Trail Conditions Update 5/19

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Latest trail conditions update May 19:trail2

Knebal / Bottle Prairie – 75% clear of trees and tread dry – Hope to clear this week.

8-Mile – Good shape but there’s one big section of blowdown on streamside trail 20+ trees – hope to  clear this week.

High Prairie / 450 – Not ready. Snow on trails and tread too muddy for riding. 4410 road is also still closed due to snow. Please stick to lower trails.

15-Mile – Not ready. Needs clearing work. Hold use until after Memorial Day weekend, thanks.

Surveyor’s Ridge – Clear an ready to ride

Dog River – Clear and ready to ride

 

Summer Trail Work Schedule

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Here’s the official summer work poster. First session on June 14 will most likely be used to armor and bank corners on the new Super Connector. Specific event details for June 14 event will come together and be announced here by early June.

Saver a date or two on your calendar and join us to keep the 44 Trails zone buffed out!

44 Trails Trail Work

44 Trails Trail Work

Current Conditions Report

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Fresh snow

Fresh snow

44 Trails Conditions Report
May 9, 2014

It’s wet and muddy with snow in places. Please ride elsewhere until trails have time to drain and dry! 

We got a call from the ranger today (May 9, 2014) with a first hand report that it’s too muddy up in the 44 Road area for riding right now. We need some high pressure, sun and time for the soil to drain as well to melt new and lingering snow. The current storm system has only made already muddy trails worse with a combination of wet snow and rain depending on elevation and aspect. Please ride elsewhere this weekend to avoid damaging the trails. Normally, the bulk of the trails are ready by Memorial Day Weekend – only two weeks away but it’ll be a critical two weeks for drying and draining, plus some clearing work.

Lingering patches of snow up high - taken before recent storm

Lingering patches of snow up high – before recent storm

Hold tight and enjoy the lower elevation riding for now. Oakridge, Surveyor’s and Dog River have seen a lot of moisture in the past 48 hours and are also muddy right now. However, they are the best bet for ridable trails once the weather drys out again.

Trail Work Schedule

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Sweet new trail signs!

Sweet new trail signs!

The dirt is top notch in the Gorge right now and the riding season for Mount Hood’s 44 Trails area is fast approaching. As of May 8, there is still some lingering snow and plenty of downed timber on the upper trails accessible from Forest Road 44. Typically, the bulk of the system will be cleared and ready to enjoy come Memorial Day Weekend.

In the meantime, we’ve set a schedule for summer trail work parties to keep our mission of maintenance and expansion moving forward. Please mark these dates in your calendars and join us when you can. We strive to work for 4-5 hours in the morning and then enjoy an afternoon trail session, so you don’t have to give up a day of riding! More details about each event will be provided as the date nears and as we evaluate trail needs:

June 14 – Celebrate National Trails Day with a 44Trails work party – (Nat. Trails Day is actually June 7, but our event will be on June 14)

July 26 -Mid summer work day to armor and maintain high-traffic areas

October 4 – TBA Special Event – riding related event to thank everyone for all their support

October 18 – Final trail day before winter transforms the forest floor

Although random acts of kindness in helping to clear the trails is appreciated, all significant clearing and trail work needs to be organized through the USFS to maintain trail standards. The process on 44 Trails is different from that in Post Canyon or Sandy Ridge, and we need your help adhering to this policy. We have a great relationship with the Mt. Hood and Barlow Ranger Districts, and we aim to keep it that way. If you have time and energy to help with trail work, please reach out to us. We have ongoing opportunities to help clear and maintain the trails outside of our scheduled events. Give us a shout and we can connect you with the details.

Avalanche Safety Presentation

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The snow gods may be slow in delivering the goods this year, but it’s never too late (or too early) to learn about avalanche safety. Ranger Jim Thornton is offering a free avalanche safety briefing on January 24, 2014 at Dog River Coffee. Check it out.

avy_awareness

Proposed Lyle Area Trails

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Lyle draft map of areaThere’s an open house hosted by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge regarding the idea for a community trail system out of Lyle, Washington on Dec. 11 at 5 pm at the Lyle Activity Center. The idea is part of the Towns to Trails vision put forward by Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

Here are few details:

What is the goal of the project?
The goal of the project as defined by the community planning team is to: “Develop a plan for a non-motorized multiple-use trail system that is respectful of the community, land-owners, and land managers.”

Who is leading this trail planning process?
This effort is a community-led effort with community members, landowners and other stakeholders attending and participating in planning discussions. The National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program is providing facilitation and project management assistance. The Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife are participating in the effort as landowners. Other organizations participating in meetings (but not necessarily in favor of the project) include the Lyle Fire Department, Klickitat Healthy People Alliance, private business owners, adjacent landowners, and residents of the area.

Read more info: Lyle Communty Trail System FAQs (PDF)

Check out a map of the area: Lyle Trail Draft Map of Area (PDF)

Mt Hood Fusion Pass

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fusion passThanks to everyone who rallied out to Double Mountain in support of 44 Trails last week. The event was a great success. We sold loads of t-shirts, had a great raffle and raised valuable funds for future trail development with the silent auction. Your support is much appreciated! We were too busy to capture the night with photos, but it was a full house.

We have two more special auction items available: Mt Hood Fusion Passes. These ski passes are good for a full season of riding at Timberline and Ski Bowl. The pass also gets you into the Powder Alliance where you get three free tickets at all partner resorts. You can get the full lowdown on the Fusion Pass and all its perks at www.mthoodfusionpass.com.

You can submit a bid for one of the fusion passes by e-mailing us at 44trails at 44trails.org. The passes are valued at $495 each. The bidding starts at $350 and bidding ends October 31.

44 Trails Association Party

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Hey 44 Trails supporters, don’t forget the party this Thursday eve (10/17) down at

Fall Riding in the Gorge

Fall in the Gorge

Double Mountain Brewing. We’ve got live music, a silent auction, a raffle and, of course, beer by Double Mountain.

Auction items include generously donated products from supporters like Dakine, Kona, Shimano, Oakley, Timberline, and Mt Hood Ski Bowl (who just kicked down two night ski passes!). Money raised goes directly toward helping to defer costs of EIS work and planning costs associated with developing trails on the National Forest.

Come on down between 6 pm and 10 pm to celebrate the completion of the Super Connector Trail and find out what’s next on the trail development list for the 44 zone.

We’ve got new t-shirts and stickers, too!

44 Trails Party!

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44 Trails PartyRally around 44trails.org to help us celebrate a successful summer of trail work and to help plan for the future.

We’re throwing a party at Double Mountain Brewing in Hood River on October 17, 6pm-10pm. There will be a silent auction fundraiser with items ranging from jerseys to complete bikes and gifts certificates from local businesses.

We’ve also got a raffle planned. Raffle tix will be $5/each, and we’ve got a great collection of swag from the bike industry and local businesses alike.

Of course, there’s beer, too, and Arthur Lee Land will rock the house with tunes.

Come on down Thursday, Oct 17 and learn about future 44 Trails projects, get one of our new t-shirts and stickers and support the future of trail development in the 44 Trails zone.