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2024 Trail School at Klootchy Creek Recap

Written by Nancy Stone, NWTA Vice President, Education & Sustainability Director The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI), NWTA’s educational program ventured to the coast and held Trail School: Fundamentals at the Klootchy Creek trail system on February 17, 2024. These trail schools equip participants with the fundamental skills needed to understand and implement sustainable maintenance practices … Read More

Machine Operator Training Program

On the weekend of September 23 & 24, 2023, NWTA hosted a pilot machine operator training program with a beginner class. Seven students – longtime volunteers and crew leads with NWTA – met to learn how to safely operate our mini excavator and get some practice time under local machine building legend Jason Wells. NWTA … Read More

Trail Sisters Maintenance Clinic at Trek Beaverton

On May 11, nineteen people attended a basic bike maintenance clinic generously hosted by Trek Beaverton!  Everyone began the evening with a bit of socializing while enjoying the NWTA x Hopworks Trail Time IPA. Matt at Trek Beaverton is a clinic pro, and started the clinic off by soliciting what information participants were really wanting … Read More

NWTA Kids’ Ride Recap

Written by Elaine Bothe, NWTA Instructor Chilly but no rain during 2023’s first Kids’ Ride at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park! Stub Stewart State Park has quite the range of trails to suit every level of rider! At the NWTA’s first Kids’ Ride of 2023, a good crew showed up with all the right layers … Read More

Cascade Locks Trail School Recap

Written by Nancy Stone, Education & Sustainability Director ([email protected]) The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) travels 6-7 months out of the year, holding Trail Schools at different trail systems within 60 miles of the Portland area. Each location boasts different ecosystems, soil types, forests, and land management restrictions/guidelines. So although the Trail School curriculum is consistent, oftentimes, … Read More

Klootchy Creek Saw Work Recap

The cold and snow didn’t stop seven hardy NWTA sawyers from a massive project at Klootchy Creek on Saturday, March 25. The volunteers showed up at Klootchy Creek to clear hundreds upon hundreds of matted, snow-covered trees left on the ground from a commercial thinning project. The slash was 4-5 feet high in a freshly … Read More

TSI Benching Clinic Recap

Written by Chloe Hammond-Bradley The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) held their first benching clinic this last Saturday. This clinic focused on how to cut in as well as re-establish a bench on a trail. When building and maintaining a trail, you focus on four areas; your line, flow, bench cuts and drainage. Bench cuts, or … Read More

Sandy Ridge Dig Series Recap

Written by Carrie Johnston The second installment of the Trail Sisters Dig Series was at Sandy Ridge on Saturday—and what a day! With 16 volunteers and 6 instructors, our sizable crew tackled a number of drainage and berm issues along Flow Motion.  We met in the main parking area in the morning, chilly but comforted … Read More

Klootchy Creek Trail School Recap

Written by Nancy Stone, Education & Sustainability Director ([email protected]) The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) headed west to visit our friends and trails at Klootchy Creek this Saturday. It may come as no surprise that our 15 volunteers and 4 instructors were greeted with a downpour of rain and gusts of wind. Such is life on the … Read More