WE ARE OPEN!

We will have to search the records but Thanksgiving Day 2011 might be our earliest opening in history! The trails are fantastic right now. Here are some photos from the past couple of days. Please be sure you are skiing with a pass and have it visible for our staff! ENJOY!

Chewuch Transportation Plan: Your Input Needed ASAP!

Dear Trail Supporter,

Your input is needed regarding the USFS Chewuch Transportation Plan. The Comment Period ends Nov 15, 2011 so time is short! You can see the scope of this project here. We believe that having a unified and consistent voice is paramount in ensuring that we continue to have sustainable, diverse and high quality recreation, regardless of our preferred activities.

While this particular project is limited to the Chewuch drainage, the Forest Service will be evaluating roads valley-wide in years to come. We have the opportunity to actually improve our trails and access to them if we all comment. By commenting on important access roads, we and the Forest Service can focus resources on those roads most critical to our recreation. The Forest Service needs our help identifying both the use and the value of their roads so they can determine which roads to keep for current or future use and which roads to decommission.

To make responding easier and quicker, we’ve drafted a letter for you to personalize and email to comments-pacificnorthwest-okanogan-methowvalley@fs.fed.us , which is below. Please make sure you personalize and add to this letter to make sure your comment counts. The letter includes general comments that Methow Cycle & Sport and MVSTA have identified, however, there are likely others you may want to include depending on your interests and time.

For those that primarily road ride, one of the most important proposed changes is downgrading Falls Creek Road from a paved to gravel road. While it doesn’t make fiscal sense to maintain a paved road like Falls Creek, it is one of the most used roads for cyclists and reducing it to gravel would remove one of the best road climbs in the Methow Valley. Percentage wise, Falls Creek is one of three significant road climbs (Loup Loup, Washington Pass, Falls Creek) and the only one not on a State Highway. If you want to see Falls Creek remain paved, you can add a section giving your perspective. Facts and statistics are far more effective than anecdotal stories, so please consider your rationale carefully in your response.

Thanks for your attention and time.

COPY AND PASTE THE LETTER BELOW INTO AND EMAIL TO comments-pacificnorthwest-okanogan-methowvalley@fs.fed.us BY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15!

Dear Chewuch Transportation Plan Proposed Action Team:

After reviewing the Chewuch Transportation Plan, I have compiled the following comments for your consideration on the proposed Chewuch Transportation Plan.

General Comment: Overall I would like to commend the Forest Service for explaining the rationale behind the proposed road closures and hope that the “fireside chat” forum will be used in the future by the Forest Service for comments on further transportation plans around the Methow. I also want to commend you for recognizing the problems of a diverse and expansive road/recreation system that doesn’t have a focus for resources to be applied toward. This is not only an issue for you in the maintenance of the roads but a crux for all who depend on the recreational opportunities in the Methow Valley.

As an active insert recreational activity here, my hope is to provide feedback that is productive for multi-use recreation and includes biking, running, hiking, horse back riding, and in some cases motorized recreation. The specific comments below have been formulated in two main categories; A.) Maintain existing high use and high value trail/road systems that have proven economic and recreation value, B.) Identify future high value trail/road system connections that have the potential to focus recreation opportunities in pockets that can be managed, marketed, and used more effectively than the current dispersed road system.

A. Existing High Value Trail/Road Comments
• MVSTA currently operates the “Cougar Mtn. Loop” on road 5215175. The current proposal is a Unauthorized road to a Decommissioned road. This road is a historic and critical piece of the world famous ski trail system that provides millions of dollars of income to this region. If the proposed action would jeopardize the ability to groom this road in the future please consider an alternative change.
• Connection West Chewuch (Buck Mtn area) to East Chewuch (Boulder creek, Pearrygin Creek area) by maintaining the decommission status on roads 3700999 and 5010740 but do it in a way that allows for future recreation use. Both these roads are vital connections that make “loop” trails possible. Connections between currently popular biking destinations also create more sustainable management cost because they focus resources for fewer parking areas, trailheads, signs, etc. Ideally the focused ski trail system operated by MVSTA in the winter can provide the model for connecting a focused summer trail system.
• Insert your particular comments, recommendations here such as Falls Creek

B. Future High Value Trail/Road Comments
• MVSTA is considering long term plans to address the potential effects of climate change. The Chewuch road system presents great potential towards any future transition to higher elevation trails/roads. At this time MVSTA is not in a position to comment on specific roads that may connect future trail systems together or to the existing trail system but would like to have the ability to assess and make recommendations in the future. This is of vital importance to the Methow Valley economy.
• In general gating is preferred to berming where ever decommissioning is happening. This allows for potentially lower costs in the reopening of decommissioned roads should an organization re-asses a particular road becoming high value in the future and they have the resources to maintain it.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Address
Your email address

Make $$, Save $$

It's time to clean out your gear closet for the annual MVSTA Sports Swap, Saturday, November 5th. This is a great opportunity to make some extra money and save some cash on purchasing other great sporting good items. It's also your last opportunity to save $25 on your annual season ski pass. Sellers can get more information on our website. For buyers the sale starts at 10am and runs only until noon before the great stuff is gone. Hope to see you there for this great community kick-off to winter!

Bikathlon Photos

Thanks to everyone who came out today for our try Bikathlon! The Methow Valley Biathlon Team greatly appreciates your support. Here are all the photos which you are free to download and share as you wish.

Jack of All Trades--only his name is Rob

We welcome Rob Seckinger as our new MVSTA Trails Manager. Here's a little bit more about Rob:
Rob has spent most of his adult life working in the outdoors. He has worked as a Whitewater River Guide and Instructor, an Outward Bound Instructor, a professional Ski Patroller and he worked for the Forest Service. Interspersed between his many outdoor education/guiding jobs he has worked in the building trade.
8 years ago, Rob and his family moved to the Methow from Lummi Island where they had been operating a Sea Kayak touring company. In the Methow, Rob has worked primarily as a Carpenter and General Contractor in the summer and groomed the ski trails for MVSTA in the early morning hours of winter.
Rob shared this about his most epic adventure, "In 2009 my wife, Ina, and my two kids, Maya and Wiley, rode tandem bikes across the country on a self-supported journey. This ride was an incredible experience for all of us and showed us how lucky we were to live in such a beautiful place with such an incredible trail system. Of the 3331 miles, we rode we experienced over a thousand miles of trails and bike paths connecting communities across our nation. The fact that I now get to work full time for such a trail system is exciting. When I 'm not out working on the trails, I will be dreaming of the next big adventure or hanging out with my kids at school, sports, or just having fun."

Interview with Craig Bierly

The Methow Valley doesn’t see to many celebrities so when we spotted Craig Bierly’s famous Dodge Sprinter van in our small, Western town we ran over to it like Paparazzi. Craig Bierly has been written about in nearly every bike magazine on the planet simply because he is living the dream so many of us have wished for at one time or another in our lives…..to hit the open road and either ski, bike, hike or run every trail in the US. In Craig’s case he has chosen to travel the US and explore every mountain bike trail he can find. He is currently on his third year of living on the open road riding every trail he can.
Craig graciously agreed to talk with us and share a little more about his life and his experiences biking in the Methow. After showing off our favorite Buck Mountain bike trail Craig sat down with a shot of local tequila and answered some of our questions:

Let’s start at the beginning. How did this idea for a new lifestyle of living out of a van and mountain biking all the trails in the US begin?
In 1978 I quit a great job to hike the full length of the Pacific Trail. My friends called me nuts which is how I came up with my slogan, RUNuts Adventures. www.runutsadventures. After the PCT I went to work for Boeing for the majority of my career. I got into mountain biking in 1985 and I remember reading all these bike magazines of places to ride and cutting out all the articles on Moab, Fruita, Sedona, etc. I always dreamt of riding in those places. One day it hit me that “My time with no money is better than my money with no time”. So again I quit my job, sold my house and started this journey of living out of a van at age 59.

And was it your plan right from the beginning to mountain bike all the trails in the US?
No. Actually I thought I would take my kayak, backpack, skis and bikes with me but then I realized if I took all those things I never would really accomplish anything. I really like mountain biking, it’s easy on my body and it’s a sport I can do 12 months of the year. I love backcountry skiing but living out of a van in the winter is not easy. I did end up bringing my backpack but in three years I have never used it.

I see you also did bring a road bike, do you ever road ride instead of mountain bike?
No, not really. I’ve only been on the road bike 4 times in three years!

You have ridden in every state and on nearly every acclaimed, classic, epic mountain bike trail in the nation. Do you have a favorite mountain bike trail?
I hesitate every stating a favorite trail. What might be a favorite for me might not be a favorite for you. “Favorite trails” are ones that make you feel something special. Maybe it's the type of terrain you like, or the group of friends you are with or your favorite type of scenery is on that ride. Everyone should embrace their own favorite trail. I have however ridden on some great trails. I have thought about maybe starting a “Craig’s List” (get it, Craigslist) of some of the lesser known trails in the US.

What is the goal of this adventure?
Well the goal started out to be simply riding all the trails in the US. But what it really has become is a quest to meet new people in the mountain biking community and listen to what they are doing. I’ve become such an advocate for trails, proper trail building practices, sustainability and proper land use. Now the goal is to seek out interactions with land managers, bike club presidents and bike shop employees. The rides really have become the excuse to become more involved in mountain bike advocacy. So I guess my goal really is to share what I know in order to help make a better community for mountain biking.

So when is your adventure going to end?
I’m having too much fun to quit. When I started this I thought I would go two years, I’m not on my third year and I have no plans to stop.

Can we ask how much it costs you to live?
I spend $20,000 per year. The majority is spent on food although about $6000 per year is spent on my bike. I rarely ever pay to camp. In three years I have only spent 9 nights out of my van and those were all for medical reasons. I’ve put 70,000 miles on the van and diesel is a big expense. I’ve chose to not be too frugal with my lifestyle. I really like spending money in the brew pubs and bike shops as this is where I can meet the most people and connect with the community.

Any other insights about life on the road?
I once met a guy who has been living on the road for 33 years. He was an inspiration. Even though I travel I never miss a dentist appointment; every 6 months like clockwork. Each segment of America is so different. The South is really dirt poor, the Midwest has really bad beer, New England is cold, harsh and really not that friendly primarily due to the population density. Everywhere however, has great trails.

And your thoughts on the West and the Methow Valley:
The West has great coffee, brew pubs and more public land than the rest of the country. The van’s license plates are Washington and it’s where I started from. I got shivers learning about the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association and the work you are doing with trails and working with private and public land owners. It may be a goal of mine in the future to start something like what you are doing in the Methow. I’m really enjoying my time meeting people and riding in the Methow.

Cutthroat Classic Photos

Thanks to everyone who came out today for another fantastic Cutthroat Classic trail run.
The photos downloads are available for free. Please enjoy them anyway you wish.
Thanks again,
MVSTA