Photo: Dylan VanWeelden
June 22-24
Oakridge, OR
Willamette National Forest
For our stewardship commitment in the Willamette Tier, we return to iconic Bunchgrass Ridge. Sunny meadows, giant stands of old growth forest, and lots of hard work await us there. Some crews will be focused on sawyer work, others on brushing, but the majority will be focused on improving the trail's tread.
REGISTER HERE
Bunchgrass Ridge trail follows an inspiring and majestic series of high ridges descending from the summit of Mt. Fuji all the way to the city limits of Oakridge. It's a hard ride in that direction even with the stunning elevation loss, and because of its remoteness and difficulty often does not receive the level of maintenance it deserves. Read about last year's Bunchgrass Stewardship Campout here.
Updates to this page will be posted on April 1st, May 1, June 1st, and June 14th. Those of you on the sign-up list will also receive an email detailing specifics of the work event.
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED - That's right, we just need a smile, a pair of gloves, and a good attitude from you. Our goals for this 3-day event will be focused primarily on mitigating eroded trail tread and clearing undergrowth along trail edges. If you're interested in boosting your trail building skills check out our trailbuilding course on April 28-29 and our Sawyer courses in March and April.
SCHEDULE - We'll set up base camp on Thursday evening, and plan on beginning work after breakfast on Friday morning. Expect to put in a solid 8 hours of trail work on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will be a partial day—leaving some time for a group ride after an early lunch.
Friday, June 22nd
Trail work: 9am - 5pm
Group meal: 6pm
Saturday, June 23rd
Trail work: 9am - 5pm
Group meal: 6pm
Sunday, June 24th
Trail work: 9am - 11:30am
Group ride: 12:30pm - 3:30pm
GETTING THERE - The roads to base camp will be passable by all passenger vehicles. Our group camp location is TBD at this time, but will be determined by April. The nearest town is Oakridge, about a 3 hour drive from Portland.
LOGISTICS - We're camping high in Oregon Cascades in late spring. Weather will may be hot during the day or it may be cold and raining. Mosquitos are an almost guarantee. There is no cell service. There is no potable water.
Our partners at Base Camp Brewing and Stumptown Coffee have generously supplied us with coffee and beer. Nearest fuel and services are 30 minutes away in Oakridge, Oregon.
MEALS - The Oregon Timber Trail Alliance has committed to rewarding our hard working volunteers with breakfasts and dinners for most of the weekend. We will provide dinner on Friday and Saturday and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. You are responsible for other meals and lunches each day.
YOU SHOULD BRING - Tent, sleeping bag, pad, extra toilet paper, lots of water, cooking gear, food, and a camp chair. During the work day Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required to work on public lands; this includes a 6-point suspension helmet (some loaners provided), eye protection, gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirt, and sturdy shoes/boots. If you have a saw helmet with mesh face shield, please bring it as they can come in very handy when brushing. Bring a pack, with water, snacks, mosquito repellent, and sunscreen each day as well. If you have a large pack or BOB trailer, consider bringing it as the trails are steep and rugged and getting tools to where they're needed will be a challenge. And don't forget your bike riding gear—we'll make sure there's some time to ride if you're not too exhausted at the end of the day.
WEATHER - Temperatures can be very hot during the day. Manage your body temp by taking frequent shade breaks, hydrating, and keeping your skin covered. A shirt or bandana soaked in water does wonders. Conditions could also be quite cold and wet. Keep an eye on the forecast the days prior and prepare accordingly.
This is going to be a fun event working, camping, and riding through some high-cascade trails. We're excited and grateful that you're spending a valuable summer weekend giving back to our public lands. On behalf of the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance and the Willamette National Forest a huge thanks goes out to everyone lending a hand at this stewardship event.
A huge thanks to our partners for making this event possible:
Photo: Dylan VanWeelden