Gabriel Amadeus pauses mid-cut to survey the mess between South Crooked Creek and Mill TH. Photo: Daniel Sharp
Fremont-Winema Stewardship Event #2, which took place from June 9 to 11, 2023 was a resounding success. With a total of 11 participants, including volunteers, and board members, we dedicated 415 hours to improve trail conditions in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, worth $8,872.20. Not only did we accomplish our planned scope, but we also went above and beyond by logging out 17 trail miles and cutting out approximately 250 trees! We still have some remaining work to complete, but our achievements and the incredible bonds formed during this event made this event something special. We’ll be back in the Fremont for the next and final event of the season, where we’ll return to Crane Mountain. There are still some spots available for that event, so if you’d like to get in on this brand of fun, sign up today here. Rumors of a Chris Diminno pasta meal from Grassa have our mouths watering already.
Our team consisted of enthusiastic volunteers, OTTA board members, one local business owner, and one forest service representative. Together, we made massive inroads towards rehabilitating and enhancing trail conditions. From the South Fork Crooked Creek Trailhead to the Walker Trailhead, we successfully tackled approximately 10 trail miles, focusing on logout and tread repair. But we didn't stop there!
We exceeded expectations by extending our efforts to the Crane Mountain National Recreation Trail 161. Pushing further north from the South Fork Crooked Creek Trailhead to the Rogger Trailhead. Although we made remarkable progress, there is still work to be done. We need to address tread repair along the CMNRT 161 leading to the southern terminus, and the conditions of the 3-mile trail segment between the Rogger Trailhead and Hwy 140 remain unknown. With the same energy and determination shown during this event, we will make it happen.
Saturday evening, Oregon Desert Trail thru hiker Jay (Gush) joined us in camp hiked in via Mill TH to South Fork of the Crooked creek, which we had logged out the day before. Previously hikers had been advised to skip this section due to the extreme amount of blowdown. That evening Jay thanked us for putting the section back online. He noticed our work and thanked us for making his hike possible. That’s why we do this work. Last year we felt a similar satisfaction as thru riders Tony Allen and Stacey Nieder rolled through just as we finished a cut on a downed tree. It’s incredible seeing users reap the reward of freshly cleared trail.
Finally, we’d like to thank the dedicated individuals who made it happen. OTT founding member Gabriel Amadeus, Dan Beaman and Dan Sharp put in epic days with chainsaws. Dan Heil and David Reichel traveled from California and were dedicated swampers and brushers. Paul Hauser represented for the USFS, both swamping and foraging in a single day. Thom Batty swamped and took care of kitchen duties, serving coffee and eggs in the morning, while Gracie Woodruff served delicious homemade chili. Cliff and Sarah (and their dogs Gus and Irma) from Bend were our returning volunteers from the previous event. Executive Director Matt Ruddy made sure camp ran smoothly and that roads were clear for future work. Ben McCormack, the stewardship coordinator, played a vital role in organizing the event and ensuring its success. With their contributions, we accomplished our goals and made a positive impact on the trails. We are grateful for their hard work and the sense of community they fostered throughout the event. As always we had plenty of chill time in front of the fire, sharing the details of the day, thinking ahead to the next day, with plenty of mushroom foraging stories thrown in for good measure. We talk alot about the value of stewardship and building community, but for us it come down to these weekends in the woods with friends, old and new. We’ll keep at it because we love it and we love keeping these gorgeous spaces open for all to enjoy.
See you at the next event, where we continue to reclaim Crane Mountain! As always…thank you to Humm Kombucha, Deschutes Brewing, and Reverend Nats Cider for kindly providing refreshing beverages for our thirsty trail crew!
The view from Crane Mountain. Photo: Daniel Sharp