White River Fire Closures

white river fireIt’s Fire Season

Fire season has kicked into gear. A fire located in the White River area of the Mt. Hood National Forest is causing road and trail closures adjacent to popular 44 Trails riding areas. You can get the latest details on White River fire closures on the InciWeb site.

At this time, popular trails like Knebal, High Prairie, 15 Mile, 8 Mile, Surveyor’s, etc are all open.

White River Fire Closures

The main areas impacted by fire closures include Crane Creek, Crane Prairie, Boulder Lake, Forest Creek, Hidden Meadows, Bonney Meadows. Bennett Pass is also effected. Anyone planning to head that way should re-evaluate their plans and read the detailed fire closures information.

 

 

Mt Hood National Forest Campfire Ban

mt hood single track mt bikingAugust 5, 2020: The USFS has announced a campfire ban on the Mt Hood National Forest. The ban applies to all camping – developed or not – in and around the 44 Trails zone. The trails remain open and rideable!

Campfires prohibited on Mt. Hood National Forest

Due to dry and hot conditions, campfires are now prohibited across the Mt. Hood National Forest, including in developed campgrounds.

All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited under a Forest Order.  Portable cooking stoves and lanterns using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off.

July was much drier than average, and August and September are predicted to have higher than average temperatures.  These conditions will continue to increase the risk of wildfire- especially on the east side of the forest.  At the same time, Mt. Hood is experiencing extremely high visitation, increasing the number of preventable fires.

Forest Service crews extinguished over 100 abandoned campfires across the Mt. Hood National Forest in July.  With the current dry, hot conditions any wildfire start poses a greater threat to firefighter safety, public safety, and personal property.  This year every preventable fire also increases our firefighters’ risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, which could impact our ability to respond to fires as the season continues.

“We know campfires are a big part of camping, but this year especially we all need to do our part to prevent wildfires,” said Dirk Shupe, Fire Management Staff Officer for the Mt. Hood National Forest.  “Fires caused by abandoned or escaped campfires create unnecessary risk for firefighters, our communities, and the forest.”

More forest information and the full text of the Forest Order is on the Mt. Hood National Forest website at:https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire.  The forest also shares recreation, fire, and safety updates on its Facebook and Twitter accounts at: @MtHoodNF.

For more information about the local and regional fire outlook visit: https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/predict/outlook.aspx

USFS Opens Day Use – 44 Trails Status

44 mountain bike trailsThe Mt. Hood National Forest is reopening most developed day-use and trailhead sites to recreational users beginning Friday May 29, 2020. This includes the 44 mountain bike trails!

Recreation Managers are coordinating with campground concessionaires, completing spring maintenance, and training seasonal staff. Several sites will not open immediately, including most campgrounds. These sites will open slowly as they are assessed for public and employee safety.

For a complete list of open and closed recreation sites, please check the Mt. Hood National Forest’s website: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/conditions

Some facilities, such as vault bathrooms, may not be maintained daily.  It is recommended that all visitors be prepared to provide for their own sanitation and be as self-contained as possible while recreating.

As far as 44 Trails status – the following trails have been logged out and are rideable:

SuperConnector #449
Lookout #450 (upper elevation still has snow)
44 Trails is 100% volunteer run – all donations go directly to trail maintenance
Please remember E-bike use is prohibited on non-motorized trails within the Mt Hood National Forest – read more about E-bike regulations

44 Trails Work Party Saturday, June 29


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

44T-surveyors ridge trailBig 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

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!

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


Trailwork Day Oct. 20, 2018

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!

Surveyor's Ridge Trail Reroute

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

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.

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 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!

Surveyor's Ridge Trail Reroute

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.

Go Beyond Racing Donates $1K to 44 Trails Association

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

Wy'East Wonder

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

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

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 BicyclesDirty Finger Bike ShopMountain View Cycles

USFS Hood River DistrictUSFS Barlow District