Update: Hood River Area Trail Stewards (HRATS)

By White Lotus Media on October 20, 2021 • ( 0 )

Howdy riders,

We hope you’re pulling out your layers for some chill and chilly fall riding. Here’s our news for the week:

Nestor is Next

If it’s not yet on your radar, let us inform you of great plans for a trail update on the north bank of the river—Nestor 26. The 26-mile trail system (formerly known as Buck Creek) near Husum is set for a big facelift.

The loop was first built on Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land in the 1980s and has long been neglected. The vision is to eventually revitalize the full loop that circles Penny Ridge, Middle Fork, Timberhead, Nestor Peak, and lower and upper Baldy. (Click here to see the proposed map that has been submitted to the DNR and is subject to change.)

The project has five clear objectives: to reduce user conflict, maximize existing parking infrastructure, create trail loop options, rebuild missing links, and provide a diverse trail experience.

Organizers see the potential for a rawer, less developed system than Post Canyon with lots of options for epic, longer rides. The effort was first proposed by a local group in fall of 2020. To date, about $11,000 has been raised to get this project started, and a connector trail was completed in spring of 2021. The next stage in the project will be working with DNR on lower climbing trails. The effort is a cooperation between HRATS and the Columbia Area Mountain Biking Association (CAMBA).

Want to help out? Let us know you want to volunteer or make a donation here.

Continuing Newsy Bits: Post Enduro, HRATs Calendar, Post Canyon Survey, Work Parties

The Cascadia Dirt Cup still needs volunteers to pull off the rescheduled Post Canyon Enduro October 16-17. The weekend includes a new Youth Series on Sunday. They need course marshals, sweeps, parking gurus, aid stations, party pros, and timers. Sign up here.

The fun and fabulous 2022 HRATS Calendar Contest is open for submissions now through Halloween. Enter your best shots of Gorge-area trails ($15 per submission) and then pester your friends and family to vote for your photo ($1 per vote). It might sound complicated, but the simple part is that it helps raise lots of money for trails. Voting is now open. Check out the contest details and vote for your favorite photos here.

The Hood River County Trail Committee and HRATS are looking for input to improve signage in Post Canyon. Please take this quick survey to help us out. Fall Work Parties are scheduled for October 23 and November 13 with plans to improve many local favs. Sign up here (and make a note if some other day works better for you.)