2019 Year 5 Work Project
5,500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Green River Complex, Strawberry Mountain Complex, The Dark Divide
5,500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Cowlitz Valley Ranger Districts. Continued Rehabilitation of the Green River Complex, Strawberry Mountain Complex, and portions of The Dark Divide
Project MAP: https://caltopo.com/m/AC88
Common Ground
The 3 part Series was created this year.
Words from Backcountry Horsemen of Washington
“To speak of last summer's Green River Project. Nick I work with all sorts of different folks on many different projects. The Green River Project was without a doubt one of those projects that stuck with me as a highlight of my summer. As a past moto head and mountain biker this project brought me back to my start. I loved the group of folks that we were working with! We shared a common interest and goal for our time together. As an equine user today, I fear being replaced and at the same time recognize the loss would come at cost that our trail system cannot afford. I think or want to believe the folks I was working with recognize our abilities and share in the common concern, we must work together were mutually beneficial for both parties. I look forward to future projects together and have some areas I want to share with you and your team.” - Jason Ridlon, President, Backcountry Horsemen of Washinton
Words from Washington Trails Association
"Our impact is stronger when we effectively collaborate with other user groups to care for trails. WTA works with a variety of partners to advance our common interests including restoring trails we have, planning for new trails and advocating for policies to sustain the incredible trail network we all share. The Gifford Pinchot has some incredible trails, but also a lot of old-school legacy trails that are difficult to maintain. It's going to take everyone pooling their creativity, energy and enthusiasm to make sure our children's children will share the magical trail experiences that the GP has to offer. Linking up with other groups like Trans-Cascadia, Evergreen and the BCHW to restore what we have is a great place to start on that journey." - Ryan Ojerio, SW Washington Regional Manager
The 2019 race took place in these year 5 work project zones:
2018 Year 4 Work Project
5,500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Green River Complex, Strawberry Mountain Complex, The Dark Divide
5,500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Cowlitz Valley Ranger Districts. Rehabilitation of the Green River Complex, Strawberry Mountain Complex, and sections of The Dark Divide
Project Map: https://caltopo.com/m/ULCU
Scouting Reports: Goast Mountain Complex and Strawberry Mountain Complex
Words from Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance:
“When I spoke with Trans-Cascadia for the first time over the phone in Spring of 2018 our chapter was new and we had just taken an active interest in the Gifford Pinchot. We were excited that someone else in the mountain biking community wanted to work on these trails because we knew there was a lot to do out there. What we didn’t know was just how massive the undertaking was actually going to be or how much Trans-Cascadia’s contribution was going to impact the area...for everyone.
"Years of backlogged maintenance had left a lot of GP trails in rough shape. Despite the best efforts of the US Forest Service, BCHA, WTA, VOLT, NWTA, Evergreen, etc., it’s a hard area to maintain even in the best of times. It’s constantly plagued by road access issues and USFS budget challenges only compound that. To give you some perspective on what that really means, the network to the north of Mt St Helens alone can easily see 100-200 trees come down over a winter and brush grows fast and thick. Now add in all of the motorized trails that have the same needs and that scope grows immensely. It probably would have taken our chapter 3-5 years to help make a significant impact. With TC’s help in 2018 and 2019, numerous trails got a full reset which greatly accelerated the timeline in helping us all get caught up.
TC did something that was far more important than amazing trailwork though. They brought passion and inspiration with them and I believe that had the greatest impact. Mountain bikers around the world became aware of the GP. There was a buzz across multiple user groups about what had been done. We all fostered and strengthened relationships with other user groups, made new friends, grew as individuals and became a tighter knit trail community. That’s the real magic of Trans-Cascadia.” - Tyler Forman, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance , Cowlitz-Naches Chapter President/State Board Member
This video was created at our 2018 Work Parties
Trans-Cascadia Trail Work Rigs
Created By Sycip Designs, Shimano & ENVE
The 2018 race took place in these year 4 work project zones:
2017 Year 3 Work Project
4,500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: The Old Cascades Crest Network
4,500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Willamette National Forest: The Old Cascades Crest Network
Project Map: https://caltopo.com/m/FN1Q
Scouting Report: Old Cascades Crest
Words from Oregon Timber Trail
“Trans-Cascadia has been an inspiration for the preservation and rehabilitation of backcountry trail experiences—something the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance holds as core to its mission as well. We learn from each other's successes and when possible collaborate to reopen historic trails through the cascades that date back 100 years or more. Today these trails are key to a sustainable economy in many of Oregon's rural communities. When we work together we not only identify which fallow trails would be good for an enduro course or bikepacking journey, but also which trails will become destination trails—enticing riders from all over the world to explore Oregon's backcountry. In 2017 we partnered to restore the now-popular Old Cascade Crest system, next year we're breaking ground on an Oakridge to Bend connection, and hopefully soon after that linking Oakridge to the North Umpqua or unearthing an abandoned section of the PCT in the Clackamas Headwaters. We've only seen the tip of the iceberg of what Oregon has to offer backcountry mountain bikers and the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance is proud to pull back that mossy blanket alongside Trans-Cascadia and share these trails with the world.”
- Gabe Tiller, Oregon Timber Trail Director
Film on The Old Cascades Crest Trail
Words from Alpine Running
“We are grateful for the vision and hard work of Trans-Cascadia in opening the Old Cascades Crest trails. They unearthed an incredible loop and network of trails not only for mountain biking, but trail runners and hikers. A once forgotten area has been renewed for an entire community to recreate in. Their efforts have created a solid collaboration of multiple groups to maintain these trails. We have partnered with Trans-Cascadia to continue the work they started so all can enjoy!” - Alpine Running
Published Media
Uncovering Trail Gold on Pinkbike
The 2017 race took place in these year 3 work project zones:
2016 Year 2 Work Project
1500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Grasshopper
1500 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Willamette National Forest: Grasshopper
Project Map: https://caltopo.com/m/60PL
About This Project
This was our second year, and we started to venture North along the Willamette National Forest to the McKenzie River Ranger District. 60% of the Race was still on the Middle Fork Ranger District in Oakridge, but we needed to find new trails for the 2016 Race and the close proximity to the Oakridge area by a quick little drive up the Aufderheide and this was a clear next step for the event. This was also a year of evolving in our Trail Work Efforts and so was born our Work Parties. We held 4 formal work events this year, each with a different group of people attending, including our Title sponsors Shimano and Santa Cruz and the fine folks from local PNW retailer EVO. Each of these groups donated time, money or tools to the cause and were a huge factor in opening up and maintaining our backcountry networks this year.
On the Middle Fork Ranger District, we still had work to do to get Grasshopper up and running.
The McKenzie River Ranger District is home to the McKenzie River Trail, a trail known for it’s majestic waterfalls and sapphire blue pools of crystal clear river water and peppered with Old Growth Trees. Adjacent to this beautiful landmark is a trail network called Ollalie, Olearie, Kings Castle. Considerably more primitive, we focused 2 of 4 work parties in this area in search for new trails and maintain existing trails.
Behind the Scenes Year 2 Work Party Video
The 2016 race took place in these year 2 work project zones:
2015 Year 1 Work Project
1000 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Grasshopper
1000 Volunteer Hours Donated
Project Zones: Willamette National Forest: Grasshopper
Project Map: https://caltopo.com/m/60PL
About This Project
In the never ending search for trails to ride and staying true to our blind race philosophy, word was out amongst our community that we were interested in finding and maintaining our backcountry trail networks. Our USFS contact on the Middle Fork Ranger District (Oakridge) was nice enough to share with us some of the trails he felt fit our event needs as well as checked the boxes on some of the USFS deferred maintenance backlogs. An unsaid exchange of volunteer labor for trail information, sweet, we were excited! The topography, the depth of backcountry and the uniquely meadowed landscape was such a sweet treat to stumble upon.
As we look back on our first time setting wheels on this trail, it felt pioneering. Moments where the trail would end and we’d be left searching for any remnants of what was once a more defined mountain top pathway.
The Grasshopper Stage of TC, as we ran it in the race was a Point to Point, beginning at Grasshopper Point to the bottom of Box Canyon and Road 19. It’s a nice little 12 mile bike ride with +2467 of Ascent and -4166' of Glorious Backcountry Descent. Just 12 miles huh? Yep, a comprehensive 12 that you’ll forever remember.
As the trail sat, it was unrideable. We needed to get it running if we wanted to use it for the event which meant cutting hundreds of downed trees and miles of brush work. A small group of us took a stab at this maintenance backlog in the Fall of 2015. For a few days we camped out at Box Canyon Campground, lit large fires, drank whiskey and consumed copious amounts of well executed camp cooking. We then proceeded to break ourselves off each day, working long days, with eyes wide open at the thought of cutting the trail out and turning it into one of the best backcountry rides in Oregon. To this day, the obsession to care for this trail continues. On any given day in the summer you’ll find one of us, likely alone, maintaining a sweet little piece of mountain bike paradise.