(updated – scroll to bottom for latest info) As a mountain biker that admittedly has a love for gravity fed experiences first and foremost, learning about the up and coming Marmot Dam Trail System was nothing short of a treat.
I’ve missed the last two underground DH races at the Marmot Dam trails, so I was stoked to finally make it up and join some of the guys in riding and building on the DH/ Freeride specific trails. The Marmot Trail System is still pretty new- at the moment, they aren’t quite official yet, but that hasn’t stopped a group of dedicated trail builders that have been out there every weekend for the last month, working and riding.
Located 40 miles east of Portland near Sandy, Oregon, the system is a potentially new add on to a multi-site network that is already blowing up, with a number of projects underway and in progress. We recently rode Hide and Seek, a section of the Sandy Ridge Trail system, currently in construction. Built in conjunction with IMBA Trail Solutions, the BLM, and the Northwest Trail Alliance, Hide and Seek delivers the goods for the all mountain or trail rider with the legs needed to pedal the paved three mile climb to the trail head. With sections of pure sweetness, it’s a ride for those willing to invest some sweat pedaling up to earn their descents.
Cole transfers from a kicker into a berm on a really fun hit.
But what of the riders that live purely to go down? This demographic tends to be last on the priority ladder on a lot of totem poles, which is ironic, as this user group is often the most discussed and blasphemed. (which wouldn’t happen if they had a place to go) However, when it comes to actually picking up a shovel, rake, or hoe, it is clear that these riders are not shy to roll up their sleeves and move some dirt.
If you’re a rider that falls under this category, your new favorite place to ride is probably going to be here. (Unless you don’t have a vehicle, and in that case you are screwed, because the city of Portland doesn’t care if you don’t have a place to ride- just don’t build illegal trails in parks near well-to-do neighborhoods. But that is a whole another bag of worms, and one we hope to address and change) It’s the closest shuttle friendly riding spot to the city, and trail builders are more than welcome to contribute on the lines already established. In fact, we saw 20-30 riders here on the Sunday we were out.
Like Sandy Ridge, Marmot lies on BLM land. However, unlike Sandy Ridge, it is still in the process of being approved, and as of yet, still lies in a distinctively grey area. Carey, the owner of Momentum Bike, Hike, and Board, a local shop in Sandy, has been representing the riders in a dialog with the local land managers, and so far, talks have been going well. In fact, Carey is on the verge of filing 501c3 papers for the Sandy Area Bike Coalition, a non-profit being set up to represent riders in the area.
Construction
Several trails and flow lines are already underway, with several trails fully ridable. Most of them are fairly short, but with a graded road in excellent condition, shuttle trucks and riders were moving constantly on it, with the occasional kayak shuttle thrown in the mix as well, as it also serves as a drop off point for boaters.
The first thing we checked out when we arrived was the start of a flowy jump line.
Building an "up" onto an elevated ladder feature on Circus-mouse
At the moment, it is in very early stages of construction, but promises to be a fun line with enough jumps and flow to be a draw. It’s also the last new line the group is starting. Due to the talks in progress, Carey has asked the builders to focus on dialing the existing trails, and to avoid starting any new trails. Things look good though, with many of the trails and features similar to what is found in Falls City, at the Black Rock trails. The biggest difference being the option of being able to shuttle- which is likely to be a huge draw.
After snapping a few pictures, we stashed our gear and joined a group for a few shuttle runs. The equipment the guys were running varied- riders were on bikes ranging from 5-6 travel slopestyle bikes, to full blown DH rigs. On my 6″ all mountain Remedy with dual ply DH tires, I was super happy, as it jumps super well, and can handle a berm with the best of them. There was only one rock garden section of the DH trail we rode later where I felt under gunned- the bulk of the rest of the trails have a fairly mellow tread. (especially for DH/FR trails) What stuck me the most, was how great sections of trail flowed- following a rider down the trails, I hit every feature first try without even having to think about it. Most jumps and drops were fairly small to medium is size, but everything ranked high in the fun factor.
Clearing a stump for the run up.
After getting tour on each trail, we joined a group working on the freeride trail in construction already christened “Circus-mouse.” Ed (the builder) pre-fabricated sections of stringers in his garage before bringing them out to the site, and bolting them together. In just a few short hours, a group of us threw enough dirt into a wood crib to have a landing. (The shovels were never on the ground for more than a few minutes)
However, the ladder didn’t have an approach built yet. That issue was resolved quickly- downed trees were sawed up and placed in to position. And then it was time to test the new feature.
Scoping out the gap
First runs are the best.
The feature was tested, approved, and we tested it some more. After landing on the banked transition, the next bermed turn sets you up and onto another ladder section, which was also a fun jib. The technical level of this trail, while technically a black diamond, or even a double black, due to the gaps, was pretty mellow, and suitable for most intermediate level freeriders. As the trails aren’t finished yet though, skills filters haven’t been added.
Circus-mouse- The previous feature sets you up for this ladder.
Another angle. Nothing too tech, just fun.
After a bit of building and shooting, we packed up our gear and rode some more. It made for a fun way to spend the day. If all goes well, you’ll be hearing a lot about this new riding area. If you’re a rider frustrated with a lack of places to build and ride in the Portland area, this is a great place to direct your energy.
To get more info on the Marmot Dam Trails, contact Carey at Momentum Bikes.
Momentum Bike, Hike, and Board
39150 Pioneer Boulevard
Sandy, OR 97055
(503) 826-1070
Update: trails apparently not so grey- BLM to decommission trails
Unfortunately, days after this story was posted, we received word that the wood structures have been decommissioned. Carey at Momentum had hopes to keep the trails, but I sent off an email to Zach Jerrett at the BLM to learn more about the situation.
BLM Land manager responds:
Hi Jason,
Thanks for taking the time to shoot me an email to clarify the situation
that is occurring at the “Marmot Dam Trail System”. As you very well know
by now the BLM has taken action to decommission these trails and have
requested that no riding, construction or events occur within this area
without BLM permission or necessary permits. I’m currently working with
IMBA to address this situation. The BLM and IMBA have been working
together to design trails adjacent to the Marmot Dam site. These trail
plans are reflected in the Sandy River Basin Integrated Management Plan
(SRBIMP), see attached link. You will notice that the trails that were
planned and designed are to the North of the historic dam site and are not
located next to Marmot Rd., where the majority of these unauthorized trails
have been constructed.http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/plans/sandy_river_index.php
I understand that there is a general lack of DH/Freeride trails close to
the Portland metro area. But providing this opportunity and managing it so
that we can control visitor conflicts and environmental degradation is
extremely difficult. The BLM has a process for evaluating a proposed
action and determining whether or not that action will have environmental
effects. This process was not followed on the Marmot trails.The BLM is currently working on completing the Sandy Ridge Trail System,
and once this network is completed will re-evaluate our plans to offer
additional trail opportunities within the planning area. We are seeing a
tremendous amount of use on the Sandy Ridge Trail system and it is apparent
that mountain bike specific trails close to the Portland metro are needed,
and that the user response is indicitive of that. The BLM, IMBA and NWTA
feel like we are offering a high quality experience for mountain bikers
within the Sandy River Basin, and hope to work with riders in the future to
build on this successful foundation.Feel free to give me a ring if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Zach Jarrett
Lead Outdoor Recreation Planner
Bureau of Land Management
Salem District
What now?
There you have it, straight from the land manager in charge of the district. I understand his point of view- these trails were never approved, and from what I’ve heard, Zach is an avid rider, and probably hates this aspect of his job. I’m still digging for more information on the situation, and hope the freeride trail builders and riders are considered in the equation, as I know from talking to many that they don’t feel represented adequately by either IMBA or NWTA. Hopefully there is a way we can work towards a happy ending here- sanctioned DH and Freeride trails close to the Portland Metropolitan area, with shuttle access- is this too much to ask for?
I know there are a lot of frustrated and really pissed off riders out there with now where close to ride or build. I recognize there is temptation just pick a new place and start rebuilding- I’ve dug dirt jumps for years, and watched them get torn down again and again. However, I believe it is possible to work with IMBA and NWTA to secure the kinds of riding for all types of riders. We have just moved here, but I feel your pain. I am currently contacting members of IMBA and NWTA to get more insight on the situation, and will post updates as I hear them.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
looks so sick, ready to build and ride much closer to portland
BLM had the authorities decommission structures at Marmot Dam today. Not sure if it’s entire trail or certain features. One thing was clear and that is an agreement is not in place for construction of trail features. BLM has this on project roadmap but due to resources devoted to building at Sandy Ridge trail system they aren’t moving forward on the Marmot project for couple years.
Not so gray area really.
Ed and the guys are not going to be stoked. They put a lot of time and effort into Circus-mouse. I wonder if he will at least have the opportunity to remove the materials? I know he invested a lot of his personal money in the 2x4s.
I’m still trying to get more information, but hopefully we can keep the dialog with the BLM open. What is developing at Sandy Ridge is incredible, but it doesn’t fulfill or address DH or Freeriders and access to shuttle-able trails. If these freeriders don’t have or get a sanctioned place to build closer to home, I’m concerned we might see a resurgence in rouge trail building.
With the most recent complains from local land owners. there is a stop build on marmot for now. I was told that we trail builders will be able to save the structures and reuse them in a different spot. As of this morning I was able to find out that a few bordering land owners have had called the law division of blm. complaining about mtber’s in the area. I say get use to it. I was told this morning that they are putting a stop building notice up. The blm has ridin most every trail there and seem to enjoy them as I was told, but a when thing’s get political with land owner’s we lose out. the talk’s are still going. and I will keep everyone updated. They say that were hard to work with and to get a hold of. I say that I own a shop and have all way’s been open to talking about the projects. How hard is that to get a hold of me. I called them on this and they just pointed fingers at someone else. grey area is right when they don’t seem to know what they want. I’ve talked with zack and other’s about the trail’s. so I guess will see. I say this do we as freeride/ downhiller’s want to get push around any more? If talk’s break down on this I say we fight.
Always remember that BLM/Imba/NWTA want to be allies here. Sometimes they can help; sometimes their hands are tied politically, but we never want to lose them as allies. While I often disagree with the policies, I very much respect what Zach, Jason and Tom are trying to do and believe that we all need to support their efforts.
We all know that we generally need to follow the rules, and that we need to be aware of, and prepared for, the consequences when we step outside of the rules. It appears that this is what happened/is happening at Marmot.
This is much greater than simply a FR/DH issue. Knobby-tired niches of every sort are impacted all over the country daily because our mis-categorized, misaligned sport is pushed to the periphery and not taken seriously.
Talk first. Fight second. …and fight smart.
I think it’s time to adopt a page from Critical Mass, begin organized action and demand respect for our sport. If the Wildwood Trail (and downtown Portland, Bend, Sandy and Hood River) began to be clogged on a monthly basis by peaceful, smiling mountain-bikers WALKING their bikes and requesting LEGAL trails, it would not go unnoticed. Getting pissed off, moving to new hidden locations and rebuilding temporarily relieves the pain, but it only exacerbates the larger problem.
.matthew
.matthew,
I totally agree. As much as I’d like to, I don’t speak for freeriders that build illegal trails though. I’m hoping we can establish a dialog with trail builders that build illegal trails and find a place they can build, and harness that energy. Because it is unlikely they will stop building altogether. Unless we want more illegal trails in Forest Park/ Powell Butte/ Washington Park/ where ever, I feel that greater efforts to reach out to these individuals should be made. That said, I’m meeting with Tom Slovak with NWTA later today to brain storm on this.
I hear a lot of good things coming from Zach, yet very little specifics.
-”I understand that there is a general lack of DH/Freeride trails close to
the Portland metro area. But providing this opportunity and managing it so
that we can control visitor conflicts and environmental degradation is
extremely difficult.”
Specific difficulties? Time-lines for evaluation? Identified conflicts in the area being evaluated? Rider or not, all I’m hearing is a boiler-plate response from him. How long did it take Jason to make Sandy Ridge happen, and would it have been as expedient if he hadn’t of had the political will of IMBA behind him? Why is it the BLM are so fast to remove trails, yet take the better part of a year or more to move on well-planned trail projects?
It’s simple cause and effect, folks. Until the cause is addressed, effects will be felt, whether they be good or bad.
Carey,
I’m hearing rumors that (1) the Marmot Trails have been “Dozered?” and (2) Dept of Homeland Security is somehow involved? Both seem radically over the top. I understand Since when did Dirt Brown equate to Terrorist Tan (the new Russian Red)?
Please start a discussion thread on MTBR ORegon or on our Shop’s FB page to keep us up-to-date.
Right now I wish I had more to tell. The trails where not dozered, just the jumps at the start, and the start of the trails. As far as dozered no. It is weird that we as mtber’s get treated as terrorist. I have told zack about the trail in ? and he had even riden them, weird isn’t. This was very over the top. I was told that I was hard to get a hold of, how is that when I run a bike shop and said to them that everyday I’m at the trail from 8:30am till 9:50am till the shop has to open, with every sunday and monday all day. With hundreds of hours in at marmot work trails with a hand shake that we were going to be working with blm on the marmot dam trail project. I do see that Zach is giving very non specific details on this subject. It does sound like a hot plate response. I do know this someone else over stepped him on this. I’ll know more soon, and will post when I know more.
Carey
Momentum bike
Still no word from BLM on this problem and no answer when I call them. I do see that this has not stopped the riding out there. Sounds like a case of the right hand does know what the left hand is doing. the only area that was destroyed was the family area. Maybe just Maybe a family was to big of a group for them to handle. Still waiting.
Hey guys,
Just a thought, but have you contacted the folks at COTA who manage and build the Bend area trails? I can understand the frustration of losing a trail. In my opinion, COTA has developed the relationship for all others to follow when it comes to gaining permits and building trails. Maybe they can share method that has worked for them. From what I saw, when COTA builds a trail it is full on with a tractor, chainsaws, and many many people helping. I think permits are one of the key elements when building mountain bike specific trails. I understand that it can be tough to wait for permission when there are motivated people ready to build and be creative. Keep pushing and good luck with your efforts.
Seems like maybe if they had waited until they got official permission from the BLM their work might not have been in vain. There’s a process, and it’s tedious, but come on, this isn’t the Wild West anymore! How would we feel if rogue Equestrian trail builders were tearing up Sandy Ridge every day with new trails and dropping horseshit on all the singletrack? We’d be pissed and we’d complain to the authorities. Or how about if someone said, “well, no one is using this land right now, I’ll just build a house and a trailer park on it.” Of course we wouldn’t stand for that.
I know neither of these is a perfect parallel, but the examples are instructive- it’s not any private citizen’s land to do with as they please; instead, it is land managed on our behalf by an agency run by bureaucrats that our elected representatives appoint. I know it’s indirect, but WE really manage this land as a citizenry, and no individual or small group of individuals gets to make choices about this land without going through the process. (Obviously, if the trail builders owned a sawmill and some 18 wheelers, they could do whatever the hell they wanted to, but that’s a problem of power and priorities that has little to do with this trail building case).
We’ve got to get a rein on the idea that “if we can, we should.” There’s no land in this country that is so unmanaged that this philosophy of “I do whatever I want” would work.
Actually, there are lots of places like that… we rode a number of trails in the outer ranges of LA that pretty much had motorized users doing whatever they wanted, and the local mountain bikers hid their trails or just made them so twisted up no one on a moto would want to ride them.
As for Equestrians, when was the last time we saw that user group actually do trail work? No, they just throw money around, then ride horses on wet trails, leaving huge holes in the ground from their animals hooves, and droppings.
As for the Marmot area, someday there may be trails there again…