Over the memorial day weekend we had an amazing group of volunteers show up from OR, WA, NV, and CA. This crew logged approximately 470 volunteer hours towards our RTP match. We still need about 200 hours, and should reach that goal with Watson #2 event. Nate Crabtree, our dedicated Forest Service representative brought his cohorts Will and Nick. We’re lucky to have such great folks come spend time and work alongside us. Missy Simula came down from Seattle area, and she’ll also be attempting the OTT in a few weeks. Mark Shafer, volunteer from Bend is looking to ride the whole trail in August. We’re inspired by everyone’s plans to ride and are working hard to provide detours throught the fire closures. 

Wayne Mackey came up from Reno to volunteer for the whole event. Wayne and I had both just completed sawyer certification with TKO, mine on Mt. Hood, Wayne in La Grande. Wayne was kind enough to write this report for us. We love hearing our volunteers’ perspective on our trail events. Wayne impressed us all with his fly fishing at camp and positive attitude. All our volunteers were champs and a pleasure to have both in camp and on the trail. We’re extremely lucky in that regard.

photos by Daniel Sharp

Read Wayne Mackey’s report

“After meeting Dan and Tori, I was honored when Dan asked me for my impression of the weekend. It is always nerve wracking for me to meet a new group of people, especially when we all travel hours to get to where we are camping and working, spending time on the drive wondering if I brought enough gear to stay warm camping at night, and to stay safe while working with a chainsaw and hand tools. The Oregon Timber Trail Association is doing some great work to open up, and maintain, a trail from the California Border near Lakeview, to the Washington Border at Hood River, in addition to various other trails and trail networks in Oregon. The weekends work concentrated on a section of the Fremont Tier, near the town of Paisley: a small, hard working community, home to summer fire teams too often of late, where the Chewaucan River runs through into the valley, and starts in to the mountains which cradle the town on one side. 

Our camp site for the weekend, sat nestled in the trees along Bear Creek and offered respite from the wind and weather we were to encounter over the four days of work, ranging from below freezing temps at night to sunny respites between drizzles during the day, moments of heavy downpours and even a bit of snow. The 17 people that came together ranged from OTT board members and Forest Service personnel, to people from as far away at Port Townsend, WA, and San Jose, CA. Everyone’s backgrounds, work histories, and reasons for coming were similarly diverse. The weekend offered a chance to work with and get to know the rhythm of the people you were teamed with, in addition to getting to know the people themselves. Each night offered a chance to gather and talk around a fire, eat and drink, and get to understand who each of the people were who came to the event. 

We started the first day with an acknowledgement of the Indigenous People, whose use of this area pre dates us by ~1700 years, and whose stewardship of the land allows our use today. We segued to a discussion about safety and how best to make use of the resources we had, from tools to people. With 7 Sawyers, the first day was going to involve a fair bit of logout to clear the trail of deadfall, and some additional tread work. Groups were split up, work divided, and shuttles arranged. Our group was tasked with clearing an access road, and once we crossed the trail, to divide up and head in different directions to clear the trail of trees, and clear the tread of organic matter as needed. Our four person crew worked hard, while keeping in mind each others needs, and offering encouragement and support, falling in to a rhythm as if we had worked together before. I felt included and supported in what I was doing. Maybe that is the nature of trail work, everyone working together with a goal in mind, offering kind and constructive words when you can, and when it’s needed, which makes working together with people you’ve only just met so rewarding. Walking back out, on the trails you just cleared, is another rewarding component, then too, thinking about the users who will come through, smiling, as they ride the section you just helped maintain.

The second day, involved some logout work, but started our transition to mostly tread work, which on the third day, was all that we did. The third day included clearing out some drains, and knocking down the outside edge of some of the tread, but mostly involved a reroute on a section of trail, to make it more friendly to climb, and potentially more enjoyable to descend. This work included clearing out a fair bit of rocks, knocking down and removing organic matter, building tread, and listening to the advice of the Forest Service Personnel about tracks and corners, and how to build the trail in a way that our efforts would remain in place and provide a safe experience for users.

Our final day culminated in a great ride, looping from our campsite, up Bear Creak, and then down the trail, including riding sections that were cleared by our crew just this weekend. Views of burnt areas were balanced by swathes of green, with fluorescent flowers, and scraggly rock formations. Our small group was able to clear a few more trees, compact some of the tread, and talk about the use of the trail by future riders. Slowing our pace, allowed us to take in what this trail might be about: remembering who came before us, from the original stewards of the land, to those who have built the trails we rode, that nature cycles through birth and death, and the work we do to provide access to nature allows us to realize the value, being outside provides us personally and as a species, when we can get those opportunities. 

Thank you to the OTT for the great experience, and opportunity. I look forward to another chance to work with everyone in the future, and I look forward to following the work done by others, and those riding the trails. Good luck to everyone who is attempting the OTT this summer.”

We were bucking out downed logs on a section of Bear Creek when the first thru riders of the Season rode up. Stacey Nieder and Tony Allen of Anchorage had braved many slippery miles on Crane Mountain and had been riding for six days by the time they met us. They encountered lots of deadfall, horizontal rain, and plenty of snow still on trail. Smartly, they brought a 3-person tent where they could weather the storms. They also sent photos from what turned out to be a 1968 plane crash on Crane Mountain. They made it to Oakridge before calling it. Check this space for more details about their early bird ride.

Volunteer Missy Simula came down from Seattle area, and she’ll also be attempting the OTT in a few weeks. She shared stories of her New Zealand trip and recent multisport adventures. We promised to stay in touch so we could learn about her ride as well.

That’s a wrap for this event. Join us for one of four planned events this year. All are welcome and no experience is necessary. We have all the tools and hard hats for you to borrow. We’re hoping to add a couple more events later in the year as well. Stay tuned.