44 Trails Work Party Saturday, June 29

Posted on June 27, 2019 by 44trails

We are back at it this coming Saturday, June 29 to continue working on the Surveyor’s Ridge reroute project

Help us create hand-built singletrack!

We will be doing tread work and light brushing of the Surveyor’s reroute.

The new trail creates four miles of singletrack and improves interconnectivity to trails in the vicinity by connecting with the Super Connector, Cooks Meadows and the Superduper Connector.

WHEN:
Saturday June 29, 2019 @ 9am – 2pm
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR at the sign-in and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

Bring your bike and ride after the trail work!

PROJECT:
Light duty brushing and treadwork on Surveyor’s ridge re-route.

TOOLS:
Helmet or Hardhat REQUIRED (bike helmets ok)
Long pants, gloves and work boots REQUIRED
Water – please bring drinking water for yourself
Please bring your own hand tool of choice: Flat Shovel, Spade shovel, McCleod, Loppers, Metal Rake, Pulaskis. Hand Saw

TRAIL CONDITIONS UPDATE
The majority of trails are open! Fifteen Mile, Cedar Creek, Knebal, Bottle Praiire, High Prairie, 450, Eight Mile etc. Bring your bike and rde after the trail day.

Can’t join us? Donate to help fund future trail projects in the 44 zone!

Surveyor’s Ridge Trail Work – June 8, 2019

Posted on June 4, 2019 by 44trails

Big thanks to everyone who joined us on the May 25 work day!
We are back at it this coming Saturday, June 8 to continue working on the Surveyor’s Ridge reroute project

Help us create hand-built singletrack!

We will be doing light tread work and brushing of the reroute. The new trail creates four miles of singletrack and improves interconnectivity to trails in the vicinity by connecting with the Super Connector, Cooks Meadows and the Superduper Connector.

WHEN:
Saturday June 8, 2019 @ 9am – 2pm
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR at the sign-in and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

PROJECT:
Light duty brushing and treadwork on Surveyor’s ridge re-route.

TOOLS:
Helmet or Hardhat REQUIRED (bike helmets ok)
Long pants, gloves and work boots REQUIRED
Water – please bring drinking water for yourself
Please bring your hand tool of choice: Flat Shovel, McCleod, Loppers, Metal Rake, Pulaskis.

TRAIL CONDITIONS UPDATE
And more trails are open! You can add Fifteen Mile and Cedar Creek to the list of open trails, which includes: Knebal Springs, Eightmile, Bottle Prairie, Superconnector, Surveyors and Dog River.

Some lingering snow and mud persist above 4500 feet. So High Prairie and 450 are not quite open for riding.

Can’t join us? Donate to help fund future trail projects in the 44 zone!

Save the Date – 2019 Trail Work Schedule

Posted on March 22, 2019 by 44trails

The 44 Trails are still under snow at the moment, but we’ve set our calendar for 2019 trail work days.

First priority is to wrap up the Surveyor’s ridge reroute trail, and then we have more new projects in the works.

All work days are scheduled for 9am-2pm and require longs pants, gloves, helmets (hardhats) and tools. Specific details will post a couple weeks before each trail day.

Add these dates to your calendar with one easy click by downloading the calendar file below!

44_Trails_Work_Parties_2019 Download

May 25 – Surveyor’s reroute
June 8 – TBD
June 29 – TBD
Sept 28 – TBD
Nov 2 – TBD

Trailwork Day Oct. 20, 2018

Posted on October 11, 2018 by 44trails

Fall Trailwork Day Number II – October 20

We need your help to finish the project this fall! Come on up to the 44 zone on Saturday, Oct 20 to help us finish up!

The new route adds single track miles and reroutes the trail away from The Dalles Watershed Pipeline, which is about to get replaced, thus disrupting the original Surveyor’s route. READ MORE about the Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Project and check out project map.

Trailwork Day – Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Project SATURDAY OCTOBER 20, 2018

WHEN: SATURDAY OCTOBER 20, 2018 @ 9am – 2pm
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee at signin thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

PROJECT:
Handbuilt singletrack on Surveyor’s ridge re-route. We are working on a variety stages right now – rough-in, finish work and brushing.

TOOLS:
Please bring your own tools! Flat shovels, polaskis, McLeods, metal rakes, loppers are all good options.

*REQUIRED EQUIPMENT*
Hardhats (bike helmets ok), long pants, work gloves and work boots.

Can’t make it? Make a donation!

Here is the map showing the approximate route of the Surveyor’s Ridge trail project. The existing trail (yellow) will be disrupted by the new pipeline – the new route (blue) shows the tentative routes to connect with the SuperConnector (brown) near the 17 Road.

Fall Trailwork Day – Sept 22

Posted on September 11, 2018 by 44trails

Fall Trailwork Day – Sept 22

Oh yeah, the high country trails just got the first dose of rain in months! And we’ve got a trailwork day on September 22 for our ongoing Surveyor’s Ridge re-route project.

We need your help to finish the project this fall! Come on up to the 44 zone on Saturday, Sept 22 to help us get it done.

Trailwork Day – Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Project SATURDAY Sept 22, 2018

WHEN:
Saturday, September 22, 2018 @ 9am – 2pm (plenty of time for a post-work ride)
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee at signin thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

PROJECT:
Handbuilt singletrack on Surveyor’s ridge re-route. We are working on a variety stages right now – rough-in, finish work and brushing.

TOOLS:
Please bring your own tools! Flat shovels, polaskis, McLeods, metal rakes, loppers are all good options.

*REQUIRED EQUIPMENT*
Hardhats (bike helmets ok), long pants, work gloves and work boots.

Can’t make it? Plan on October October 20 or make a donation!

Go Beyond Racing Donates $1K to 44 Trails Association

Posted on August 16, 2018 by 44trails

Go Beyond Racing – Wy’East Wonder Event Donates $1k to 44 Trails Association

Wy’East Wonder 50M / 50K – image courtesy Go Beyond Racing

Go Beyond Racing held the first annual Wy’East Wonder 50M and 50K trail run event in June. The event, a point-to-point race run mostly on two ridges, featured Gunsight Ridge and Surveyor’s Ridge trails on the 44 Trails network.

It attracted 250 athletes (the max number) and went off without a hitch. Todd and Renee from Go Beyond Racing stepped up to help with trail maintenance before the event and made a generous $1K donation to the 44 Trails Association (as well as the Hood River Valley High School cross country team) after the event.

Thank you Go Beyond Racing for appreciating the 44 Trail network and the work required to keep the trails clear and well maintained!

Go Beyond Racing Wy’East Wonder donation to 44 Trails and Hood River Valley Highschool Cross Country Team

44 Trails is run entirely by volunteer support and all financial contributions go directly toward trail maintenance and infrastructure costs like signage, armoring materials and contract labor.

Mt Hood National Forest E-Bike Closure Rules

Posted on July 17, 2018 by 44trails

E-bike closure policy for Mt Hood National Forest and 44 Trails

As e-bikes gain popularity around the country, it is important to understand that all non-motorized trails on the Mt Hood National Forest – including the 44 Trails network – are closed to e-bike use.

The USFS considers all classes of e-bikes to be “motorized” and e-bikes are permitted only on motorized OHV trails and roads within federal land.

Follow this link to read the full 2016 USFS memo on electric bikes and trail management.

So, this means that the 44 Trails network is closed to all classes of e-bike use. And it does not matter whether you are “using” the e-assist or not. The USFS is posting new signs (pictured above) this week at all trail heads on the 44 network.

Where can e-bikes be used on the National Forest?

E-bikes are permitted on roads and trails in our National Forest that are designated for motorized OHV use. There are several locations on the Mt Hood National Forest including Rock Creek OHV and McCubbins Gulch OHV as well as the National Forest road system. The 44 Trails Association encourages e-bike users to consult local bike shops and the USFS Hood River and Barlow district offices for more details on the OHV areas – see links below.

What should you do if you encounter riders on e-bikes?

Well, most importantly, be nice. We are not looking to add to any divide or create one of our own. But it is important to let e-bike users know that essentially all non-motorized trails on National Forest Land are closed to all e-bike use, but that there are places on the National Forest where e-bikes can be ridden – namely any trail or road designated for motorized OHV use..

Where to get more information on places with e-bike access:

Hood River Bicycles – Dirty Finger Bike Shop – Mountain View Cycles

USFS Hood River District – USFS Barlow District

Surveyor’s Ridge Re-Route Project June 9

Posted on June 4, 2018 by 44trails

The Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Continues on Saturday June 9

Oh yeah, we’re still working on the Surveyor’s Ridge re-route. Come on up tot he 44 Zone on Saturday, June 9 to lend a hand. Can’t make it? Make a donation!

Trail Work Day – Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Project SATURDAY JUNE 9, 2018

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
Hardhats (bike helmets ok), long pants, work gloves and work boots, water.

WHEN:
Saturday, June 9, 2018 @ 9am – 2pm (plenty of time for a post-work-project ride)
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. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

PROJECT:
Handbuilt singletrack on Surveyor’s ridge re-route. We will be doing rough in and route trimming/clearing.

TOOLS:
Helmet/hardhat (bike helmets ok), long pants, gloves, and work boots required.
Hand tools only – Flat Shovels, McLeods, Metal Rakes, loppers, Pulaskis (NO chainsaws necessary).

44 Trails Conditions for Memorial Day Wknd 2018

Posted on May 25, 2018 by 44trails

44 Trails Conditions Report 5/24/18
Singletrack Mountain bike trails on the Mt. Hood National Forest

The long weekend is here and conditions up in the 44 zone are great! Here is a list of trails that have been cleared in the last two weeks:

Surveyor’s Ride
8-Mile
Knebal SPrings
Bottle Prairie
Super Connector
Dog River
Lower Cooks Meadow

Snow is still patchy above 4500 feet, especially in shaded/north-facing areas. Please use good judgment and refrain from riding muddy trails.

44 Trails Summer Trail Work Schedule – help finish the new Surveyor’s Ridge Singletrack

Posted on April 3, 2018 by 44trails

Mountain bike season is warming up in the lower Hood River Valley with excellent trail conditions from Post Canyon to Syncline. It will be another six weeks or more before the 44 single track trails are snow-free and ready to ride but we have our work schedule.