NEWS
Trailblazing Change: The Journey of Trans-Cascadia and Our Ten For Trails Legacy Fundraise
Established in 2015, Trans-Cascadia 501(c)(3) has become a cornerstone of dedication and commitment in the world of mountain biking and trail stewardship. Born from the vision of seasoned bike industry professionals, our non-profit organization has aimed to protect and restore backcountry mountain bike trails in the Pacific Northwest while making trail advocacy accessible to all riders. As we continue to evolve, we are excited to reignite our annual Ten For Trails fundraiser, a crucial initiative to support the long-term sustainability of our trail stewardship efforts.
Trans-Cascadia announces no race for 2022 but opens registration for four Work Parties in the Pacific Northwest.
2021 Trail Work Video
In 2021 Trans Cascadia maintained and opened 108 miles of backcountry trails and cleared 46 miles of access roads. With their continued work with the United States Forest Service, clearing remote trails remains the organization’s primary mission and one they are excited to continue.
2021 Race Recap Video
In an all-new venue in the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest for 2021, Trans Cascadia did not disappoint. Despite a last-minute change to some stages due to ongoing fires, the race was one to remember with four incredible days of racing, camping and new friends…
2021 Race Report // Day 4
"It's my first ever Trans-style race, I knew it would be hard, but I didn't expect back-to-back 5,000 foot days. We were all pretty tired but we were in it together,” said Jill Kintner.
Day four was the final day of racing for Trans Cascadia 2021 and anticipation was high. Like days prior, camp was bustling long before the sun began peeking through the trees with another big day on the horizon and a long, steep hike-a-bike section gaining nearly 4,000 feet waiting to test the field.
2021 Race Report // Day 3
"We planned on the racers eating for two, but in fact they're eating for three."
Nestled deep in the Okinawan–Wenatchee National Forest, racers woke up to another day of unbelievable weather and riding. After daily Covid testing and a quick brief, breakfast was served under the Shimano tent with Hannah from The Bayou Catfish and her staff working round the clock to feed over 100 racers and support staff…
2021 Race Report // Day 2
This is definitely a unique event. You're kind of just out there in the middle of nowhere taking in all the sights! — Jill Kintner
Slowly emerging from their tents, racers took their time preparing for another raw, long day in the mountains. A late start allowed extra time at breakfast for a third cup of Trailhead coffee, enjoyed round the daily morning fire. With shuttles loaded and lunch packed, the camp emptied as racers started the course…
2021 Race Report // Day 1
Day 1 of Trans Cascadia started with a bang, deep in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This land is traditional indigenous territory of the Wenatchi and Syilx people.
After an unfortunate but necessary break in 2020, the race is back with rider safety first and foremost. A blind enduro, racers are given each day's map the night before, with no chance to explore the trail prior. This makes for quite an interesting event, leveling the playing field for all riders….
2021 Race Registration is Open!
We have opened 30 spots for this year’s race: September 22 - 27, 2021…
Ten for Trails 2021
Win a Santa Cruz Megatower!
Each $10 donation increases your chance of winning a Santa Cruz Megatower, equipped with Shimano XTR. All proceeds from the drawing will benefit our continued trail advocacy efforts at Trans-Cascadia.
More Than a Race
“[Trans-Cascadia] is a celebration of our riding culture.” - Matt Hunter
In the final installment of Freehub Magazine’s three-part series about the advocacy efforts of Trans-Cascadia, they delve into the race itself. Community, good times, incredible riding, and snow were all big themes at this year’s race and the Common Ground: Trans-Cascadia, More Than a Race episode captures the true spirit of the event with stunning visuals.
2019 Race Report // Day 4
“We’ve been doing this for five years and I don’t think I’ve had a better day out there with better people.” - Alex Gardner, Race Producer
When racers woke up on the morning of Day 4, snow could be seen on the ridgelines just barely above camp. Racer Director, Nick Gibson, and Lead Medic, Nick Hall, headed up the hill and quickly realized that there would be no racing. It was a beautiful snowy landscape, but they weren’t the conditions that would allow the organizers to send timers, start gates, and volunteers out on course all day long. And the overcast skies would prevent a helicopter from aiding with any emergency medical extractions...
2019 Race Report // Day 3
“Some of the best riding I’ve done – I don’t even know really how to put it into words.” - Thomas Vanderham
Saturday, Day 3, was move day. The plan was for racers to pedal out of camp from Takhlakh Lake and to pedal into camp at Green River Horse Camp at the end of the day – Mother Nature had other plans. The night before, as Race Director Nick Gibson delivered the details for the following day’s race, it had begun to snow.
2019 Race Report // Day 2
“I think it was probably my best day ever on mountain bike trails. Stage 6 and 7 were unreal; perfect flow, sweeper corners, and hero dirt. It was amazing. I was smiling all the way down!” - Romain Paulhan
“It’s not going to be warm and it’s going to be wet.” The weather report that Tommy Magrath delivered the night before was still ringing in the ears of the racers as they rolled out of basecamp on Day 2. Headed for stages 5, 6, and 7, they were promised cold temperatures, mixed precipitation, and more incredible trails.
2019 Race Report // Day 1
“We’ve been out here scaring ourselves since 2013, and I’ve never seen tracks this good. You guys are in for a treat!” - Alex Gardner
Racers arrived at basecamp on Wednesday and for those who have never experienced a Trans-Cascadia event, they were in for a bit of a surprise. “In my riding scene, I’m a bit of a ride organizer so I’ll bring a barbeque or whatever and get people organized a little bit,” says freerider Matt Hunter, “and I showed up here and I was like, ‘woah, who did this?’ It was pretty amazing.” Racer tents were set up along the shore of Lake Takhlakh with Mount Adams in the distance, a fire was already lit, and two stocked bars were ready to serve as racers exited their shuttle vans.
The 2019 Trans-Cascadia Kicks-off Thursday!
The fifth edition of Trans-Cascadia kicks off on Thursday!
For the second year, the basecamps will be in the depths of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington state. Race organizers and volunteers have been hard at work over the last year expanding access to the backcountry network and they are thrilled to introduce another batch of new and returning racers to it…
Common Ground: Filling the Void with Trans-Cascadia
Over the last five years, Trans-Cascadia has evolved to be more than a 4-day backcountry enduro.
The non-profit’s mission to promote and build sustainable trails throughout the Pacific Northwest has created a passionate community and united once-divided user groups. Working year-round with the forest service and land managers, the Trans-Cascadia team continues to establish and maintain backcountry routes that were previously impassable.
Uniting User Groups to Keep Trails Open
“There's a place for everybody. I do believe that.” - Jason Ridlon, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington
This third and final work party of the 2019 Trans-Cascadia season (pre-race) was the first collaborative event with The Backcountry Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) – a group representing stock trail users.
Labor of Love
There comes a moment after each Trans-Cascadia, usually while everyone is a little bleary-eyed eating breakfast around a smouldering fire on the final morning, when the question is asked: so, are we doing this again next year?
2018 // Day 4 – An Impossible Thing
“We started coming out here 13 years ago riding our dirt bikes in this forest and we fell in love with it,” Alex Gardner, Race Producer told the racers. “Being on those ridgelines and seeing those mountains, from certain aspects you can see all four on a clear day, we started wondering how mountain bikes would work on these tracks. We weren’t quite sure and didn’t have the skills yet to host here, but we spent our time in Oregon and we figured out how to do it. And now we are back, so it’s a pleasure to have you guys out here enjoying these tracks. I think we’ve put together some of the best – for mountain bikes at least.” The rain held off for the last day of racing, allowing riders to experience the incredible mountain views and fall colours that first inspired the Trans-Cascadia crew to come to this area.
