44 Trails Conditions Report Nov 2015

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44 trails conditions reportAttention 44 riders! There is a lot of new blowdown on the 44 trail system thanks to last weekend’s storms.

The rain did great things for the trail tread, but you should be prepared for lots of downed trees.

Even the new Cooks Meadow extension project, which was cleared just two weeks ago, was full of blowdown on Sunday.

It gives you a taste of what it’s like in the spring before we get up and start clearing! If the weather stays mild this winter, we’ll do what we can to do some clearing.

44 Trails conditions report November 2015

Cooks Meadow Extension Day 1

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44 trails trail work day

The motley crew of trail workers – slideshow of images at bottom of page

Well, despite the weather taking a serious shift toward the cold and wet, 44 Trails fans turned out in force for our first day of trail work on the new Cooks Meadow extension trail.

Many thanks to everyone who braved the weather and helped rough in several miles of sweet new hand-built single track!

We had trail users from Bend, Vancouver, Portland, Dufur as well as the Hood River Valley and White Salmon. What a great crew! And, truth be told, the weather wasn’t really too bad. We actually had snow in the air and sun breaks.

A big thanks to our sponsors. The following businesses go out of their way to help make our events a success and deserve your business: Fresh Baked Goods from PINE STREET BAKING, Fresh Coffee from DOG RIVE COFFEE, Great Sandwiches and chips from NEW YORK CITY SUBS, Poster Printing from THE UPS STORE in Hood River, Swag from DIRTY FINGERS BIKE SHOP, Hats from PISTIL DESIGNS, Softwoods from DAKINE, monetary donations from FAT TIRE FARM / HOOD RIVER BICYCLES and THE SIXTH STREET BISTRO.

As much as we’d love for the snow to start stacking up in the hills, we’re hoping to pull off two more trail days! Here’s the dates – stay tuned for updates as the date approaches – if you sign up for our e-mail list, you’ll get the notification about the work day!

Saturday, November 21, 2015
DETAILS: Meet 9am at Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
PROJECT: Tread work

Saturday, December 5, 2015
DETAILS: Meet 9am at Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
PROJECT: Tread work

Cooks Meadow Extension Trail Work – Nov. 1

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2015 trail work scheduleOur November 1st trail day is coming up this weekend!

Meet at 9am at the Little John SnoPark on Highway 35. FYI it’s also the first day of setting our clocks back an hour, so you get an extra hour of sleep to recover from any post-Halloween festivities.

This will be our first volunteer work day on the Cooks Meadow extension and we need your help. It’s looking like it could be wet, so please be prepared for the weather with your favorite wet weather work gear including a helmet (required – bike helmets ok), gloves, boots, etc. We’ll probably work ’til about 2pm and will have sandwiches thanks to New York City Sub Shop in HR. Plus there will be a swag raffle thanks to our sponsors!

At this point, we’ll be doing early stage work, so tools like loppers, flat blade shovels, steel rakes and mcleods are most appropriate.

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

DETAILS:
WHEN:
Sunday, November 1, 2015 – 9 am @ 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:
Early stage tread work and brushing of pin line on the Cooks Meadow Extension trail.

TOOLS:
Wet weather work gear including a helmet (required – bike helmets ok), gloves, boots, etc. Loppers, flat blade shovels, steel rakes and mcleods are most appropriate.

Mt Hood Wilderness

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mt hood wilderness proposal mapOregon Wild is still working to expand the Mt Hood Wilderness designation in the Boulder Lake / Barlow District area of the Mount Hood National Forest. It’s all part of what they call “unfinished business” related to the 2009 legislation which added wilderness status to new sections of the Mt Hood National Forest.

The newest additions sought will impact mountain bike recreation on the Barlow District of the Mt. Hood National Forest by closing access to bikes. Specifically, the Boulder Lake zone and the various rides that connect to that area will become closed to bikes. Mt bike access was already impacted by the 2009 Wilderness legislation and this proposal expands the impact.

At this point, the best way to voice your opinion on the proposal is to write our regional reps in the House and Senate – Walden, Wyden, Blumenauer. For those who would like to offer their opposition to increased wilderness designation, here are a few talking points:

  • Between wilderness designation and Bull Run watershed protection, the Mt Hood National Forest has very limited access for multi-use recreation. Adding wilderness designation to more areas further limits an already small multi-use trail system.
  • Contrived wilderness segments with preserved road access weaken the Wilderness Act by not staying true to the Act’s original intent.
  • These are lands which should be managed primarily for recreational value— the areas with true wilderness values on Mt. Hood have already hold wilderness designation.
  • Putting the wilderness blanket over these lands makes it difficult to manage them for recreational value — ie. trail maintenance and construction is limited to hand tools so all blowdown must be cleared without mechanized help (chainsaws).
  • We debated these same areas before the 2009 legislation was passed.  The current wilderness designation reflects a compromise that was reached between interested parties. Now, we’re being asked to compromise on the compromise.
  • The 2009 wilderness designation resulted in the loss of approximately 100 miles of multi-use trails and roads. Traffic and use on the remaining multi-use trails in the system has increased to the point that these trails are showing increased signs of wear and tear, requiring more maintenance.

 

Fire Closure – Mt Hood National Forest

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Badger Lake fire mt hoodIf you have not heard, there is a fire near Badger Lake on the Barlow District of the Mt Hood National Forest.

It’s not directly affecting the bulk of the 44 Trails zone, but there are a number of closures to consider if you are headed up to the area, most notably High Prairie, Gumjuwac, Gunsight and most everything adjacent to Badger lake including the Boulder Lake.

Badger lake Fire mapHere’s the latest official info from the USFS. 

Media Information Line: 503-668-1791/503-668-1776
Public Fire Information: (541) 467-2291
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

10/6/15 UPDATE:

The Badger Lake Fire is approximately 60 acres in size and burning in heavy dead and down timber. The fire is located northwest of Badger Lake in the Badger Lake Wilderness. Steep terrain, limited road access and an abundance of snags (standing dead trees) pose challenges for firefighter safety. Retardant was dropped on Forest Road 3550 yesterday with the goal of keeping the fire within the wilderness. Additional retardant has been ordered. Two helicopters continue to work on the fire.

The Badger Lake Fire began on Saturday, October 3, 2015. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Base Camp for the Fire is at Badger Lake Campground.

An area closure is in effect for the area surrounding the fire to protect public and firefighter safety as crews work to contain the fire. The closure includes roads, trails and developed recreation sites. Please contact the Barlow Ranger Station for details or the website address below.

PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES: Approximately 70 personnel, including 2 20 person crews, 4 Type 6 Engines, 1 Type 1 helicopter, and 1 Type 2 helicopter, and 12 rappellers.

SPECIAL MESSAGES/CLOSURES: An area closure is in effect for the Badger Lake Fire. For more information on the closure go to the Mt. Hood NF Closure webpage.

Badger Lake Fire Closure
Effected roads:

  • 3500640 Closed
  • 3500641 Closed
  • 3500642 Closed
  • 3500660 Closed
  • 3540000 Closed
  • 3540011 Closed
  • 3540012 Closed
  • 3540630 Closed
  • 3540640 Closed
  • 3540641 Closed
  • 3550000 Closed
  • 3550620 Closed
  • 4860000 Closed
  • 4860140 Closed
  • 4860160 Closed
  • 4880000 Closed
  • 4891000 Closed
  • 4891120 Closed

Effected Trails:

  • 465         PINE CREEK Closed
  • 477         BADGER CREEK CUTOFF Portion Closed
  • 458         DIVIDE Closed
  • 478         CRANE CREEK Portion Closed – North End
  • 464         CRANE PRAIRIE Portion Closed
  • 466         THREE MILE Closed
  • 479A      BADGER LAKE Closed
  • 480         GUMJUWAC Closed
  • 680         JEAN LAKE Closed
  • 467         POST CAMP Closed
  • 477A      WEST FORK Closed
  • 685B      CAMP WINDY Closed
  • 463         BOULDER LAKE Portion Closed
  • 493         HIGH PRAIRIE Closed
  • 685         GUNSIGHT BUTTE Closed
  • 479         BADGER CREEK Portion Closed (West of Bonney Crossing)

Effected Rec Sites are

  • Badger Lake C.G. Closed
  • Camp Windy C.G Closed
  • Bonney Meadows Closed

Cooks Meadow Trail Project

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2015 trail work scheduleWe got the go ahead from the USFS and we’re ready to get to work on the Cooks Meadow Extension project!

All trail days are rain or shine. Please dress for the weather. Hand tools, drinking water, HELMETS (required – bike helmets ok), gloves and work shoes recommended. We’ll post a few more details on what to bring the week before the trail day.

Want to more about the trail? check out the map

Here is our fall 2015 work schedule:

Sunday, November 1, 2015
DETAILS: Meet 9am at Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
PROJECT: Early stage tread work. lopping, brushing of pin line

Saturday, November 21, 2015
DETAILS: Meet 9am at Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
PROJECT: Early stage tread work. lopping, brushing of pin line

Saturday, December 5, 2015
DETAILS: Meet 9am at Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
PROJECT: Early stage tread work. lopping, brushing of pin line

Cooks Meadow Extension Approved

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view of mt hood from cooks meadow extension trail

view of mt hood from cooks meadow extension

Well, it took a little longer than we were hoping, but the Hood River Ranger District just approved the proposed Cooks Meadow Extension Trail that we have been hoping to begin work on this fall.

44 Trails Association would like to thank all who commented and added their support  during the public process for the new trail.

cooks meadow extension map

map of area

The new trail will move the route off of the 4410 road and create approximately four miles of new single track! A short section (2/10 of a mile) at the very top, which crossed the High Prairie Meadow, was adjusted based on public comment. Although it would have been nice to roll through the meadow, we can live with 2/10 of a mile on the road to connect to the parking lot.

You can read the full Cooks Meadow decision document from the district ranger here.

We will announcing our work party schedule before the end of September and hope to hold at least one trail work day this October. Stay tuned for details or sign up for our e-mail list to be notified automatically.

Once completed, the Cooks Meadow extension will connect the lower Cooks Meadow trail with High Prairie and the 450 trail, creating a new loop ride and further working toward our goal of an interconnected trail system worthy of destination riding on the Mt Hood National Forest.

44 Trails Map

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44 trails mapWe recently completed a digital map of the 44 Trails area that is designed for use on your mobile device. The geo-referenced PDF is viewed with the free Avenza PDF Map App (available for iPhone, Android and Windows phones). The map shows your location, offers your coordinates and allows you to navigate.

At this point, we’ll call it a beta version of the map, as we have not been able to check every trail. Think of it as a good general reference.

You can get your free copy of the map by signing up for our e-mail list. Once you sign up, you’ll get an e-mail that includes a download link for the map.

How to get the free 44 Trails Mobile Map:

1. Download the Avenza Map App (free) on your mobile device.
2. Sign up for our mailing list and a link to download the 44 Trails map will be sent to you.
3. Open 44 Trails map with Avenza on your device

The map is for general reference only and is provided without a warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Use of this map is at your own risk and discretion.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive the 44 Trails Map for free!

TrailGate 2015 Success!

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44 trails mountain bikingThanks to everyone who turned out for TrailGate 2015!

We had a great crew and a great day up on the 44 trail system. The weather was great, trails were ridden, bikes demoed, food eaten, music played and a good time had by all. We estimate over 200 people participated in the event.

We owe a big thanks to sponsors: Timberline Lodge for grilling up the food, Hood River Bicyclesfor serving up great demo bikes, Lets Get Out for organizing kid events, the USFS for the permit and attending the event, plus the band – Cripple Hop for setting the atmosphere with great bluegrass and their own imusic!

Plus all of our swag contributors deserve a shout out including: Mountain View Cycles, Dirty Fingers Bicycles, Dalles City Cyclery, Pfriem Family Brewers, Full Sail Brewing Company, Camp 1805 Distillery, Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, Brian’s Pourhouse, DAKINE, Pine Street Baking, Northwest Graphic Works, Solstice Wood Fire Cafe & Bar.

Trailgate 2015 may be over but the trails are still open to riding. So if you missed out on the event, get up there and enjoy the trails for a chance to enjoy the best single track on the Mount Hood National Forest.

Trailgate 2015

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Trailgate Event PosterTrailgate on Saturday, July 11 is only two days away!

The weather forecast for Saturday is looking excellent. Saturday is forecast to offer sunny skies and 65-70 degrees, a nice change from the 90+ temps we have been experiencing.

Trailgate is an opportunity 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, grab a cup of coffee compliments of Dog River Coffee and 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).

Families can enjoy pedaling the Eightmile trail and kid focused ecology events at Billy Bob hosted by the USFS and Let’s Get Out

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!