upcoming Trail Fest.
(Photos © J. Maus)
The Northwest Trail Alliance has announced the first annual Portland Trail Fest. The event, which organizers says will become their annual signature event, will be a four day “celebration of trails, knobby tires, and the planet.”
Beginning on Earth Day (4/22), the Trail Fest will start with a party at the headquarters of Chris King Precision Components in Portland’s Northwest Industrial Area (rumor has it this event will be held on their roof which overlooks Forest Park). The party will be emceed by Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie and the Director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Mike Van Abel will make a keynote speech on “the current state of affairs and the future of mountain biking across the globe and in our backyard.”
Mike Van Abel will keynote.
On Friday, the Trail Fest — which could be thought of as Portland first-ever mountain bike summit — will turn its attention to trail advocacy and policy issues. The NWTA and IMBA will hold meetings with local land management agencies and there will be a leisurely “PDX Advocacy Ride” followed by a social.
Saturday’s agenda will take mountain bikers outside of Portland to a new trail system on BLM land just east of Sandy. The Sandy Ridge Trail System (which features we reported on back in August 2008) is about a half-hour drive from Portland and features trails designed with the held of IMBA and the NWTA is the BLM’s official volunteer and stewardship partner. There will be a “trail care party” followed by a ride.
On Sunday, the Fest wraps up with a “fun-filled day of riding some of the sweetest trails in our region and featuring various group rides in and around Portland, for all levels of riders.”
Learn more about the Trail Fest on the NWTA website.