This past weekend the OTTA board met in McKenzie Bridge for its annual retreat. After a challenging year of ZOOM meetings, these retreats give the board much needed face time to scheme and dream for the future. As you may remember, we just brought on eight fantastic new board members. This retreat was a great opportunity for everyone to meet, reflect on past highlights and discuss what we could do better. 

We had fun trying to collectively remember the history of the OTT, from the release of the initial route and launch party to the OTTA becoming a 501c3 and the first-ever Grand Depart and related scholarships. We had a chance to give appreciation to current board members who will be rolling off soon, to make room for the new recruits. It was a great chance to remember our four tenets: Stewardship, Education, Community and Experience. Without getting into too much detail, I can share that we have our hands full for the next several years shaping up our organizational framework, and internal processes. 

We recommitted to our internal DEI process, and our networking/collaborating with other trail groups to make the trail experience more inclusive and welcoming to all trail users. We keep asking - how can we make the trail better for everyone and invite new users. We’ll keep refining our planning and will release details as they’re ready, but we know that we have our hands full with fire rehab and will announce fundraising and adopt a trail programs soon. Beyond the board, we’ll need as much help as we can get from both industry sponsors and individuals to keep us moving forward and making the Oregon Timber Trail everything it can be - improved routes and comprehensive signage included. Just as importantly, our Horse Creek Lodge location allowed us to get out on the McKenzie River Trail, King’s Castle, Browder Ridge, and Crescent Mountain. See below for links and details.

We want to thank Alyssa and Gary from Horse Creek Lodge for hosting us and Leah Benson for facilitating and guiding us through some challenging discussions. Massive thanks to Kirin Stryker for her leadership in planning the retreat and Melissa Byrd for bringing food!

Fall Ride Guide

OTTA Board members Kirin Stryker, Mike Vanderberg and Sean Lerner just rode the Gate Creek/Browder loop and said it’s running great right now. That loop got logged out not long ago.

We rode McKenzie River Trail And King’s Castle as well. King’s Castle is a little dry and has some brake bumps, but is still a blast to ride. Lower MRT is fun for all levels as usual, though we weren’t able to get past the Deer Creek area, so it seems Deer Creek to Trail Bridge Reservoir is closed, so the best bet is starting at the Trail Bridge trailhead and doing an out and back on the upper part or riding the lower section as an out and back like we did from Horse Creek Lodge. Gary and Alyssa are lovely hosts. Check in with them about shuttles and best ways to ride MRT these days. They make dreams happen.

Dan Sharp just rode Stiletsi and The White Crane. Car-free, meaning he took the CAT bus from Portland on Friday and returned home via Hood River Sunday afternoon. It’s a deal at $10 one-way. Expect a full report on that next week. The Cliff Notes version is that it’s running great after we logged out Lower Fifteenmile on Sept. 15th. The Fifteenmile climb is a little overgrown right now, but completely passable with one easy log-down-hike-around. It’s a grunt, as always.

Boulder Lake - Check out our friend Charlie Bigg’s big day on Pocket Creek, Bonney Meadow, Boulder Lake, Crane Prairie, Gunsight and Gumjuwac trails. We just cleared the Boulder Lake area with 44 Trails and Charlie reports just one tree down on Gunsight. That area hadn’t been cleared in three years, so sample that if you can before the snow flies. Be aware that the weather is changing this weekend - expect some rain and temps about 30 degrees cooler. Snow is expected Saturday and Sunday in Government Camp! Time to pack an extra layer and a rain jacket!

Old Cascade Crest just got more attention from our friends at Trans Cascadia. They had originally planned to work in Oakridge, but opted instead for the OCC due to air quality concerns. They brushed Gordon Peak and the Horse Camp area below Shed Camp…and they said…“It’s ripping”

Links and upcoming events

The Town Bicycle is a great new site created by bikepacking legends Alexandera Houchin, Eszter Horanyi, and Katie Strempke. They’re providing a much-needed female take on two-wheeled adventures. Give them a follow. Their latest story is Elizabeth Sampey: Racing Ghosts on the Arizona Trail and Faces Behind the Dots - AZTR 2022

Speaking of the AZTR…The Arizona Trail Race starts this Thursday. We’ll be dot-watching with all the other race fans out there. Follow along on Trackleaders. As the race website says, “The Arizona Trail 300 is a 300-mile event that has been held every April since 2006. The Arizona Trail Race 800 is the complete traversal (Mexico->Utah) and was offered for the first time in 2010 as the AZTR750.”