Helens Fest 2010, Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument

Submitted by DAnderson

 Thanks to all who have signed up for the event!  

Helens Fest will be a great experience for all who partake in exploring the Mount St Helens region during the 30th Anniversary of the 1980 eruption.  This is a joint event hosted by the Northwest Trail Alliance and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, in conjunction with the Mount St Helens Institute and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  We will explore little known trails on the west side of the mountain as well as the recently name IMBA epic, the Ape Canyon/Smith Creek Loop trails.  Sandwiched between the two days of riding we will roll up our sleeves and put some sweat equity performing various work projects around the south side of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument that will benefit the Monument and it's users.  We will gather after our day's rides and talk about our experiences around a camp fire.  We'll learn about the mountain and what it did 30 years ago from staff of the Mount St Helens Institute.  Staff from the Forest Service will be with us all weekend riding with us, and directing our work on Saturday.    We'll meet new friends and see old ones!  We are anticipating riders from around the West to participate in this event.   Demo bikes will be available from Trek. 

Ape Canyon Trail, Mount St Helens, WA

Plans call for:

Activities, and back country camping, to be centered around the Marble Mountain Snow Park.

Rides of intermediate to advanced level to be held on Friday and Sunday.

Possible ride locations include:

Friday: Featured rides include: Ape Canyon and Smith Creek Loop (a newly designated IMBA Epic trail), and the relatively unknown trails on the westside: Toutle, Butte Camp, Sheep Canyon and Blue Horse trails.  The Ape Canyon trail can be done as an out and back, or as a loop with the Smith Creek trail.  A ride for more advanced riders who want a great challenge will be on the Wright Meadow and Craggy Peak Trails.  This is the Black Diamond Ride for the weekend, although the Toutle/Butte/Camp/Sheep Canyon/Loowit loop is a second to that! 

Saturday: Work Party Day!  We will be breaking up in to smaller groups, as directed by Gary Walker of the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument and performing a variety of tasks around the south side of the Monument.  Our work will benefit all user groups in the monument!  All participants are expected to partake in one of the work parties!

Sunday: Rides on this day could include an early, and I mean early!, morning ride up to the Plains of Abraham to watch the sun rise!  This is supposed to be an awe inspiring experience.  We may repeat some of Friday rides.  Other rides also include the Boundary Trail from Elk Pass to Ghost Lake; Vanson Peak area; and Siouxon.Upper Butte Camp trail repair

Back country camping will be centered at the Marble Mountain Snow Park.  You will need to bring your own tent, or camper, sleeping bag, water and food.  There is no running water here, and sleeping in the warming shelter is not permitted.  This is back country camping!

Price: $0.00

i hope i can join that

by kunkun - 2011-02-16 16:22

i have nice reference for mountain bike

<a href="http://fixiebike.us">Mountain Bike</a>

Link

by aaliyah - 2010-10-22 03:49

dfb

Helens Fest flickr group

by DAnderson - 2010-07-13 05:51

There is now a flickr Group for Helens Fest.  Check out my photos and the photos of other contributors there.

HFHFHF

Seat Cam Pics from Helens Fest

by bd - 2010-07-11 18:58

[flickr-photoset:id=72157624474724750,size=s]

Last minute sign up

by mtnbiknma - 2010-07-07 11:11

My wife & I have been planning to head up to this area & Aaron just reminded me that Helen's Fest was this weekend.  We will be in the area anyway & could help out on sat if you need more people.  We are heading up Thurs & will plan to camp elsewhere unless a spot opens up.

Thanks,

Mike Haliski

mtnbiknma@gmail.com 

Carpoolin!

by DAnderson - 2010-07-03 13:04

I encourage people to car pool whenever possible. 

I will be going up Thursday, hopefully by mid-day; and might be able to take another rider with me.  Hit reply all on one of the e-mail I've recently sent out to attendees and you should get a response from someone!

 

David

ujelang at gmail dot com

Carpoolin

by Charlie Biggs - 2010-07-02 17:03

I'm taking Thursday off so I can get up there early and maybe get a ride in.  

I will be driving the Emergency Escape Pod and Mountain Bike Research Ford Aerostar.  It will be well-provisioned with water, food and cooking gear, maps, tools, propane, tables, chairs, lanterns and lights (and chargers), tents and a couple of pop-up shelters.

I'll have room for  at least one more, possibly two or three.

-Charlie

Carpoolin

by .matthew - 2010-07-02 10:09

Dave, Is there a better spot to talk carpoolin than this thread?

 I've been driving a lot lately (and have many more trips scheduled throughout the summer) so I'd love to hitch a ride from Portland.

I can go up Thurs night or Fri morning and don't have to be back until late Sun night. I'm drop dead sexy, can offer gas $$, use of bike racks, and smart mouth. ;)

.matthew

 

Helens Fest is approaching!

by DAnderson - 2010-07-01 20:27

Helens Fest is just a week away - already!

Great rides are planned for Friday and Sunday.  Trek will feature great demo bikes.  And, we have quite a few work projects to undertake on Saturday.  Great fun will be had by all!

Friday arrival

by DanS - 2010-07-01 14:07

"For those of you who are unable to arrive on Thursday Please be at Marble Mountain Snow Park by no later than 09:00 on Friday. "

When to get there?

by bd - 2010-06-29 14:30

What time are the rides on Friday? I'm debating over heading up on Friday morning or late-ish Thursday night.



Brent.

Questions? We got answers!

by DAnderson - 2010-06-19 07:21

Do you have questions regarding Helens Fest?  We have answers on the Evergreen website's wiki on Helens Fest!

ac

Helens Fest nearly full again.

by DAnderson - 2010-06-18 06:44

We have received some last minute registrations which means the event is nearly full again!

Once it is closed in a day or two at the most it will probably be the final time the event registration is closed.

If you have registered for the event and have not re-confirmed your attendance please do so asap; or please let us know if you are no longer attending.  This will really help us in our final days of planning.

Don't know if you can tell, but I'm getting excited about the upcoming event!

Registration re-opens for Helens Fest!

by DAnderson - 2010-06-12 06:23

We have a few cancellations for Helens Fest so we're re-opening registration!  Everyone who has registered todate is in.  Go to the top of the Helens Fest page to find the registration.  http://nw-trail.org/node/1454  Since there are only a few spots open I anticipate the event will fill up again rather quickly, so if you procrastinated before - don't do it now!  Sign up today!!

We have a wiki on Evergreen's website for the event and details can be found there as well as updates on this page, and e-mails that will be sent out to participants.

 

 

 

thanks

by thumbprinter - 2010-06-10 20:27

that clears it up for me.  

 wondering about a couple of other raondom details too...  are all the trailheads within riding distance?  or will there be driving involved?   

 also, at some point will there be a rough schedule of events (like a ballpark on what time rides leave) made available?

 thanks very much, really looking forward to this!!

 

Back country and waiting list!

by DAnderson - 2010-06-09 19:12

Yes, evanb, I've not had responses from several people who have confirmed their attendance for the event.  So, go ahead and put your name on the waiting list!  We'll confirm in a week or two final attendance.

Yes, backcountry camping is tent/car camping without running water.  Our center of activity is the Marble Mountain Snow Park parking lot.  There is a shelter here which we can use during the day for meals and meetings, but no sleeping in.  There are spots along both Road 81 and 83 people can camp at; but at those spots people will need to bring shovels to bury human waste.  There are formal campgrouns on Swift and Yale reservoirs and on the Lewis River.  There is a motel in Cougar, the Lone Fir Resort, people can rent rooms or RV spots at.  RV's can be used at Marble Mountain SP as long as they are mindful of noise issues with generators, etc.

I hope this helps answer your questions.

David

any chance of still getting

by evanb - 2010-06-08 12:17

any chance of still getting on the waiting list?

'backcountry' camping?

by thumbprinter - 2010-06-07 21:16

just wondering if someone can clarify this for me - from what it sounds like on the wiki this is more like car camping w/o any facilities beyond the toilets.  'backcountry' conjures up images of back(or bike)packing all of my gear to a semi-remote location, but this sounds more like we will be camping in a parking lot?  can anyone fill me in on what to expect in that department?  

thanks!! 

Helens Fest Information.

by DAnderson - 2010-05-02 07:29

Information on Helens Fest are taking form!  We are updating the wiki found on Evergreen's website, so if you want the latest information you can find it there!  The event is full and has a waiting list.  If you are registered and find that your plans have changed and you are no longer able to attend Helens Fest, please take your name off the registration, so those who are on the waiting list can be confirmed.  Thanks!

This is going to be one fun event!  With Demo bikes from Trek and Diamondback to test ride on the awesome trails around Mount St Helens, who can ask for more?  Great fun and good times - who can ask for more?

KC

 

  Possible to get an

by Joe Rykowski - 2010-03-31 22:09

 

Possible to get an overview of the trail route for rides (at least estimated milage)?  Elevation profile?

Need to know if I should bail when I fail to ride enough miles to get in shape for this. 

 

 

Helens Fest is FULL!!

by DAnderson - 2010-03-30 22:47

Helens Fest 2010 is now full!!  We have 75 people signed up for this exciting event.  Anyone signing up after this date via the Northwest Trail Alliance website will be placed on a waiting list. 

For all of you who have signed up, this will be a great time!  Demo bikes from three different brands; great rides; a time to repay the fun with some fun work; time to talk bikes and trails and relax in the wonderful setting around Mount St. Helens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest!  What could be better than that?

More details to follow soon!bct

Two more spots left.

by DAnderson - 2010-03-20 18:52

Redpoint!  yes, you are in.  There are only two openings left.

If anyone decides they can't make the Fest, please let us know so we can let others sign up!  That would be appreciated.

Thanks Dave!!!  Two of my

by redpoint - 2010-03-29 19:18

Thanks Dave!!!  Two of my riding buddies are already signed up.  Glad I didn't miss the boat :)

Nearly Full

by DAnderson - 2010-02-25 16:36

Helens Fest 2010 is nearly full.   There are only 7 spaces left and then we will start a waiting list.  Evergreen's allotted 50 is taken up.  If you are hoping to go, you'd better sign up now! 

Signing up!

by DAnderson - 2010-02-15 08:12

Yes, sign in, and just a bit below the photo of Dave Blan working on the upper Butte Camp Trail you will see the area to sign up.  It's below the main story, but above the comments.

Please note!!  There is a limit of 75 people for this event.  We currently have, between both the Evergreen and NWTA website 63 people signed up.  Helens Fest is nearly full.  We will put people on a waiting list though once it does fill up.

Dave

lunch

Helens Fest 2010 - sign up now!!

by DAnderson - 2010-02-03 08:18

There are only 11 more spots open on the Helens Fest 2010.

50 people have signed up thru the Evergreen MTB website.  We will be allowing only 11 more people to sign up thru the NWTA website.  If you want to spend three wonderful days of mountain biking, working and have a generally good time - sign up now!  Do not sign up on both websites.

We will have a waiting list.  If Helens Fest is completely full, consider taking part in the 5 day Kettle Fest the following weekend!  see: http://evergreenmtb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Kettle_Fest

west side Mt St Helens, WA"

Evergreen's Helens Fest 2010 wiki site!

by DAnderson - 2010-01-05 18:09

Evergreen has a wiki for Helens Fest 2010.  http://evergreenmtb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Helens_Fest

  Please refer to it for updated information.  It is highly recommended that if you are at all interested in going to sign up now!  We will be limiting attendance to about 75 and there are currently about 30 signed up!  Don't delay!  Do it now!

You will also be able to link to the Kettle Fest as well.

Helens Fest 2010

by DAnderson - 2009-12-14 08:38

Yes, RV's are very doable in the parking lot - there are two huge parking lots here!  And, if you don't run a generator past a reasonable hour there shouldn't be a problem whatsoever!

The trails up there will impress you!  I highly recommend that you sign up for the event - early.  We will be putting a limit of about 70 people on it and we're about a third of the way to the limit right now.

 

Dave

Yeah, I'm all for it!

by Malibu - 2009-12-12 14:16

I'd love to help with prepping new trails for mtb-ing.  Been wanting to try Siouxon and Ape Canyon.  You mention that this is back country camping.  If the camping is based at Marble Mountain Snow Park, is an RV in the lot do able?  I don't have the tent and back country gear.