44 Trails Update – Winter 2016

Posted on January 25, 2016 by 44trails

Winter is in full swing up in the 44 zone this year, which puts our trail projects on hold until the snow melts back enough to allow access again. In the meantime, we do have a few projects idling in the background. First is the Cooks Meadow trail extension project that we started in the November. Second is the planning process for the second annual Trailgate event to be held in July of 2016. Finally, third is working with other mountain bike and trail advocacy groups regarding Oregon Wild’s “unfinished business” for a proposed expansion of wilderness designation on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Cooks Meadow and the National Forest Foundation
Come spring melt, the Cooks Meadow extension trail project will be a top priority along with the annual logout of downed timber on the 44 trail network. We were awarded a grant in from the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in 2015 to help offset the costs of our annual logout and work related to the Cooks Meadow extension project. We were awarded money under the National Forest Foundation Ski Conservation Fund (SCF). The grant is designed for action-oriented, on-the-ground projects that improve forest health and outdoor experiences on National Forests. Award funds come from guest contributions at ski areas and lodges operating on or adjacent to National Forest. In our case, money came through the Cooper Spur Mountain Resort on Hood’s northeast side. It’s great to have the support of local businesses and their patrons in our efforts to maintain and support the 44 trails! We look forward to getting back on the dirt to put our NFF funding to work this spring!

Trailgate 2016
Last summer, we held our first ever trail day event that focused on riding not working! Trailgate 2015 was a great success. Based out of the Billy Bob SnoPark on Mt Hood’s Barlow Ranger District, we hosted a couple hundred trail users for a beautiful day of pedaling, eating and music. Well, we filed the paperwork with the USFS to host Trailgate 2016 in July. We’ll be sure to keep you posted! You can also sign up for our mailing list (we never share it with anyone) and you’ll receive notices about 44 Trails Association related events and occasional trail news like fire closures, significant trail condition updates and such.

Wilderness Proposal
Oregon 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.

We value our public lands and consider ourselves active stewards of our local forests and trails. We understand the value of wilderness but we do not support Oregon Wild’s expansion plan. We are working with other mountain bike trail advocacy groups including IMBA, OBRA and NWTA to create a unified and intelligent opposition to Oregon Wild’s efforts. We’ll be sure to keep you posted of any significant news on this front. In the meantime, you can read a little more about Oregon Wild’s plan and our reasons for being opposed as well as how and where to voice your opinion.

November 21 Trail Work CANCELLED

Posted on November 20, 2015 by 44trails

We are CANCELLING the November 21 work day due to snow. The 44 road is a mess of frozen snow and slush.

We will look toward December 5 as the next possible work day, weather permitting and will keep you posted here, on FB and via our e-mail list.

Thanks for your support!

Cooks Meadow November 21 Trail Work

Posted on November 18, 2015 by 44trails

Our November 21 trail day is this weekend!

Help us establish the latest new connecting trail on the 44 Zone! The more we get accomplished this fall, the sooner we will be riding the trail!

Meet at 9am at the Little John SnoPark on Highway 35. The weather has made serious turn toward winter. We hope to work on tread development on the upper section of the Cooks extension but have a lower elevation plan if necessary.

As usual, please be prepared for the weather and remember helmets are required – bike helmets ok. Gloves, boots, etc are also part of the program.

We’ll probably work ’til about 2pm and will have sandwiches thanks to New York City Sub Shop in HR.

We’ll be doing light tread work, so tools like lat blade shovels, steel rakes and mcleods are most appropriate.

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

DETAILS:
WHEN:
Saturday, November 21, 2015 – 9 am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
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. Bring a flat blade shovel, steel rake or a mcleod.

questions = 44trails (at) 44trails.org

44 Trails Conditions Report Nov 2015

Posted on November 6, 2015 by 44trails

Attention 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