Timberline Lodge — about 55 miles east of downtown Portland — is working with the U.S. Forest Service and the consulting firm that created the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park to create a world-class mountain bike area on Mt. Hood.
According to Timberline’s website (pointed out to me by a friend yesterday — thanks Gabe!), the downhill trails would be fully lift-serviced and are currently scheduled to open in Summer of 2011. The initial project scoping has begun and Timberline is actively seeking comments, words of support, and ideas from mountain bikers.
On their website, Timberline Lodge says they are taking this project seriously:
“We see mountain biking as an integral part of our year-round recreation plan, and will treat this project as one of the primary pillars of our company’s future…”
They also point out that one of the motivations for the undertaking is an increasing number of “homegrown mountain bike trails popping up all over the forest.” Timberline sees the creation of a mountain bike park as a way to actively manage bike usage:
“By creating an amazing venue for mountain biking within our managed boundary, our hope is that it will lessen the impact of the sport in other areas of the forest.”
Having something akin to Whistler Mountain Bike Park just an hour from Portland would not only be epic for mountain bike lovers — it would be a major boon to Oregon’s economy and would instantly put Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood on the international biking map. I’m waiting to hear back from several people and hope to share more information about this exciting project as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading.
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About freakin’ time! Will they import some bears to wander the slopes too? Makes it alot more exciting.
Better start looking for a new bike…
Finally! This is such a great idea, I only wish it could be completed sooner. As far as their hope of alleviating the strains of MTB use on other areas of the forest around Hood, I’m afraid it will have to opposite effect. Having a world class MTB park at Timberline will only increase the frequency of riders in the forest, and this a GOOD thing.
I’m counting down the hours.
I also hope this does more for MTB advocacy in Oregon in general, and especially around Portland. MTB’ers are a seriously under served group of passionate and responsible people. Of course like in any group there are the bad apples (illegal trail builders), but the vast majority of mountain bikers volunteer to build/maintain trails and are pro-environment. We will not go quietly into the night.
Would this be the only place in the world where in the summer you can take a lift up and mountain bike for a while, then take the lift a little further up and snowboard?
This is great news. While I am more of a cross-country MTB nerd, I am glad that my adrenalin fueled brethren are getting some great new world class trails.
This is great, but it’s still idiotic that (unlike in many American cities) you have to get in a CAR and drive an hour from “green” Portland to go mountain biking.
And for those who can’t wait until next year for lift served mountain biking on Mt. Hood … guess what? It already exists! Mt. Hood Skibowl has had a lift-served mountain bike park in operation for many years. I remember riding there at least as early as 1997:
http://www.mthoodadventurepark.com/bikepark.htm
Is it going to be bigger and better than Skibowl?
YES!
I guess with our glaciers melting, TL decided they needed a reliable source of summer income…
Time to go bike shopping…
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never got the downhill mountain bike thing till I went to Whistler. It is like a religious experience – if you have not been there you have no idea. If they can do this on Mt. Hood, the way they have done it in Whistler, it very well may change the fabric of space time itself!
This will split the tree people from the bike people.
Good luck with the environmental impact statement.
Ski Bowl is/ was a joke. this will be designed by people that know how to build good trails.
As a retailer I hope this will get this segment up and rolling a bit more in portland. I like dh bikes and want to cultivate more of this kind of customer. I picked up the commencal line with hopes I could sell a few freeride bikes, but now maybe full dh rigs can happen.
No matter what this is a really exciting prospect. Once people start getting the lift up and ride down bug, they tell people and the whole scene will explode.
I recall pushing (seriously, a very, very long push) a Diamondback Topanga up to the top of the palmer in like 1986 or so. The bike was way to big for me. And was of no quality at all.
Boy did that suck!
I do however think that Ski areas have been given far too much leeway in destroying habitat. For a very long time.
While it is too late to turn around that huge mistake, no more habitat at established ski areas should be committed to use for anything other than reparations.
I do however think that since they have already destroyed a bunch of the Mt, might as well have some more riding to do.
As long as it is done within areas that they already lease.
HELLLL YEA, WONT HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN ANYMORE !!!
TANKAGNOLO BOB
Wicked excited about this as my company is the only DH company here in Portland: One Ghost Industries. We moved here from New Mexico because of the cycling culture and the lack of a true mountain bike culture and scene close to home has made us consider relocating away from Oregon but this just may be enough to keep us here!