Surveyor’s Ridge Trail Re-Route

Posted on July 19, 2016 by 44trails

Surveyor’s Ridge Trail Re-Route

The Mt Hood National Forest announced their decision to authorize the re-route of approximately three miles of the Surveyor’s Ridge trail (trail #668) where it parallels the current water pipeline for The Dalles – near the start of Surveyor’s.

The project is necessary because of a comprehensive project to update The Dalles Watershed Pipeline that will interrupt and conflict with the existing Surveyor’s trail infrastructure. In addition, the Barlow District Ranger, Kameron Sam, authorized the adoption of the pipeline project staging area into a new recreational user parking/staging area once the pipeline project is complete. This is all good news for the multi-use trail system accessible from Forest Road 44.

Here’s the quick snip directly from the decision document to support the Surveyor re-route. Read full Surveyor’s decision document here.

DESCRIPTION OF DECISION

“It is my decision to authorize the rerouting of approximately 3 miles of the existing Surveyors Ridge Trail #688 where it follows the Dalles Pipeline. The north end of the reroute would provide a short loop approximately .7 miles in length for non-motorized recreationists looking for a short distance trail opportunity. The reroute would also connect Surveyors Ridge Trail directly to the Super Connector. The area that will be used for staging for reconstruction of the pipeline would become a trailhead 1.5 acres in size. The trailhead would provide needed centralized parking for the trail system in the vicinity of Forest Road 44.

The existing Surveyors Ridge Trailhead would remain accessible; however, this trailhead is inadequate for the amount of use it receives. The new trailhead would be large enough to accommodate the amount of use the trail system receives. The segment of Surveyors Ridge Trail #688 that would be impacted by the pipeline replacement would remain open to non-motorized travel, although it would not provide the same semi-primitive experience it now provides.”

44 Trails hopes to slide this project into the trail work mix after we finish the Cooks Meadow Extension project early this fall. Stay tuned.

July 23 Cooks Meadow Extension Project

Posted on July 13, 2016 by 44trails

July 23 Cooks Meadow Extension Hand-Built Singletrack

Hey there 44 Trails riders!

Saturday, July 23 is our first full-scale trail work day of the season, and we will be working on the Cooks Meadow Extension Trail.

We’ve been hard at work prepping the area and now it’s hand-built singletrack time!

We need you, of course, plus Metal Rakes, a few McLeods, flat shovels and sets of loppers.

Helmets/hardhats (bike helmets ok) are required as are long pants, work boots and gloves.

We’ll probably work ’til about 2pm and will have sandwiches from the awesome NYC City Sub Shop in Hood River for the crew.

Working the pin line on the Cooks Meadow Extension – what a view!

Although the trail is arguably just roughed in, it can be ridden, especially the lower half. In fact, riding it will help establish it. So, bring your bike for an aprés trail work pedal!

Want to know more about the trail? check out the map

WHEN:
Saturday July 23, 2016 @ 9am – 2pm
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR and sign-in at the SnoPark and then move up to the work site as a group.

PROJECT:
Hand-Built tread work on Cooks Meadow Extension trail.

TOOLS:
Helmet/hardhat (bike helmets ok), long pants gloves, and work boots required.
Hand tools – METAL RAKES ARE TOOL OF CHOICE

Trailgate 2016 Success!

Posted on July 11, 2016 by 44trails

TRAILGATE 2016!

Thanks to all who rallied for our second annual Trailgate event! It was a busy day up on the 44 trail system and we are stoked everyone rallied and enjoyed themselves.

We’d like to thanks the Mount Hood National Forest for their cooperation in helping us host the event and for helping make 44 trails the single largest network of single track mountain biking near Hood River.

We also need to thank all of our sponsors for making the event a reality! From the swag donations from Full Sail, Mountain View Cycles, Camp 1805, Shortt Supply, Double Mountain Brewing, Pistil Designs, Dakine, Discover Bikes, Dirty Finger Bike Shop, Hood River Bicycles, and oVino Market to the folks on site helping make the event happen including Dog River Coffee, Velofix Portland, Turner Bikes and HUGE thanks to Timberline Ski Resort for their generosity with the awesome barbecue set up!

Of course, thanks to all those who came up to enjoy and support the trail system by riding, hanging and donating to the 44 Trails cause!

Here’s a slide show of the event . . .

TRAILGATE 2016 UPDATE

Posted on July 6, 2016 by 44trails

Trailgate 2016 is this weekend!

Saturday July 9.

Trailgate gets rolling on Saturday morning at 10am. Come on up to Billy Bob SnoPark located about 10 miles east of highway 35 on FR44.

Hood River’s reputation as a mountain bike destination is well deserved given the wide array of riding options available within a 30-mile radius of town. From flowy freeride descents to forested singletrack routes, the Hood River area has it all and July 9 marks the date of the second annual TRAILGATE Event to celebrate the area’s single biggest network of forested singletrack known as 44 Trails.

The 44 Trails zone is a classic singletrack trail network accessible from Forest Road 44 on the east side of the Mount Hood National Forest. The nearly 100 miles of multi-use trails accessible from the 44 Road includes area classics like the Surveyor’s Ridge, Dog River and Eightmile trails. The combined drier Eastside climate and higher elevation of the area create an ideal riding environment.

Trailgate is a day to celebrate the trail network and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow singletrack aficionados. Organized by the 44 Trails Association, a nonprofit trail stewardship group based in Hood River, in collaboration with the Mt Hood National Forest, Trailgate is free and open to the public.

Come on by at 10am on Saturday to check in on ride options, grab a cup of coffee compliments of Dog River Coffee and learn more about 44 Trails Association.

Unfortunately, our demo bike program is in question, so please be sure to bring your own bike!

Once you’ve been out to enjoy the trails come on back at 3pm to enjoy food, drink (non-alcoholic – byob for alcohol) and music!