Hood River Area Trail Stewards (HRATS)

Many hands make quick work

Steve’s been pushing to get the new Whoopdee climb done so he can spend the summer riding and sailing like a normal Hood Riverite.  Today’s work party got him one big step closer.  A great Sunday morning turnout and ideal weather conditions made quick work of the last uncut stretch between the old climb and the new trailhead.

Another day at the office

This new climbing route opened for business officially at 1PM, in time for Blossom Festival week riders to enjoy the great vistas and fields of balsam root in full bloom.

Workers this week included:  Jeff Blackman, Don Wiley, Sam Wiley, Connor Dunn, Amy Dunn, Mark Chamley, Stephen Ford, Kani Rowland, Tom Cook, JJ Olsson, Andy Olsson, Jim Mudry, Dave Veenstra, Arthur Babitz, Steve Dunn, Sadie, Cooper, Ringo and Mojo.

This new section starts about a third of the way up the old road climb on the left (south) side.  Try it soon while the balsam root and Indian paintbrush are in bloom for full effect.  Steve and friends are still working on the bottom section of the climb, which will be north of the old road.

Andy and Ringo discuss the route

This project is supported by your contributions to HRATS, which have been helping Steve by covering some of his fuel and materials costs.  If you like the new route click the “donate” badge to buy Steve some gas.

This dry weather we’ve been having is driving the ski bums crazy, but the dirt-worshiping mountain bikers are going crazy with dirt lust. So are the trail builders. Whoopdee steward Steve Dunn grabbed 12 of our trail fairies for a sunny Saturday work party.

Tired of climbing that old road out of Whoopdee? Well, soon, that old road will be history! Steve’s latest project, funded by the kind donations of local riders, is to reroute the road climb into a super-rad climbing trail.

Here’s the work party report from our favorite trail fairy, Mayor Arthur Babitz: “We had a fine February day for a work party building the new climb out for the Whoopdee Trail. We were able accomplish our mission of de-berming and cleaning up all the machine tread Steve cut earlier this week, and even had time to scratch in a new section which loops out to a beautiful lookout point around a huge pine tree. While today’s segment doesn’t yet connect to anything, it is now mostly rideable down to the pine tree if you want to check it out. I wouldn’t be surprised if this segment becomes a popular hiking route in wildflower season, as it is thick with balsam root and ends at a fine lunch spot.

When completed this new climbing trail will substitute for the climb on the logging road. It will be a much more fun climb due to milder grade and more attractive routing. The logging road is also poorly drained so after a few heavy snow seasons it will likely revert to the badly rutted route we all hated from a few years back.”

We logged 40 hours of work today with the following participants:

Matt Klee
Andy Olsen
J.J. Olsen
Christy Richards
Jon Richards
Forrest Rae
Madeline Rae
Stephen Ford
Marc Igolen
Jay Sherrerd
Arthur Babitz
Steve Dunn
Rocky
Sadie
Bear
Jay’s dog

***HOSPITAL HILL CLOSURE***** Due to an active Timber Harvest, All SDS Lands in the Jewett Creek and Hospital Hill area are closed as of 1/29/2013. There will be tree felling and cable yarding operation hardware that may occur far outside the actual timber harvest boundary. Anyone trespassing in this area is exposing themselves to possible injury or death, and will be cited for Trespassing if caught. If you see users violating this Closure, please call Jeremy Grose at 509 493 2155. The area is expected to re-open approximately June 1, 2013 depending on weather and how smoothly operations go. Click on the Recreation and ‘Mtn Biking and Hiking’ tabs on this page for a map.

http://stevensonlandcompany.com/recreation-opportunities/hiking-and-mountain-biking/

We received an email on the morning of 8/12 from a concerned mountain biker who sent us the photo below:

This person asked us, “I thought the trees with red lines were supposed to be left standing.” We thought the same thing, so contacted the Hood River County Forest Manager for an answer. Here it is:

Standing Trees: I left more trees in the RMA on purpose, knowing a few of them would need to be cut for yarding corridors. So there will be some red band trees cut. But the net result should be about 3 times as much volume retained than required. In addition, the RMA averages about 60’ rather than the 50′ required by law. More in some areas, less in others.

Down Trees: There were a few down trees that were marked with red bands originally that were across the creek. That part of the prescription changed since Fish & Wildlife wanted every tree across the creek left. When feasible, trees across the stream will be bucked outside the channel to leave a segment spanning the channel. Some trees spanning the channel will be left because they are too dangerous to buck where they lie.

So there will be trees with red bands cut, although most of them will be retained.

Hopefully that answers the question about the trees with red bands. We were confused too!

In addition, we’d like to ask that everyone refrain from entering the area in between the closure signs on Seven Streams. We understand that people want to check on the progress, but for your safety and the loggers’ ability to work, we ask that you avoid the logging area. Thank you!