Stub trail building - XC - Nov/Dec project location

Submitted Tue, 11/08/2011 - 4:51pm by Joe Rykowski

Come help build mountain bike trails at Stub Mountain Bike Area!   This is a NWTA signature project and work party events are scheduled for every 2nd Saturday thru June 2012!  Sign-up on event calendar so we know how many to expect.   Tools, food and beverages provided (hint: Hopworks is sponsor).   Post comment to event if looking to carpool.

What are we building?   Single track!   Cross-country and all-mountain specific.   If looking to build something more exciting than plain ol' single track, then hook up with the Westside Trail Federation volunteer crew that's building Stub freeride trail area (event happening Nov 12 and Nov 26 with many more planned).

You can help put trail on the ground that you'll ride...

Nov/Dec Stub project mapclick Read More for additional project details.

As the Event calendar details for the upcoming Saturday, November 12th "Stub trail building - XC" work party mentions... our area of focus will be on the south trail within Stub Mountain Bike Area.   We are digging trail towards the North where eventually will link with existing (and open for riding) single track (there's already a switchback trail started up north which is shown).

Come help build single track!  You won't be sorry...

Stub Stewart State Park Freeride Area- 4/11 Update ›

interested in becoming a trail steward volunteer?

by Joe Rykowski - 2011-11-13 08:37

There are now two trail stewards working under the adopt-a-park agreement between OPRD and NWTA - Robert Clark and myself - but there's enough "to do" lined up that another trail steward (or two) wouldn't hurt to make sure the various projects move forward at a better pace.

There isn't an established process for "becoming a trail steward volunteer", however there's a general set of attributes which would make for a successful steward:

 

1. self-starter   - "do more, whine less."  "git R dun!"  "the trails aren't going to build themselves"  "the world is ruled by those who simply show up"  2. personality / people skills ("leadership" qualities) - getting job done is half the battle but also leading/inspiring/not pissing people off is the other balancing act...  3. understand sustainable trail building principals - basically, IMBA Trail Solutions guidelines but also understanding the trail plan established for the specific project (in this case Oregon Parks & Recreation and NWTA/Westside Trail Federation collaborated on the trail build plan - I've got a link to it someplace... let me know if interested in reading it - there's lots of pretty pictures too!).  If you'd like to step into more of a project leadership role with NWTA, then there's opportunities to do that!   At Stub Stewart State Park as well as other locations (I'm sure). Contact volunteer@nw-trail.org or TomS@nw-trail.org.  You can also contact me directly if interested in more info about becoming trail steward at Stub... joer@nw-trail.org  

11/12 work party update

by Joe Rykowski - 2011-11-13 08:48

We had 8 volunteers out in the south area digging single track.   Did finishing work on last section hit when crew was on site last time, then started pushing forward with brand new single track - fresh trail on the ground!

The weather was ideal for a November in Oregon, and rain held off until late in afternoon so noboby got as wet and muddy as expected.    We hiked back out by 1pm and were indulging in sandwiches and chips provided by NWTA and a variety of pints donated by Hopworks in support of the volunteer trail builders doing their thing.

It was a solid work party, and I'm looking forward to next months already!   Dec 10th is the date.  it's on the nw-trail.org event calendar - I'm signing up for it right now!

bonus! trail volunteer crew with chanterelle's harvested...

by Joe Rykowski - 2011-11-14 15:57

With OK from the ranger who was out helping us with trail constuction on 11/12, the crew harvested some Pacific Golden Chanterelle's that were in abundance throughtout the area we were building trail...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_golden_chanterelle

Here's the crew with their fresh picked treasures...


(thanks to Steve Kruger for the pic!)

12/10 work party update

by Joe Rykowski - 2011-12-13 13:08

Focus was on build out of across top of ridge line (we're *finally* at the top after more than a year of digging)... and now it's all sweet sweet terrain to sculpt for a mile across the top.

Volunteer crew of 5 added another 300 feet of trail to the upper ridge line trail of the south Stub mountain bike area.  Weather was cold but not raining.  Worked an extra hour because everyone was feeling good.  Gathered back at Cabin Village meeting hall around a toasty fireplace and enjoyed homemade authentic Lousiana gumbo... along with some pints of Winter ale from Hopworks.

Before...

After... (hey, if you look closely... trail builders really *do* exist! you can see 3 of them here...)

A view of After from the opposite angle...

Next section flagged... Will you come help build this section on January 14th?  Got a long long ways to go and its all hand building...  More who come, then more likely we'll tie into north section before end of 2012.

(thanks to Rob Clark for the pics!)

Christmas projects...?

by Joe Rykowski - 2011-12-13 13:38

There's a couple of maintenance tasks that need to be handled for the north mountain bike area.  Getting approval from park trail ranger to construct the single track around large puddle that forms every winter on Caddy Whomper Way.   Anyone interested in doing a ride at Stub some weekend later this month followed by 30 - 60 minutes of swinging shovels?

 

  • Low area on CW filled with water (large puddle) - flagged alternate single track route around (ST240 winter project?)
  • Drop gravel and spread at top of first drainage crossing

 

There's also these items if we get crazy and do a full work party...

 

  • Complete construction of berm turns at steep section before 1/2 mile XC loop
  • Tunnel log - clear trail/regrade  (log has already been removed)
  • Old Tunnel log location - slice planks for W.T.F.
  • Finalize signage and place actual signs

I can help

by Sara Wright - 2011-12-13 16:52

I am available Saturdays to help build/maintain and ride. Let me know when you want to head to the trail, sarawrig@gmail.com.

Sara

Got conflicting family event

by Joe Rykowski - 2011-12-16 14:06

Got conflicting family event this Saturday (tomorrow), and am down with the sickness anyway... so this weekend is out.

Looking at Friday, December 23rd (have day off from work) and/or Saturday, December 31st.

That will give park staff additional time to do their part - 1) approve the flagged re-route line (around the wet land water issue), and 2) dump a pile of gravel at first drainage crossing.

going to follow up with park contact right now to see about getting those items taken care of before 23rd.

Happy holidays and thanks for your interest in helping out with Stub mountain bike area trails!