Stub Mountain Bike Area 2010/2011 scheduled volunteer trail build days
IMBA Trail Care Crew trail builders school on October 2nd kicks off series of build days at Stub to be hosted by NW Trail Alliance.
2010/2011 scheduled volunteer trail build days focused on construction of new single track in Stub Mountain Bike Area at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park:
- Sat, Oct 16
- Sun, Nov 21
- Sat, Dec 11*
- Sun, Jan 16*
- Sat, Feb 12*
- Sun, Mar 20
- Sat, Apr 2
- Sat, Apr 23 added as featured Trail Fest work party
- Sat, May 15 **
All events are rain or shine. Main focus will be on construction of section in south park area to connect to north mountain bike loop.
See Event Calendar for details. New for this build season!... There will be both morning and afternoon groups available (dependent on people signing up to attend group and available crew leader). Sign-up now thru event calendar for events you will be able to help out with! (must be logged in to sign-up)
Tools and LUNCH will be provided for volunteers. Parking is free for volunteers. "Door" PRIZES for participants day of event! Members of NWTA earn points towards end of year raffle event.
Want to make a weekend of it and do some camping/riding? Contact joer@nw-trail.org for info about getting camping fees waived for volunteer work.
* note: depending on snow levels/weather dependent - check nw-trail.org day prior.
** hint: ST240 machine may be delivered by this date! Operator training could be arranged over this same weekend...
Oct 16 volunteer trail build day...
...is quickly approaching. Nobody has signed up yet thru nw-trail.org Event Calendar.
Anybody coming?
It'll be kinda lonely (but not the first time) digging out in the woods all day.
diggers!
Got about 6 people committed. More might show up. Ya never know...
Nov 21 work party - sign-up is open!...
Please sign-up!
Login (at http://nw-trail.org) and sign-up if attending this event so we can plan tasks and know how much to bring for lunch.
Tools provided. Bring gloves, water, and snack (bike optional but highly recommended for transportation). LUNCH provided. RAFFLE for participants.
Check-in at Welcome Center is followed by personal/tool safety talk and overview of tasks to be done this day. Please arrive on time! If you can't make it, notify crew leader. Temp signage will be placed for late arrivals to guide out to project location.
Morning crew leader: Joe Rykowski (joer@nw-trail.org)
Afternoon crew leader: seeking volunteer (contact joer@nw-trail.org)
Winter Weather Advisory - Nov 20th - for Vernonia
The work party at Stub on Sunday, Nov 21st is still on... We will be working at about the 1,000 foot elevation (in case you are wondering). The Banks-Vernonia Trail is at about 400 feet near Buxton/Stub.
Dress warm (with layers!) - it'll be in the low 40's - you'll warm up quickly when hiking to project site and moving some dirt. ;)
Main reason pointing out this advisory is driving... "drivers should be prepared for icy or snow covered roads and winter like driving conditions".
Winter Weather Advisory
(Expires: Saturday November 20 12:00AM PST)
Reminder about upcoming work parties at Stub...
The scheduled dates for NWTA Stub mountain bike area work parties:
Dec 11*; Sun, Jan 16*; Sat, Feb 12*; Sun, Mar 20; Sat, Apr 2; Sat, May 15
Note that Dec, Jan, and Feb will be weather dependent. Be sure to signup thru event calendar to receive last minute updates via email. Login to signup.
Dec 11 work party is ON... Rain, or Rain...
There are 4 people signed up for morning crew, and 3 for afternoon crew. Thanks to all for your support!
Weather forecast is for rain. upper 30's/low 40's. Dress in layers. raincoat suggested. We'll be under tree cover most of time (after check-in at Welcome Center and the work safety/project orientation).
** Bring your bike to get out (and back) between Welcome Center and project location -- about 1.5 mile ride/hike ... **
Focus will be on south area of park digging new single track. Limbing, brush removal, initial rough cut, backslope, sidecast dispersal, and final shaping/tamping. Each task is taken on by one volunteer (or if not that many people then we come back thru to do the later stages).
Lunch and tools will be provided. Bring your own water, snack, and work gloves.
Members time will be reported to point master, so you'll be earning raffle tickets for end of year raffle coming up.
January build days
Today did some maintenance work on the north single track loop. There were 6 downed logs blocking trail which required bucking with chainsaw.
North loop is holding up really well to the winter rains, and appears to be getting regular use. If you have issues to report then update condition report at http://nw-trail.org/wiki/index.php/Trail:Stub_Mountain_Bike_Area (I've got a watch set so will get notified via email if that page changes).
Westside Trail Federation is making progress on the push up trail to the top of Freeride area and on target for Spring build days focused on the down... beginner/intermediate level "freeride" trail (a 5" travel bike would be ideal).
January 16th work party at Stub
The January 16th work party is morning only - unless someone really, really wants to work the afternoon - then arrangements could be made.
Check-in will be at Welcome Center, but please sign-up thru the Event Calendar here on nw-trail.org so we know who to expect AND can communicate any last minute details regarding the work party (i.e. like if road conditions prevent access and we cancel the event, etc.)
Focus will be on south section of single track. We'll be up on the ridgeline with a big push... or, if just a few people show up then maybe within couple of work days we'll be up on the ridge line. For there... the trail is gonna get super fun to dig (and ride).
Jan 16th work party at Stub is ON...
Extended weather forecast looks to put things in the balmy 50's. It'll be rainy, but we'll be under tree canopy for most part. Dress appropriately. You'll get wet, but at least you won't be freezing.
As always... BRING A BIKE if you can, it makes for faster transportation out to the project area.
See ya at Welcome Center on 16th at 9am.
Please please please sign-up if you plan to come... http://nw-trail.org/event/2011/01/2459
Thanks!
Sunday, January 16th. Will
Sunday, January 16th. Will be at Welcome Center at 8:30am. Volunteer check-in at 9am.
Temp will be about 48. High chance of rain. Dress appropriately.
There is a flood advisory in Vernonia, OR area. Be aware...
Flood Advisory
(Expires: Sunday January 16 12:15PM PST)
Group of 15 local mountain
Group of 15 local mountain bike trail volunteers showed up at Stub on Sunday. For a rainy mid-winter work party that's a tremendous showing!
13 volunteers specficially came to help Westside Trail Federation kick off building for the Freeride area - first shovels have hit the dirt for the freeride skill area building!
Remaining two people came to help NWTA with the XC trail project which has been in progress for couple years. Focus was on the south section - digging trail to eventually connect with the currently opened north trail in mountain biking area. There's a LOT more trail left to dig!
Feb 12th work party
See the event calendar for details. http://nw-trail.org/event/2011/02/2503 It's the same plan as the last 6 or 7 build days - sign-in at Welcome Center at 9am, followed by safety/project talk, then hike/ride out to the mountain bike trails in south part of park. HOWEVER, at the last work party, 15 people came to help dig Freeride area trails and went with W.T.F. crew lead while 1 person came to help dig XC trail. If this happens again, we'll be folding entirely in with the W.T.F. crew - it's all single track trail people! and it all needs to get done...
The same day Westside Trail Federation will also be leading a Stub Freeride trail building work party at same time (sign-in at same place - 9am at Welcome Center). Also, if you want to support trail building on the other side of Portland - then Sandy Ridge work party lead by NWTA/BLM is happening on 2/12 as well http://nw-trail.org/event/2011/02/2519
too many volunteer work parties on same day?
If you complain about too many volunteer work events on same day.... you WILL kill me just a little bit more. ;)
There can't be people complaining about "not enough posted events on the calendar" and "too many events at once". That's just insane. What we have is a growing organization with more than enough people to help at several events at once on the same day.
It's awesome. It's incredible. Join us! http://nw-trail.org/join
2/12 Stub work party a BLAST!
Sorry haven't posted sooner after the Feb 12th trail building at Stub. Was a great turn out, and my faith in the fact that mountain bikers want to come help build the trails they want to ride has been restored. I'm super stoked for the support that's been rolling in for Stub lately.
Had a great team of volunteers come out to help. There were 6 of us constructing new single track. Extending the south section of trail up up and up the climb to ridge line. We are ALMOST there!
It's almost time to take the wraps off the good stuff that we've been slaving away on in the woods at Stub for past couple build seasons.
The south section of single track in the Stub mountain biking zone is nearing a phase when it'd be appropriate to open it up for riding.
"THE BIG ONE" Stub work party on Sunday, 3/20/2011
At the 2/12 work party, there was time to explore one of the other legs of south section which was dug down low along Williams Creek. It was work done a few build seasons ago and we stopped that line of work when hitting a steep rocky slash section. Anyway, the area is super inspiring to see - and a real treat for builders to get a glimpse of - you can imagine flowing along the trail on your bike and enjoying the green green of the woods and the sounds of the babbling brooke.
During that tour of lower section of trail, and reflecting on the fact we'd put in a good amount of new trail on the upper trail climbing up ridge line... There was just something GREAT in the air that day and big ideas were born... It was suggested that "we should focus next work party on linking last section to Williams Creek bridge so people can start riding this stuff... there's enough here to make for an enjoyable out-and-back ride".
I've run this idea past Stub park ranger and trail manager, and explained the idea. Got his buy-in to proceed!
So, today (2/20/2011) a small volunteer team pin flagged the linking section of trail (which will be reviewed by park trail manager for approval next week) to tie into Williams Creek bridge crossing (it's on the map if you check the park brochure - get link at NWTA trail wiki at http://nw-trail.org/wiki/index.php/Trail:Stub_Mountain_Bike_Area). We also rode up the trail that's been dug already - the new stuff added between October 2010 and Feb 12, 2011 - and it's a bear to climb (as designed for advanced) and really, really fun to ride back down! Needs tweeks here and there, but it's good ride as-is.
Focus on Sunday, 3/20/2011 work party will be digging short connector section of trail to link with our current single track (we've kept it well back in the woods to keep it hidden until ready to open). It's time to open 'er up!
As this is a special milestone in the construction of XC single track trail at Stub, we'll be getting together back at a campsite after the work is done... for lunch (paid for by NWTA) and to sample some homebrew (Alex has a batch of Winter IPA that'll satisfy your thirst after a morning of digging...). Join us!
Login and sign-up to attend the upcoming work party at Stub.
Project map... the big green line is Banks-Vernonia trail. the start/end arrows indicate new pin flagged section which will be focus for 3/20/2011 work party, and the white star shows where trail currently ends (all that between "end" of the link trail we'll dig and the white star is all ridable right now - but not open to the public). The trail after the white start is rough scouted and from that point we'll be ON TOP OF THE RIDGE where the terrain and forest is really, really prime for mountain biking single track trail! (come to the build day on 3/20 and you'll be able to ride up, hike 100 yards, and poke your head out of the dense woods to see some lush, flowy terrain... as a builder, you WILL drool...)
A glimpse of the upper rim section of trail (we are almost here!)...
This is Williams Creek bridge... directly back behind him is where we've pin flagged connector trail today - it heads up to the right along gradual skid road then climbing turn and thru the trees to link with our existing south section of single track already on the ground... We will be working this section on 3/20/2011... Come help us!
(photo was taken October 16, 2010)
This is sample of one section of single track on the south part of Stub mountain biking zone...
Come build trail with us! You won't be sorry!
3/20/2011 build day at Stub...
Looking forward to it! Got about a dozen people signed up to attend, and weather is looking "ok" (its rain or shine). Section is pin flagged and if we accomplish what's been laid out to link with Williams Bridge, then it'll be ready for trail ranger/manager to inspect and put some park signs in place... and we'll have a whole new section of the park opened up for mountain bike users to enjoy! (south section will be out-and-back until we link with north loop). The north loop has been open since early Fall. This Spring and into next Fall we'll extend south section to link up to the North.
As far as I know Alex is still on for bringing his Winter IPA out for us to sample at a campground after the work party is done.
See ya at Stub! 9am Welcome Center check-in.
4/2/2011 work party at Stub...
Didn't have near the turn out of volunteers that came to the 3/20 event, but we still nailed all the tasks that were on radar for that day. Finished out the last section of south trail to link with main trail network. And we worked on finishing work on other parts of trails.
The south XC trail (beginning at Williams Creek bridge) now links into the 15+ miles of natural surface shared-use trail network with Stub Stewart State Park! It's a milestone day for sure but we aren't done yet! the south section of trail needs to be extended to the north up the canyon to link with the currently open north XC loop. It'll take another 1 to 1.5 miles of digging to connect everything up. We've also got a black diamond one-way down trail in the south area that'll make the south trail a lollipop out, down the down and around back to link in with way you came in. Great fun for intermediate to advanced level XC riders working on lungs, legs, and technical handling descents.
The mountain biking area with Stub is mainly for Intermediate and above riders because there's 15+ miles of shared-use trails in the main part of park that Beginner to Intermediate level riders can already enjoy.
Come to the NWTA booth at PDX Bike Show on April 9th/10th and I'd love to chat more with you about the current status and future plans for Oregon's first and only mountain biking specific single track in an Oregon State Park!
here's what new section of
here's what new section of trail looked like when we left... (note that we did trail reclaimation on the hike up trail that went to left - you can't even tell there was a trail there now!)...
plan for access gateway
...oh yeah, and the plan that I'm currenly considering for a gateway feature between the opening in fence is a log stack (large log in center and smaller logs piled against on both sides for a rollable yet challenging feature). Up in the north section we used an A-frame with split log rungs to add a feature that would both get the attention of other users (so they'll read the signage that area is for mountain bike only) and also to provide a challenge to less skilled riders (a hint that they might not want to ride the trail if they feel uncomfortable riding up and over a skill feature...)
Thoughts?
Current single track trails
Current single track trails on the ground in mountain biking area at Stub Stewart State Park...
click for hi-res
Map is oriented so left is North.
The north mountain biking loop has been open since September. The south trails are slowly progressing as we put in more volunteer work days (more people who help the more progress we make). South ridge climb trail has reached the "top" - one more build day and we'll punch thru to the upper part of ridge where forest thins out and is lush and really cool. Currently considering finishing out the black diamond section of trail to make south a climb and technical all-mountain descent. Guess it depends on turn out for 4/23 Trail Fest work party at Stub and how much progress gets made. (go to event calendar and sign-up if you plan to attend!)
Goal is to have the south section open to public (even as out and back) by June.
Future work parties will focus on extending south trail to eventually link up with the North loop.
4/23 is Trail Fest work party at Stub!
Please register for the event so we know how much food and beer to stock up back at the campsite! Go to nw-trail.org event calendar to register (login, then signup for event). Also if you sign up then we can send out any last minute updates. Trail Fest Stub work party event -- http://nw-trail.org/event/2011/04/2610
** Bring your bike! ** We can get out to the project location faster, and you'll be able to ride part of the trail - if you've got the inclination to ride what you've just built...