaking a major fundraising campaign in early 2013. Help us raise funds for our broad range of projects and initiatives - Stub Stewart State Park, Cascade Locks, Forest Park, Sandy Ridge, our 2nd Annual Kids Camp and more. A variety of ways you can plug in, so if you're interested, please send a note to sonia@nw-trail.org.
Ride for Free at the Lumberyard! NWTA recently kicked off a weekly event, NWTA Family Day at the Lumberyard, Sundays from 12-5. We need volunteers to staff our table, greet potential new members and talk about bikes. In exchange for 2-3 hours of your time, NWTA will cover your admission and bike rental for the day. Follow this link for more information: http://nw-trail.org/event/2012/10/3376
Ventura Park Pumptrack Manager Needed
 Can you spend a few hours a month leading our efforts at the Ventura Park Pumptrack? Our pilot project at Ventura Park has been a huge success and we will be formalizing our agreement with Portland Parks in the next few months. We are looking for someone to keep an eye on things and help us organize work parties 2-3x year. No prior experience with pumptracks necessary, just a desire to help with this cool community project. For more info, send a note to sonias@nw-trail.org
Instructors wanted for 2013 NWTA Kids Camp
Our first ever kids camp was a tremendous success.  | | NW Trail Alliance/Portland Parks 'Mountain Bike Kids Camp' |
We're planning to build on that and offer 3 camps in 2013. We're looking for a few individuals who will instruct these youth over 4 days. Interested? Send a note to sonia@nw-trail.orgsonia@nw-trail.org
***Remember to check the NWTA trail forum and WIKI pages frequently for updates on closures and work parties.***
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Announcements ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------------------------------
BTA ANNOUNCES INPUT SESSIONS IN CLACKAMAS, MULTNOMAH, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has a question for you: Over the next four or five years, what should the tri-county area do to make bicycling safer and more inviting? We are currently updating our Blueprint for Better Biking to serve that important role and we need your input. What are your top 3 picks for projects that need to happen in the next few years - projects sure to improve safety and increase ridership? In a few weeks, the BTA will be hosting input sessions in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. Please join us!
For a list of dates and times of input sessions or if you can't attend, visit our website for other means of input.
Speaking of the BTA...
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Community Cycling Center are both in the Give!Guide! this year. While we're out building trail, the BTA and the CCC are ensuring that the streets that lead there are bikeable, and that biking is accessible and safe for everyone. From the BTA ..."To thank all our supporters, we have lots of exciting prizes to give away from PDW, Meat, RackAttack, and Keen to name a few, along with the great incentives offered by the Willamette Week." Check out the entire Give! Guide! here: http://giveguide.oaktree.com/Welcome.aspx
 | Bicycle Transportation Alliance & Community Cycling Center Give!Guide 2012
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Trail Talk
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Trail Development Partnership Program Update
 WAY back in October 2011 (more than a year ago), NWTA began the process of applying for federal funding to purchase additional support equipment for trail construction. In October of this year, we successfully completed the process and last week began spending our 2012 Recreation Trails Program grant funds which were awarded!
One of the first things ordered was a new Ditch Witch SK755 with attachments to help with building and maintaining jump parks and pump tracks. We'll be taking delivery of this new machine in early 2013. We will continue to purchase and receive additional items under this project thru early Spring 2013.
Other trail construction goodies we have already bought (and received):
* 18" bucket for Single Track machine (replaces the stock 12" bucket) - this increases workflow when benching single track tread for new trails
* WARN portable winch and accessories (qty 2) - these can lift up to 1,000lb loads and will be used for equipment recovery or moving large downed logs into place and any other task where a winch would come in handy
These assets are managed by NWTA under our Trail Development Partnership Program and are made available to partners (for rent) on various projects. It is YOUR membership $$ which made it possible to pursue the RTP grant and then make the purchases.
Sandy Ridge Trail Maintenance Day (Season Opener)
 You'll see fewer maintenance days this year, but looking forward to a bigger turn-out for each. We'll be working with the BLM and IMBA resources to perform maintenance on Hide & Seek. Devon from the Oregon Enduro Series will have some food/swag; Shuttles to the top for volunteers. Make sure to attend this season's opener on Saturday December 8th from 10am - 2pm and be a part of making the trails you ride even better. Never attended a work party before? Never fear, we'll provide instruction! Check out the full details here: http://nw-trail.org/event/2012/12/3425
Riverview Trails
 NWTA has been busy working with Portland Parks to reroute unsustainable trails, while at the same time continuing our positive relationship with city agencies. This is an important step as we look to have a positive impact on future plans for this new addition to Portland Parks inventory.
Please help us spread the word that brush should not be removed from old fall-line trails in order to to reopen them. The trails needs to be maintained with water quality as the first priority, and recreation as secondary. Our reputation, and our ability to continue riding there depends on it.
WOAPE Youth Trail Builders Form Kickstarter Campaign
If you ride Sandy Ridge, please donate to this great cause, and get some baked goods in the process!
http://www.imba.com/blog/chris-bernhardt/woape-youth-engage-kickstarter-campaign-fund-growth
 | | AntFarm Cafe and Bakery |
Salem Area Trail Alliance Working to Build 70 Mile West Salem Path 
The story featured in the Statesman Journal on Nov. 8th describes a longterm goal of linking the areas greenspaces, forests and vineyards into one continuous multiuse trail. It's an ambitious undertaking but already underway with a 4 mile trail being built in Spring Valley State Park. Read the entire story at the Statesman Journal through this link: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012311080011&nclick_check=1
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Stub Stewart State Park XC/AM Trail Progress...
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The 1st Saturday work party event at Stub Stewart State Park hosted by NWTA was well attended (about 20 turned out) and it was lots of fun! Most everyone rode out to the project site. Got down to work on knocking out some finishing work on connector trail between North and South (NWTA's trail steward volunteer manager, Rob Clark, has goal is to complete construction by Spring). We can get this done with your help! Bring your bike, ride to project, work a little, have some warm homemade food in the woods, then work some more or go ride... that's the format!
Come for the December 1st Saturday work party event to help lay down some new trail on the far side of Link Pin connector trail. Sign-up on nw-trail.org event calendar if you want food (we ran out last time cuz we didn't know how many to expect)!
Here's a look at some of what was done in November:
BEFORE...
AFTER...(turn got more sculpting after this photo too!)
The lunch spot... 
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| Volunteer Opportunities
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It's Not All About the Shovel... Looking for a way to be 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. What an awesome trail we're heading down!
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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.
Sundays (12pm - 5pm) Sundays are Family Day at the Lumberyard! We're partnering with the Lumberyard to provide discounts to NWTA members and their families. On any Sunday through the winter, receive a $10 discount on any day pass purchased between 12-5 (good for the remainder of the day). Special instruction is available from 1 - 2pm and happy hour pricing is available at the Pub @ the Yard! What are you waiting for? Tue, Nov 27th (5pm - 7pm) Women's Group Meeting 5:00PM Come get involved in the planning for 2013. Our 11/27 meeting will be held at The Lumberyard. The ladies will meet in the Pub @ the Yard at 5pm or whenever you can get there. Food and beer are available for purchase. The General meeting will follow at 7pm in the event room. See ya'll there! Tue, Nov 27th (6pm - 8pm) General Membership Meeting 6:00PM Committee meetings-come and find ways to get involved! Or just grab a beer and talk bikes. 7:00PM News from the trail. 7:15PM TBD. Cheers! This final meeting of the year will be at the Lumberyard. As always members and nonmembers are always welcome. Sat, Dec 1st (9am - 1pm) Stub Stewart XC Trail Building Continuation of series of "1st Saturday" trail build events hosted Stub Stewart State Park by NWTA volunteer trail stewards. Come help us work towards goal of connecting North to South mountain bike areas of the park. We'll be focusing efforts on construction of "Link Pin" trail section. Sign up online or by emailing robc@nw-trail.orgSat, Dec 1st (9am - 1pm) Syncline/Catherine Creek Trail Work Party Washington Trail Alliance trail volunteer work event...Syncline/Catherine Creek Trail, WA. Working to build a trail and maintain existing routes (replacing Jeff's/upper Hidden). Meet at Courtney Road Trailhead. Bring sturdy shoes/boots, work gloves, appropriate clothing, favorite tools, hard hat (helmet counts). Most importantly, just show up! (We will provide tools and hard hats if you register: RSVP to Ryan Ojerio ryan@wta.org360-722-2657) Sat, Dec 8th (10am - 2pm) Trail Maintenance Day - Season Opener Sandy Ridge Come join us for the first trail maintenance day of the year. What to expect? We'll be working with BLM and IMBA resources to perform maintenance on Hide & Seek. Devon from the Oregon Enduro Series will also be there to help give back for the race series and will have some swag as a bonus for some lucky volunteers. Questions contact toms@nw-trail.orgTue, Dec 25th No Meeting - Happy Holidays!!
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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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