Cooks Meadow Trail Extension

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Cooks Meadows Trail Expansion Project

Cooks Meadow Trail Expansion Map

The 44 Trails Association has been working towards building a four mile extension of the Cooks Meadow trail (# 639 – Mt Hood National Forest Cooks Meadow trail description) to replace the upper section that follows the 4410 road. The new section will create a great loop opportunity without using the road.

The USFS has opened the public comment period on the proposed project. Comments are due by July 19, 2015. The more people who comment positively about this project, the easier it is for the district ranger to make the decision to move forward.

The proposed project adds four miles of new multi-use and non-motorized trail, connecting Cooks Meadow to the upper 44 trails network (450/High Prairie/etc – see map of Cooks Meadow project) without having to ride the 4410 road, creating a safer and more enjoyable experience for trail and road users alike.

Read the full USFS letter soliciting comment on the Cooks Meadow Extension (PDF)

Here are a few talking points to consider in your letter of support for the project.
– The trail extension improves safety for trail and road users by eliminating trail/road overlap
– Trail extension projects like Cooks Meadows disperse multi-use traffic and replace multi-use trail miles lost due to 2009 wilderness expansion.
– 44 Trails, through volunteer labor and grant funding, is ready to step up and facilitate the trail project under the direct supervision of the USFS.
– The 44 trails network is a becoming well-known as a destination for non-motorized, multi-use recreation and every new connection creates a new asset and enhances the trail system.

Comments should be sent to:
Comments due by July 19, 2015

Casey Gatz – Mt Hood National Forest
email: cgatz@fs.fed.us
ph: 541-352-1255
US mail:
Casey Gatz / Hood River Ranger District
6780 Hwy 35
Mt. Hood – Parkdale, OR 97041

New signs, conditions and trail etiquette

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New Trail Signs and Trail Etiquette Reminder

44 trails signageWe got some cool new signs up on the trailhead boards around the 44 zone recognizing our partnership with the USFS for trail maintenance on the 44 trails.

Look for ’em next time you are up for a ride! Here’s one posted on the trailhead board at the Dog River / Surveyor’s junction (it’s the blue sign on the right).

The trails are in perfect condition right now (June 1). There has been just enough rain in the hills to keep the soil moist but no so much as to make ’em wet.

Here’s a quick reminder on trail etiquette: Please remember that all of the 44 Trails are multi-use, non-motorized trails. They are open to hiker, biker and equestrian use. Some trails see more than others from certain user groups, but all are open to everyone and all trails are for two-way traffic. There are no designated downhill only routes. Please be cautious of the multi-use nature and ride with care and control in all situations! Yes, gravity is fun, but to ride at 44 means respecting all users.

Thanks!

Trailgate – July 11 – Event Details

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Trailgate Event PosterOK 44 Zone aficionados, the Trailgate event on Saturday, July 11, 2015 is less than two months away!

What is Trailgate you ask? It’s a day to celebrate and enjoy the fine single track trails accessible from Forest Road 44 on the Mt. Hood National Forest. There’s plenty of great riding and hiking to be had from the Billy Bob SnoPark, including great rides for all abilities, even kids! There’s even some killer road/gravel grinders to be had in the 44 zone.

We will be staging from the Billy Bob SnoPark located about 10 miles east of highway 35 on FR44. You can also get there from the east side out of Dufur. There’s plenty of great camping available at Eight-Mile and Fifteen-Mile campgrounds as well as other dispersed camping in the area.

Come on by at 10am on Saturday to check in on ride options, learn more about 44 Trails Association, meet local USFS rangers and to check out demo bikes from Hood River Bicycles (Yeti, Pivot, Giant, Santa Cruz and more).

Once you’ve been out to enjoy the trails come on back at 3pm to enjoy food, drink (free) and music. We’ve lined up Hood River-based band, Cripple Hop, for a some great live music. Timberline Lodge is setting up the food service and 44 Trails Association will have info about upcoming projects. We’ll have a raffle with some great swag, too!

if you are looking for an epic ride on July 11th, check out the Oregon Endurance Mt. Hood Classic ride planned for the same day and come by Billy Bob when your done!

Sign up for our e-mail list to get the latest info on and an event reminder for Trailgate!

44 Trails Conditions Update May 2015

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Here’s a heads up for the 44 Trails System:
ALL TRAILS along the 44 corridor have been cleared this spring and are OPEN.

44 trails conditionsThanks to Ranger Thornton, and both Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts plus a variety of dedicated help, ALL TRAILS along the 44 corridor are open! This means all the major blowdown that happened over the winter has been cleared. It does not mean that new trees won’t fall. We’ve had two months of wind since the main clearing work took place and, word is, there are a few places with new trees down.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, it still blocks the trail! Jokes, aside, trees fall in the forest year round, and any storm, any time of the year can bring down new trees on the 44 Trails. Many of the same systems that bring the famed wind to the Gorge, deliver winds in the forest, too.  In other words, there can be new blowdown any time and on any trail.

Trail work 44 mt hood national forestOver 1000 downed trees were cleared this season in the 44 Trails corridor. But we all need to be aware and ride with caution, because new trees will come down. We encourage you to send us a note if you encounter new blowdown, so we can work with the USFS to get it cleared.

We understand that most, if not all, forest users realize that conditions change in a forest environment; please help us explain this to those that may be lacking awareness!

And of course ride in control, monitor your speeds and yield to uphill traffic!

Happy trails!

 

44 Trails Conditions Update

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44 trails kneel springs eight mile and bottle prairieupdated 29 April, 2015

Spring is full steam ahead out here in the Hood River Valley and here’s your spring 44 Trails conditions update.

The annual logout of blowdown is nearly finished and you’ll find the bulk of the 44 system ready to roll including:
8-Mile
Knebal Springs
Bottle Prairie
Cooks Meadow
15-Mile including Cedar Creek
Surveyor’s Ridge
Super Connector
450 to snow line
Dog River
Bear Springs Trap Race Course

Stay tuned for more details on Trailgate 2015, more 44 trails conditions updates and summer/fall work party schedule.

Save the Date – July 11, 2015

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Trailgate 2015 44 trails associationOur mild winter has many of us thinking about and riding our mountain bikes earlier than normal this winter. It’s also got us here at the 44 Trails Association planning a summer trail festival day to celebrate and enjoy the 44 trails network. Trailgate 2015!

The details are loose at this point, but the date is set for July 11, 2015. We’re seeing a full day of riding (or hiking) on the Mt. Hood National Forest based out of the Billy Bob SnoPark. It’s located on the 44 Road a couple miles east of the 8-Mile parking zone.

trailgate 2015 44 trails associationWe are lining up plans for an afternoon BBQ and social scene après riding. There’s plenty of great camping in the area and plenty of great trails to explore. Save the date for first annual 44 Trails Association Trailgate, and we’ll keep you posted with more details as they are available.

If you sign up for our mailing list, we’ll send ya the info direct. And we promise not to share your e-mail with anyone else, ever.

Work Party Success

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We’d like to thank everyone who showed up on Saturday to help with our final trail day of the season. Thanks to Timberline Ski Resort and the USFS we had three power toters to haul materials. Here’s a few photos of the day.

 

October 18 Work Party

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October 18 work partyThe final work party of the season is almost here. This round, we’ll be working on the 450 Trail doing some repair and enhancement projects. As usual we’ll meet down at Little John Snopark at 9am.

Please bring rakes, shovels, McLouds, wheelbarrows, etc. We’ll have Timberline there with at least one power toter, too.

Shoot us an e-mail with any questions. 44trails (at) 44trails.org.

See ya Saturday Oct 18!

 

Thanks to Local Businesses

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sixth street bistroWe’ve been lucky to receive some great financial and material support from local businesses this summer. Thanks to all the burger eating at Sixth Street Bistro and mountain bike rental at the new Hood River Bicycles shop (behind Dog River Coffee) our bank account is fatter than it was in June Both of these guys are sharing profits from with 44 Trails Association!hood river bicycles

And thanks to Dirt Hugger we’ve got some fresh organic matter on several sections of trail badly
in need of such dirt.

Several areas in the 44 zone –
where logging and thinning projects have reduced the canopy – the trails have lost the rich organic soils that help preserve tread integrity. So, we hope that by dirt huggerspreading some killer compost we can help improve trail sustainability. Thanks Dirt Hugger!

 

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