NWTA proposal submitted to OPRD for XC singletrack at Stub
The following was approved by the NWTA board, and I have submitted this to the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department under their draft policy for engaging proponent user groups for trail projects.
July 31, 2009
Overview
This is a proposal submitted on behalf of Northwest Trail Alliance for construction of new singletrack
trails within L.L. Stub Stewart State Park in designated mountain
biking specific area of park. Vision is for mountain biking specific natural surface singletrack trails
which would extend along east side of Hares Canyon and link with
existing shared-use paths. Variety of trails would be designed for
use primarily by Beginner to Intermediate cross-country mountain bike riders including short branch options for Intermediate ("More Difficult") all-mountain riders with variety of skill challenge features as appropriate for users. Upper
canyon trail would be 2 - 3 miles in length, and a lower canyon trail
would be 2 - 3 miles both linking at south end of park with an existing
path and/or Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail. These trails would be
integrated with proposed technical trails (Freeride, Downhill,
All-mountain) and skill area. Construction of singletrack trails and
technical trail features (TTF's) would be handled by local volunteers
organized by Northwest Trail Alliance. Ongoing maintenance and
inspection would be facilitated by Northwest Trail Alliance designated
volunteer trail manager(s).Other Local Facilities
There
are shared-use trails within 10 miles of park which offer many more
miles of trail, but not purpose built for use by mountain bike users
(e.g. mix of users and no bermed turns). Facilities include Wilson
River trail, Gales Creek trail, Banks-Vernonia Linear State Trail, as
well as a variety of existing shared-use natural surface trails within
Stub Stewart State Park suitable for mountain biking.Proposed Location
Starting
at North end of L.L. Stub Stewart State Park within designated mountain
biking area on east side of Hares Canyon extending from east boundary
and following south along canyon to connect with existing shared-use
paths. Trails would be designed primarily for a North-to-South flow
of users, but riding in either direction will be expected. (map shows
solid blue lines where existing singletrack trails constructed during
2009, and dotted line indicates rough proposed route for continued
extension of cross-country singletrack flowing along contours of
terrain).Terrain scouting has partially been conducted by local
volunteer trail builders. Note that proposed trails are geographically
separated (by gully drainages) from other areas of park. This helps
with user dispersal as well as aids with risk management - users
accessing singletrack trails would need to have a certain level of
skill simply to reach the area - they would also be passing thru main
access trailhead off Hares Canyon trail to mountain biking area
(serving as another "filter" point).In addition to new
singletrack design, building, and maintenance, this proposal is for
NWTA to undertake collaborative maintenance aspects of cross-country
singletrack which was initially begun by Westside Trail Federation
trail builders in 2009. Upper section of this trail would be partially
utilized by users accessing the proposed technical skill trails and
small skill park area (this section of trail is located on the upper
1/3 section of proposed North-to-South cross-country singletrack
network).
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Background about Northwest Trail Alliance
Oregon nonprofit corporation, tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
The Northwest Trail Alliance was originally founded in 1988 as an
advocacy group known as Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP). PUMP
volunteers did trail work, and advocated for mountain biking and
trails, for more than 20 years in and around the Portland area. In
February 2009, with new energy and direction, PUMP rebranded, doubled
the size of its board, and changed its name to the Northwest Trail
Alliance. The change has brought a new focus and ideas to the
organization which continues to exist for the purpose of advocacy on
behalf of the sport, community education about the sport, building and
maintaining all types of off-road bicycling trails, and riding the
trails.Mission: NWTA is an alliance of mountain bikers and off-road cyclists dedicated to
creating, enhancing and protecting riding opportunities in NW Oregon
and SW Washington.
- We advocate for trail access.
- We promote responsible mountain biking.
- We build and maintain sustainable trails.
- We love riding them.
Background about Joe Rykowski
Volunteer project lead for singletrack cross-country trails for this proposal on behalf of Northwest Trail Alliance.
Local
mountain biker and
volunteer trail builder. Member of NWTA since 2009. Member of
International Mountain Bike
Association since 2004. One of the 2006 founders of Black Rock
Mountain
Bike Association (http://brmba.org) Salem-based Oregon
non-profit/501(c)(3) working with Oregon Department of Forestry to
design, build, and maintain the Black Rock Mountain Biking Area near
Falls City, Oregon. One of the 2007 founders of Westside Trail
Federation
(http://westsidetrailfederation.org) Hillsboro-based Oregon non-profit
collaborating with Oregon Department of Forestry to design (and
eventually build and maintain) a Downhill-specific trail network in
Tillamook State Forest. Attended 2006 World Mountain Biking Conference
/ IMBA Summit to learn best practises for trail building and club
development. Since 2008, engaged as a volunteer with W.T.F. to
organize volunteer work parties to assist park trail manager at L.L.
Stub Stewart State Park to build singletrack within designated
mountain biking area.Believe strongly that local mountain
bikers should do more to help land managers build the kinds of trails
they want to ride. That means primarily learning sustainable trail
building best practises, getting organized/engaging other volunteers,
and helping build/maintain trails. Organizations such as "Friends
Of..." and other "Alliance" groups should be engaged to seek funding to
assist with projects specific to mountain biking trails and facilities.Contact Information
Joe Rykowski (jrykowski@gmail.com)
PO Box 4041
Hillsboro, OR 97123Northwest Trail Alliance
818 SW Third Avenue, Box 228
Portland 97204
http://nw-trail.orgPresident, Shane Gould (shane@nw-trail.org)
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Upcoming Events
- Intermediate Women's Ride-Sandy Ridge, May 26, 2012 - 2012-05-26 09:45
- Stub trail building - XC/AM - 2012-05-27 08:45
- Stub Freeride area build day [W.T.F.] - 2012-05-27 09:00
- Women's Group Meeting - 2012-05-29 17:00
- General Membership Meeting - 2012-05-29 18:00
Proposal was reviewed
Proposal was reviewed by Oregon Parks & Recreation Department management staff down in Salem on August 6th.
Word is... proposal is APPROVED for next phase - Planning.
Next week, an official letter will be sent to NWTA by Steve Kruger - the Stub Stewart State Park ranger and trail manager in charge of the trails within park... that will contain the specific details about concerns to be addressed in the plan and what the plan needs to include.
Most of the plan is in draft form already, so shouldn't be difficult to finalize over next few weeks. Will be conducting more terrain scouting to capture more exact proposed routes for XC trails (see map above).
One thing - there's a major drainage crossing (a 3rd one) which will need to be designed, permitted, constructed to link the upper (North) section of XC with the middle and lower (South) sections of XC trail... That's not a small thing (the use permit alone is almost $4,000). Ideally, a fundraising drive by local trail build groups to raise the money to offset cost of permit would be a "good thing" (parks hasn't asked us to do this, but it'd sure be a great advocacy thing to knock out of the ball park!)
Got the official response
Got the official response from Stub park trail manager. Proposal by NWTA has been approved for next step - trail planning. Will be putting lines on map in September and reviewing with park managers. Expect to schedule trail build days starting in October.
There is currently already upper loop which we can continue working on - and there's a 1/4 mile extension to that 1 mile loop which can be built.
When all said and done (over next few years - maybe faster if more people turn out for build days), there will be about 6 miles of mountain bike only single-track (an ridge trail and a lower trail which follows stream) linked into the existing 15 miles of shared use trails within L.L. Stub Stewart State Park.
This also integrates with Westside Trail Federation's proposal (also approved) for a short technical skill trails (freeride) and a sessioning area.
Stay tuned.