May 2015 - 44 Trails Association44 Trails Association

OK 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!

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

Thanks 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.

Over 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!