Hood River Area Trail Stewards (HRATS) Update

By White Lotus Sports on April 18, 2014 • ( 0 )

Spring has sprung and
the dirt is great! We call that
“Brown Pow”!

So dust off your bike and get out and ride!

First things first: Maybe you’ve noticed we’ve been pretty quiet lately, both on the email and Facebook fronts, and in work party world. We want to share with you what’s going on. We are a member chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association. IMBA had a great insurance policy we were using to cover us for general liability (you know, if a random person gets hurt riding a trail and decides to sue us – yeah, it’s happened to other clubs, and it’s a shame that someone would sue a nonprofit, but that’s the world we live in.) Well, IMBA’s insurance was canceled a few months back, leaving us exposed to these sorts of claims. So our work parties are on hold. We’re currently trying to source a new general liability policy, but it’s taking time, and it’s going to be much more expensive. But we’ll get something, and we’ll be back working on trails in no time.

In the meantime, we will let you know about Hood River County work parties, and other organizations’ work parties, as we hear about them. We just won’t be organizing anything ourselves until we get this sorted out. Now, moving on to the more interesting and fun stuff….

Seven Streams Loop
We’ve mentioned it before, and we’re giving you an update now. Seven Streams is the most heavily used trail in the Hood River County system. We asked HRC to let us build a second trail so we can direct uphill bike, pedestrian, and equestrian traffic one way and downhill mountain bike traffic another way. We’ve got permission, we’ve got a route, and with the leadership of Jeff Blackman (among many others), we’ve got a plan for the west side of the drainage, uphill from the current trail. Thanks to Matt Klee for securing funding through a Travel Oregon and Sustainable Travel Internation grant. Now… our timing… it’s a big project, so we’re hoping for next fall and spring, when we’ll have wet dirt long enough to accomplish the task. Stay tuned. In the meantime, Jeff may be running some work parties on phase 1, a bermed downhill trail exiting the connection between Middle School and Family Man. We’ll let you know. Check out the flagline when you ride by!

Whoopdee Trail Update
It’s done! Wait, not so fast.. The loop is done: 9 mile loop with a single track climb out, improved corners, and drainage. And awesome parking thanks to Crestline Construction. 2014 will be a maintenance year for the Whoopdee. If you want to help this spring and fall, contact Steve Dunn at hoodriverdunn@gmail.com. Like downhill? Check out Steve’s future plans: A gravity trail from the highest point to the lowest point on the current trail. Fast. Flowy. 1 mile downhill that will give you a half-loop option. Start date should be spring 2015.

Families at Family Man – not just for families anymore!
A few years ago, Jack Trumbull started a family-friendly Wednesday night ride. We’re looking to make it bigger this year, but still kid-friendly, especially now that we have Lolipop Lane, the scooter-bike friendly mini-kid loop at Family Man. Our plans include weekly mini clinics on varied topics. Some idea: cornering, drops, skinnies, beginning mtb, etc. Get more info in the Hood River Community Ed Catalog. Every Wednesday night from June 11th to August 27th.

Movie Update
We invited y’all to join us for a movie. You know, like a thank you. Nothing expected in return. And instead you opened your generous hearts and your wallets and donated $1100 to the cause. Thank you!!!

Snakes on the plains

Just a reminder for spring: Watch out for rattlesnakes. They love sunning themselves in the trail at Syncline. And Whoopdee too. And anywhere else that’s warm, sunny and dry. Also, there are ticks all over the Gorge, and we do have ticks that carry Lyme Disease, so make sure to check yourself after you play outside around here. And if you find a tick on you, keep it and get it tested. Better safe than sorry!

And speaking of animals…
The cows are out at Hospital Hill. That means no dogs until early July. Yes, that means your dog. And yours. No dogs at all. This is private land, and the landowner are very kind to let us it. Help us help them by leaving your dog at home. Want to east something raised by members of the family that lets us ride that land? Visit High Roost Ranch, either in person or at their website and get some local food!

You want to help – and we want you!

Lots of you signed up to help with HRATS at our movie night. And 100’s of you have come to work parties. We’re in the middle of formalizing our structure so we can plug you in where you’ll fit best. We’re going to create formal committees and formal roles for our board members so everyone can make the best, most efficient contribution possible. In the meantime, it’s past time for a board election, and we’re looking for interested board members. Requirements include attending a meeting each month, helping with special projects, and interacting with local politicians and landowners, along with the general population of mountain bikers. There’s no cash involved, but you’ll get paid a huge and priceless salary of community gratitude and increased self-worth. A big welcome to our new treasurer, Jenn Klee! Our next Board of Directors Meeting is May 20th at the Hood River Fire Station at 5pm.

Thanks to our business supporters
We hope we didn’t miss anyone: Skylight Theater, Anthill Films, Naked Winery, PocketFuel Naturals, The Hood River UPS Store, The Lumberyard, Crank Bros, Easton, Dirty Fingers Bicycles, FEETURES, Epic Bar, Icebreaker, Nathan, Timbuk2, Mountain View Cycles, Discover Bicycles, DAKINE, Dutch Bros Coffee Hood River & The Dalles, Hood River Upick Organic, Five Ten, Mike Jacoby’s Famous Root Beer, GoPro, Powerbar, Camelbak, BELL helmets, Oregon Enduro Series, Gumball Poodle, 10 Speed Coffee Roasters, Timberline Lodge

Donate to HRATS, a 501(c)(3)
It’s a little late for this year’s taxes, but we’ll take your tax-deductible donation for next year! Our mailing address is:

1767 12th St. #209
Hood River, Oregon 97031

Our mailing address is:
Hood River Area Trail Stewards
1767 12th Street
Suite #209
Hood River, OR 97031