This Saturday, the Portland United Mountain Pedalers will break ground on the first bit of new mountain bike trails in Forest Park since 1988.
With a major assist from the Friends of Forest Park—who spearheaded the grant and permitting process—PUMP is holding a work party to make the new Firelane 5 trail a reality.
According to PUMP’s Roger Louton,
“By doing this, showing we care about the park, helping out, etc, we hope that the Parks Department will be open to adding more trails in the future. This weekend we’ll be adopting Firelane 5 and maintaining it to demonstrate that bikes can be ridden on a trail like this. It (adding MTB trails) does not happen overnight, but slowly but surely riding opportunities for mtb’ers will improve in Portland.
We would not have this opportunity if it weren’t for the hard work of Friends of Forest Park. We look forward to collaborating on more projects with them in the future.”
After this Saturday, there’s another work party planned for August 26th to finish the project.
PUMP will supply the tools and the guidance…and you need to do is show up! If you’ve never been on a trail work party, I highly recommend it. It’s a great feeling to ride on a trail that you’ve put your own sweat equity into.
If you’d like to help out with this exciting effort, go to the PUMP website for all the details.
I’m a roadie but I think I’ll go help out for a day, you know- support the MTBers as well as the largest urban greenspace in the country.
Portland rocks
OH, I’LL BE THERE!
Anyone that has ever ridden a bicycle with knobbie tires on dirt should be helping with this project.
Last I heard during a PUMP meeting, we were going to try and get some city officials there to see how much we want REAL single-track in Forest Park.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!
Thanks, Jonathan, for helping us spread the word. I’ll be there for the work party on the 26th!
My roadie self will be there as well. Congrats mountainbikers, you deserve this.
~n
Hey riders,
I just walked through the new trail route with Brian ot check it out for tomorrow’s work party. Brian has doen an outstanding job working with me on how to make the most user friendly bike/hike trail of a difficult ridge descent. The route now meanders back and forth across the ridge line to provide kinder climbing grades and more interesting, safer, and controlled descent flow. I can’t wait to ride it!
The Americorps crew has brushed out the new route and it is ready for PUMP volunteers to come in a move the organic layer off, and start work on the benching in the soil underneath.
Trail work tips to remember:
1. spread out, there is plenty of room to work.
2. be safe with tools, backs and eyes.
3. pile organic carefully, without mixing the soil in. This will be valuable restoration material for the old trail.
4. pile extra soil for filling in holes or spreading on old trail.
5. Dig out roots and stumps, don’t just prune off at ground level. They will come back to haunt you = punctures, potholes.
Talk to Brian about the rock play area he is considering adding under the power line. This trail is set to be a sweet little piece of singletrack if we do it right.
Thanks for your help, go out there and show Portland Parks/Friends of Forest Park what PUMP can do.
Cheers,
Ric Balfour
To my shame, this will be my first work party. I’m looking forward to putting some ‘sweat equity’ into it as I know I will make good use out of the finished Firelane 5. It’s great to get some more singletrack in forest park.
A BIG thanks go out to the 20 folks who spent a perfect riding day working on the Firelane 5 project. Chris D., thanks for bringing along a Chris King employee, we look forward to seeing more of you guys in them sleek black CK t-shirt’s out on the trail, whether it’s while expertly manning a Pulaski or riding a bike!
Next up, August 26th, same time and place, with a PUMP sponsored BBQ at the bike-friendly Skyline Tavern afterwards! It is OK to give up some saddle time by giving back to these trails we enjoy having access to. Build up some good trail karma, come on out!
Friends of Forest Park, you guys rock!
503-702-4590 for more info or to RSVP.
Next up, August 26th, same time and place,
Top of Saltzman Rd @ Skyline Rd. with a PUMP sponsored BBQ at the bike-friendly Skyline Tavern afterwards! It is OK to give up some saddle time by giving back to these trails we enjoy having access to. Build up some good trail karma, come on out!
503-702-4590 to RSVP, so PUMP buys enough grub for the BBQ afterwards. You will be hungry after digging in the dirt!
Roger Louton, YOUR Western OR IMBA Rep.