After three trips down to the Bear Creek camping spot for our Watson and Brattain Fire Rehab weekends last summer, the stretch of road leading past the Chewuacan crossing became so familiar that it began to feel like a home away from home. Stories were exchanged around the fire after a long day. Trips into town for more ice and freezy pops at the Paisley General Store to ensure cold beverages and a rainbow array of frozen treats were available after hiking and working on miles and miles of trails.  I cannot speak highly enough about the logistical savvy and dedication to volunteer safety demonstrated by the OTTA team for group riding events and stewardship weekends.

Something that really sunk in throughout this first year is the number of people who care so much about the Oregon Timber Trail and the Alliance itself. Our board members are volunteers. Yet, they never hesitate when the time comes to roll up their sleeves, grab a pair of loppers, and spend countless hours on the trails. Working together, we are always hoping to make the trail better for all the adventurers (2 or 4-legged) who come pedaling, jogging, or trotting by. I am excited by our next phase of outreach and awareness around the tier loops and day rides that will help us connect with a wider variety of trail users.

As I got to know many of the land and recreation managers of the U.S. Forest Service, along with fellow trail stewardship groups and community partners, it became abundantly clear that the role of an executive director requires many helmets and many hats. The OTT winds its way through 4 different forest regions; each of them unique in their environment and needs for areas of improvement.  We all take a lot of pride in the time and investment as stewards of the land.

Our volunteers and trail users are the heart of the organization and the reason we do this work. A huge heartfelt thanks to all of you. Folks from near and far spent hours and hours on the trail, working alongside us and sometimes riding through just as we were clearing a log, other times rolling through camp for a hot meal and water fill up. Those were some of the most rewarding moments of the summer. One of my favorite parts of the stewardship weekends was grilling up brats and sausages for our volunteers. I loved sharing the trail experience with my dog, Nala. She loves a nice spot in the shade or the cool dirt of a freshly benched section of duff. One of our kind volunteers gifted her a trail vest for carrying her own water and trail snacks.

The fall and winter gave us time to write grants, bring on new board members, and build our plans toward reaching a wider audience of trail users. We’ve launched a series of Intro to Bikepacking rides, building a gear library for those who might need to borrow a bag or a rack to make your trip happen, and planning for a busy summer of working on trails. Those times and locations are on the way shortly as we make weather predictions for where we can be most effective. 

The first year flew by. There were too many great moments to mention them all. A few of the highlights were earning my A-level chainsaw certification, the excitement of packing the truck for work and ride weekends, and sleeping in a tent in the woods almost as often as my own bed at home. In the spirit of setting some personal goals and challenging myself, I’ll be riding the OTT300, Grand Depart this year. It will be rewarding to ride some of the sections we worked on last summer and I’m sure the journey will teach me a few things about myself along the way. I’m excited by the momentum we have right now and I can see the ways this trail can bring us together. There’s always more to do and we can’t wait to see you out there. 

A sincere thanks,

Matt