Hello Everyone,

First a few Trail Updates:

Whoopdee is open
HH is still closed
HRC, with some help from a few volunteers, opened the trail next to Post Canyon Rd. It is currently being called “Lower Trail-100,” but that may change.
Dan Miller is hosting a Nestor shuttle ride and brushing party this Saturday at 9 a.m. Meet at Northwestern Park on the White Salmon River. Bring water, gloves, bike stuff, food, loppers, rake, folding saws, and/or electric tools. We will have extras for those in need. Please RSVP to Dan at 509-281-1100 and feel free to spread the word.
HRATS is having a Shuttle Day on Saturday, Oct. 12th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are fundraising to build features on Cake Walk in Family Man. Details will follow as the day approaches.
Decommissioned Trails:

Many of you received the notice from Hood River County that Moto Trail 133 (Borderline) and Bladerunner (non-moto trail) were used during fire suppression efforts during the Whiskey Creek fire and are now proposed to be decommissioned. HRATS has investigated why these trails will not be rebuilt after being absorbed into a fire line. Here is what we know about why they were damaged and will not be rebuilt:

Fire protection is a priority for the Hood River County Tree Farm to protect timber, recreational access, and adjacent homes. Timber production accounts for a substantial portion of Hood River County’s revenue and supports numerous critical public services. Bladerunner, in particular, is the right location for a fire line. The fire line cut during the recent efforts needs to be made permanent to protect against future fires. The last major fire before the Whiskey Creek Fire was the Eagle Creek fire in 2017 and more fires are expected.

Unfortunately, wildfire closures were not respected. At least 6 mountain bikers, including locals, were ticketed for not following the trail closures on or near fire lines while work was being done. These events stopped wildland fire fighters work for three days at an estimated cost of $60,000 and triggered the stricter closures in late August. Unfortunately, this has made the possibility of mountain bike trails on fire lines unlikely in the future.

The HRC Forestry Department’s long-term goal is to separate moto and non-moto trails when new trails are made to reduce user conflict. Over the last few years, HRC Forestry and the Sheriff’s Department have had to deal with significant conflict between moto and non-moto user groups. Unfortunately, this is the result of a few bad apples and not the average user.
Moto Trail 133 (Borderline) and Bladerunner had sections of the trail that were not on HRC land.

It is disappointing to lose trails, especially those as unique as Borderline and Bladerunner. Thankfully HRC has expedited the development for replacement trails, including black-level technical trails, in the near future that will be located more centrally to the main mountain bike system.

HRATS

Categories: Advocacy