The Oregon Timber Trail has been volunteering for the past three years to maintain the lower Fifteenmile trail, a three-mile section that serves as a vital link for connecting to the 44 trails system from towns like Dufur on the east side of Mt. Hood. Although technically not part of the Oregon Timber Trail, it's an integral part of our Mt. Hood tier loop, Stiletsi and the White Crane. 44Trails works hard to maintain trails such as Surveyors Ridge, Dog River, Knebal, Eightmile, and Fifteenmile.

This past Saturday, nine of us convened at the trailhead at 9 am, enjoying coffee, donuts, and a captivating talk from Chip Andrus, our event organizer, about the area's native history and an overview of our day's tasks. Our focus was clearing fallen logs and cutting back vine maple growth. Recently, the Forest Service decommissioned two bridges over Fifteenmile Creek because of safety concerns. Instead of rebuilding them, they rerouted the trail along the creek's north side, offering a more engaging and challenging path. Chip had already scouted and marked a potential route, incorporating sections of a historic trail.

Half of the group forged ahead, tackling the most challenging sections of log removal. Surprisingly, this year's task was slightly less arduous, and with hand saws and loppers, we swiftly cleared the path. As the day progressed, we regrouped and collaborated to conquer a daunting 22-inch log using only a Silky Katanaboy 500 hand saw. One team worked to create a lever, while the other took turns sawing, eventually finishing the cut and clearing the log. We High-fived and hiked out, gratified by our efforts in enhancing this remote and rugged trail section.

The Forest Service plans to undertake further improvements this summer with the help of a youth crew. Having ridden the Stiletsi and White Crane route, I can attest to the wild nature of that stretch and I believe the new alignment will offer an added challenge. We're fortunate to have dedicated volunteers, and this stewardship event was no exception. The camaraderie was strong as we worked diligently together, leaving the trail much better than we found it. A peaceful lunch in a meadow punctuated our day, leaving us grateful for everyone's hard work and excited about the next event.

But wait, there’s more…our next stewardship event, slated for July 5th to 7th, aims to clear the remaining blowdown on Crane Mountain. If all goes well, this will mark the first time in six years that the first 50 miles of trail will be fully accessible. Join us, and let's leave our mark on the trails together.

Links to that July 4-7 event:

• Fremont Stewardship Event #2