ODF statement on Downhill mountain Biking in the Tillamook State Forest
On the 24th of June, the District Foresters and Recreation Managers for the Tillamook and Forest Grove Districts will be meeting to develop a policy for managing Downhill mountain biking in the Tillamook State Forest. I have been informed that they will be discussing the following...
- How to deal with unauthorized trailbuilding activities.
- Whether or not they will engage volunteer groups to adopt, develop, and maintain DH trails.
- Decide whether or not to move forward with Westside Trail Federation's vision for a "pilot" DH trail and skills area north of HWY 6.
This meeting will basically decide whether or not they want to know about the DH riding that is happening in our State Forest. About a decade ago, ODF specifically noticed (and wrote into their Recreation management plan) the need for "more challenging" mountain bike trails. After 9 years of basically ignoring this groundwork, it's time to make a decision. We should be hearing by July whether or not ODF is going to recognize this user base as legitimate. Which is crazy in my mind, ODF is currently working with the BRMBA guys in Falls City and the Shellburg guys in Silverton!!?
Anyways, this is HUGE. This will decide if we will be riding (DH) legally or illegally in the Tillamook State Forest. For more info on the subject-> http://westsidetrailfederation.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=180
Ryan McLane
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Nice work
Hey Ryan, Tom here, met you at the Stub trail build.
I didn't post on the WTF, but wanted to let you know that was a great statement that WTF sent to the ODF. WTF has done a lot of hard work to move this issue forward. It's interesting how different land managers have such a different take on user groups (BR vs TSF, for example, as you noted).
DH/FR users are underserved, and dedicated trails (that definitely have a user base that's willing to put in the work to maintain/build said trails) would also help reduce conflicts w/in the MTB community. Plus, every XC rider could benefit from a day at a place like BR to develop skills.
Keep pushing and keep us informed on what develops.
-Tom
Pivotal crossroads.
Pivotal crossroads.
This is it... 5 years of dialogs with ODF and demonstrating we're committed to helping ODF... (you've been the point man on that)... And it's the final hours. Either there's acknowledgement by Forest Grove district that there is a need for DH/FR trail network in TSF - and that it's time to proceed, or they decide there isn't...
Good luck!
I'll be leading a ride/work group at Stub that evening. (rescheduled from last Monday). But good thoughts your way while we're working on finishing up some single-track at Stub...
Thanks guys, it's really
Thanks guys, it's really not up to us anymore. If you NWTA guys knew half of the groundwork we (Freeriders of the Westside) have had to do for ODF, you'd call us crazy (but then you probably do already...). Definately not a lack of effort on our part. If anyone would ever like to know, let's go grab a beer (or 12) and make sure you have several hours open.
I just hope all that time and work doesn't go to waste. We will see I guess...
Where the heck around here can I Freeride/Downhill legally?
No place local... (as I
No place local... (as I know you know...)
100 miles to Black Rock Mountain Bike Area (near Falls City), or 95+ miles to Post Canyon. That's it. No place for a quick evening ride - its all weekend stuff.
There is also movement with L.L. Stub Stewart State Park though (more news coming this summer) - if you are on the Westside of portland, then there's potential for a "freeride skill area" within the mountain biking specific area of the park (again, just a smallish skill park not a full blown "destination network" as proposed by W.T.F. in TSF).
(The stub single-track that's being constructed right now is cross-country specific but there's potential to also enhance that for all-mountain - hoping to have completed later this summer so it's open and ridable this season).
For Portland, there's the proposal for Gateway Green park (planning stages) to include a Freeride skill park. So there's hope!
General thoughts: DH needs at least 3 miles of optimal terrain to be compelling for users. Ideally, having multiple skill level options is a good thing - get the beginners using the trails, they quickly progress to Intermediate... and some will progress to the Advanced stuff. The advanced stuff would be used for series of DH race events - like for the Black Rock Flow Cup.
The Tillamook State Forest "mountain biking zone 1" has some ideal topography for an epic DH trail network. Size of area is 11,000+ acres (more than 10 times the size of Black Rock). Lots of access options with the network of existing fireroads too - so it's shuttable.
Man, I hope ODF - Forest Grove district - makes the right decision.
An army of volunteers await
An army of volunteers await the decision of tomorrow's meeting. What an opportunity to turn a bunch of naysayers and skeptics into an organized workforce. Good thoughts...good thoughts...
Where the heck around here can I Freeride/Downhill legally?
The internal Oregon
The internal Oregon Department of Forestry (Forest Grove district) meeting happened June 24th.
Ryan McLane at 8:03pm June 25 "Still no word from ODF."
W.T.F. will make their reply known as soon as we hear back.
Looking forward...
...to hearing the decision. Hopefully it will be great news.
Perhaps they're just trying to determine just "how many" sites they'll allow cyclists to build on.... :)
Favorable news.
Favorable news. Unfortunately, I cannot say much more until we meet with ODF and outline what the next steps are. Forgive me for I will continue being pessimistic, We have had favorable news (from ODF) in the past which turned out to be false alarms. Will keep fighting, admist the good news, until we have that first build day...
The next step is having Ryan K, Wayne N, Joe R, and I meet with ODF staff and understand the final process we have to go through to start flagging trail.
Ryan M
Where the heck around here can I Freeride/Downhill legally?
Volunteer
Volunteer Trail Builders concept for DH trails on Larch Mountain (Tillamook State Forest). Click image for larger view (also see Message Board thread below for other views).
W.T.F.
volunteer trail builders will be talking thru this with ODF on Monday.
Getting a real timeline for when we could begin digging will be top
of the list of issues to get real answers about. More than several
years of dialog has happened already between volunteer builders and ODF
recreation managers, and good amount of time has been spent on
educating about what we want and why it makes sense. We're past the
milestone where ODF managers have bought in to the concept - we're no
longer talking about "what we want and why", we're now talking about
"when" and "how". This is still in planning phase, but taking time to
collaborate with the land manager is now expected to have payoffs (just
like pushing up that mountain - it's now time to _really_ get the race
face on... and commit to the line - visualize it, do what needs done,
and put this thing on the ground!)
More
info will come after Monday - after builders meet with land managers to
present. This is a process, and while good progress is being made -
there's still nothing to get over excited about. Planning is
planning. Our understanding is that this will go into required period
of time when opened up to "public input" - prior to it being "shovel
ready"... No timeline yet.
If interested in initial concept, then read W.T.F.'s Vision for DH/FR in TSF , or jump into the trail builder thread about this project and ask questions/provide input... http://westsidetrailfederation.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=953
I know what yer
I know what yer probably thinking already… and the answer (posted by
Ryan to that discussion thread on W.T.F. trail building forum):
“About 4.5 miles in length and drops over 2200 vertical feet. This
is going to be a monster! The amount of volunteers willing to help will
determine the fate of this project.”
W.T.F. trail manager
W.T.F. trail manager volunteers will be meeting with ODF Forest Grove district recreation manager end of July to discuss in detail what the next steps to get trail on the ground (it's pretty well drafted out and been discussed over many meetings, but we'll be making it official).
Over past couple years, volunteers have scouted one entire spine trail and a potential skill area, as well as lots of other potential areas (where terrain not as suitable for trail)... Identified another good potential trail corridor that we'll be scouting out the length of over this summer.
By Spring, when we'll be having volunteer trail work parties to put trail on ground, we'll have good idea of exactly which sections we want to build out first.
Since this is all shuttlable (for DH-specific remember), there's parking considerations that have been taken into account too - and that will dictate where we start building (well that, and what the snow situation is - top of trails are at ~3,000 feet with bottom at ~1,000).
Ryan McLane (ryanm@westsidetrailfederation.org) has been the primary trail volunteer lead on this project.
Tillamook State Forest
Tillamook State Forest district manager and both recreation manager of Tillamook district and Forest Grove district (both sides of the forest) meet last month to discuss W.T.F.'s proposal for "purpose-built, one-way, single-track" network (i.e. Downhill and Freeride trail network) on the Tillamook.
There was agreement this is a use which they would like to provide more facilities for (first step was to sign adopt-a-trail agreement with builders of a social/user built DH-specific trail near Reeher's camp - which demonstrates the need for DH trails).
There will be a follow-up meeting end of July to discuss next steps with Westside Trail Federation trail project lead for TSF (Ryan McLane).
note: The district manager said he'd like to see us begin building new DH-specific trails on Larch Mountain by Spring 2010.
There's still more than a few hurdles to work thru, but this is all very positive stuff.
update- 9/10
Last night's meeting with Randy Peterson went well. Ryan Kilgren, Dave
Carter, and I, Ryan McLane were present. Here's a run-down:
TRAC/SFAC/ODF-Internal Review
These are the last remaining steps before we are allowed to break ground.
TRAC
(Tillamook Recreation Advisory Committee) is made up of "point people"
from all TSF recreation users (Hunting, Equestrian, Hiking, ATV, MT
Bike...) Purpose of this committee is to be able to keep all groups
informed of current issues, provide feedback on projects, new
development, and to keep everyone up to date on the general "goings on"
within ODF and the TSF. We will need to present our proposed trail plan
to this committee to seek feedback. We shouldn't have any snags with
this group as there is no other recreation use in the area in question
except hunting- but what areas of the forest are exempt from hunting
(get my drift)? Next meeting should take place in the October-November
timeframe and we will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
SFAC
(State Forest Advisory Committee) is made up of more high-level ODF
staff. Primary concerns are the questions- how much is this going to
cost? will it affect timber board-feet production? why here?... It
sounds as if they just want a general overview of the project and not
"specifics". The next meeting is scheduled for October 23rd and it's
not known if we can get on the agenda in time. Our hope is that we will
be able to get on the agenda and provide a short overview presentation
about the project to the committee. Randy will be speaking with the
District Forester about trying to get us on the October 23rd agenda.
CROSS YER FINGERS!!! If we can't get on the agenda, the next meeting
will be in the January-February timeframe. Earlier the better,
obviously.
ODF Internal Review
Internal Forest Grove District
ODF staff needs to review the project proposal and provide comment.
They will want specifics such as- what roads are we talking about?,
what other scheduled timber operations may this affect?, what is the
use type?, how is this going to work?, who is wtf?, what is this going
to cost? etc... This will most likely be the final review after TRAC
and SFAC. They will review and provide feedback.
Development of WTF/TSF DH trail proposal
In
the past month, we have been working on putting together a "pitch"
document (if you will) that can be given to someone unfamiliar with the
use type and area and understand how this is going to work. There are 2
parts of this document. Part 1 has the overview information of the
project such as who is westside trail federation?, what are our goals?
what is gravity-assisted mountain biking?, what are some common
features of a trail network of this type?, why have we chosen this
area?. Part 2 is a combination of maps and map interpretations. There
will be a series of maps and guidance documents to guide the reader in
understanding elements of the proposed trail network. Map 1's purpose will be to align the reader of where the area of question is in regards to NW oregon. Map 2
will focus on all areas of the Forest Grove TSF district lands and be
graded on what areas are best suited to be developed in the future for
DH use. Areas will be ranked on the following criteria- how close to
Metro area, how close to hwy's, terrain type, how close to other uses,
potential for user conflict, etc. Map 3
will divide the area of question into 4 regions- the interpretation
will provide details of each region (what type of terrain, road
infrastructure, user conflict, system flow and evolution, etc. Map 4
will break down the proposed trail segments and corridors into laymen's
terms; What are the difficulty/skill levels of the trail corridors
going to facilitate, where are the road crossings, parking areas,
skills area locations, etc.
We discussed this document (which is
95% completed) and there will be some adjustment/modification in the
next week. Current state- http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AfGOZyLot7-RZGdkY3Q3OHhfNXo4aGM4cmdi&hl=en
Hopefully
next week we will be able to get the maps completed and the entire
document sent to ODF. This will help our chances of getting on SFAC's
October agenda and dare I say it- start building earlier in the build
season?
That's about it- we did plenty more at the meeting but I
don't want to bore you all with the details. Bottom line- we're in the
home stretch...
Ryan