[Update: According to a rep from Friends of Forest Park—who were instrumental in making this trail happen—some minor work remains to complete this trail.]
Last Saturday was the second of two trail work parties to complete a new mountain bike trail in Forest Park. The trail, which extends off an existing firelane, is the first new mountain bike trail added to the park since 1988.
The work parties were organized by the Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP), a local non-profit group who organizes rides, maintains trails, and advocates for new ones. PUMP rallied over 40 volunteers who willingly sacrificed a beautiful day of riding to donate an estimated $4400 dollars in sweat equity to the project.
According to PUMP’s Roger Louton, the volunteers trimmed brush to improve sight lines, placed boulders and logs on the trail to control speed, and restored trail edges to reduce erosion.
Their hard work was rewarded by a hearty BBQ (compliments of PUMP) at the bike-friendly Skyline Tavern.
With the new trail complete, eager mountain bikers are awaiting the official “O.K.” to ride it from the Parks Department. Louton says,
“At that point we will notify everyone and schedule a ride. I have heard a date of September 1, but that’s not official.”
Stay tuned to the PUMP website or sign-up to their email list for ride times and details.