The Northwest Trail Alliance is a lot more than PUMP (the group known as the Portland United Mountain Pedalers) rebranded.
No, this is a group focused and dedicated to making places to ride a reality. And that includes DH, Freeride trails, and dirt jumps too. Not the PUMP of old. I’ve been spending a good deal of time corresponding and meeting with key members of the NWTA about Freeriding opportunities- specifically those that require shuttling. That’s right- those with your dual crown forks- you have not been forgotten any longer.
Of course the major success story of the day is the new trail system in development at Sandy Ridge. To celebrate these new trails, (and others) the Planet, and mountain biking in general, they are throwing a big party April 22-25. Dubbed the Portland Trail Fest, it promises to be a good time.
To get things started right, they are starting off with a Portland-style party (what is that like anyway? As someone that just moved back, I guess I’ll have to go to find out) at Chris King headquarters in NW Portland. Yeah, that place that makes the headsets and hubs that look like jewelry for your bike. THAT Chris King. They’ll be some people speaking too. But the important thing is that you’ll have a pint of Hopworks Urban Brewing organic beer in your hand, and you’ll have your buzz on. (don’t try to steal a headset, you’ll go to jail!)
Then on Friday, there will be a ride and social- more details to follow, but it will be open to members and non-members alike.
On Saturday, (4/24) head out to the new Sandy Ridge Trail System, just east of Sandy for a trail care party from 9am to 1pm, where you can help dial in this trail.
Sumday, 4/25 will be a day of various group rides in and around Portland. Details are coming for this one too. Expect us at the one with the sweet jumps.
From April 22 through April 25, Northwest Trail Alliance and IMBA will kick off the 2010 trail riding & trail care season in earnest, with the inaugural edition of the PORTLAND TRAIL FEST, a four-day-long celebration of trails, knobby tires, and the planet (yes, April 22 is Earth Day!). And we enthusiastically invite you to join us for the festivities!
This new event – slated to become our annual signature spring event – will provide a great opportunity to connect with fellow riders, get your hands dirty working the trail (and earning good trail karma!), and get out there with new and old friends alike to ride some awesome trails.
On Thursday (4/22), we’ll kick off things with a not-to-be-missed, Portland-style party at Chris King headquarters in NW Portland. Local bike celebrity and cyclist-of-all-trades Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie will be our emcee for the evening and IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel will provide the evening’s keynote on “the current state of affairs and the future of mountain biking across the globe and in our backyard.” We’ll have a couple other speakers, but first and foremost this event will be an opportunity for you to mingle and socialize with fellow riders and trail stewards, and meet some of the great folks who manage and care for the trails we ride. All with a tasty cup of Hopworks Urban Brewing organic beer in hand.
On Friday (4/23), we will focus on trail advocacy and policy issues, featuring NWTA/IMBA meetings with local agencies and a leisurely PDX Advocacy Ride with Mike Van Abel (tentatively at Powell Butte) followed by a social. Both the ride and the social are open to members and non-members alike. More details to follow soon.
On Saturday (4/24), we shift our focus to trail care and to the new Sandy Ridge Trail System, located on BLM land just east of Sandy. This new, MTB-specific trail system was designed and built with the help of IMBA and Northwest Trail Alliance has stepped up as the BLM’s volunteer/stewardship partner for these trails. We will host a trail care party from 9 am through 1 pm, followed by a discovery ride of the new trails in the area. Make sure to check out this video to get an idea of how fun a trail this is!
On Sunday (4/25), we will wrap up the Portland Trail Fest with our “Rides of Spring”, 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. Stay tuned for more details. On Sunday, Northwest Trail Alliance will also have a presence at the Bear Springs Trap XC Mountain Bike Classic that day, so if you are into bike racing and like to experience what many consider the greatest XC MTB course in Oregon, we sure hope to see you out there!
For more info head to NW-Trail.org
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