White River Recreation Area
Trail Host Page

Hosted by John Loomis
(contact)

Mt. Bike Trails in White River Rec Area
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Skookum Flats
White River
Sun Top
Noble Knob
Ranger Creek
Palisades
Deep Creek

BBTC is working with the FS to keep the trails in this area maintained. The FS funding for seasonal trailwork personnel is limited and "seasonals" are often pulled off trailwork to fight fires, leaving trailwork undone. The FS relies on volunteer organizations to help maintain the multitude of trails in this area and we enjoy the chance to show that mt. biking is a low impact recreational activity and that mountain cyclists are responsible members of the community. Additionally, for every volunteer hour we expend the FS receives grant money to help pay for the seasonal trail work employees.

The purpose of this page is to keep the mt. bike community in touch with issues in this area and informed about trail maintenace parties. Join us in maintiaining some classic mt. bike trails. Look for upcoming work parties in the Trail Work Party area of our site.

Resources:
USFS Trail Report for White River Rec Area
The USDA FS - Mount Baker/Snoqualmie website

Work Party Highlights:

Spring Work Parties, 2005: This year has brought a renewed effort in the White River Recreation area. In March downed trees were cleared off Skookum Flats and several erosion problems were repaired. In April three boulders ranging from 600 lb to 1,200 lb were removed from the Palisades switchbacks. These boulders had landed on the trail in years past and were forcing people off the trail to the outside of the boulder, resulting in erosion and safety problems (see photo of before and after on this page).

IMBA/BBTC Epic ride and work party, September 2004: As part of IMBA's Epic series of events, BBTC hosted the work party and ride. The group camped out at the Ranger Creek Airstrip for the weekend, and conducted a great work party on the White River Trail. There were two spots that were re-routed to repair eroded areas of the trail. Pictures of the event.

Sun Top Crosscut Tree Removal, July 2003: High fire danger and a ban on open flame and power tools left few options for removing trees from the Sun Top trail. We opted to use a 4' crosscut saw hauled in, with other tools, on a BOB trailer. Thanks to the brawn of Ethan Espie and Robert Miller (see photo this page) we were able to remove a couple 20" trees and a few small ones. It was a good reminder to get in early to remove trees while chainsaw use is still allowed.

Palisades Rock Slide November 2002: In late October there was a rock slide on the switchbacks below the stairway on the Palisades trail. BBTC spent 4 days moving rock and fallen trees from the buried trail, constructing crib walls to strengthen the trial with most of the rubble. We built 11 crib walls, armoured slopes and moved rock up to 500 lb using block and tackle. This was the maiden voyage of BBTC's grip hoist which was instrumental in removing an 800 lb tree stump off the trail. Thanks to trail crew leaders Art Tuftee and Robert Miller.

Half Camp, September 2002: In September BBTC repaired a Hydraulic Ram Pump at Half Camp horse camp near Crystal Mt. ski area. BBTC replaced all the piping (materials paid for by the FS) and installed a constant head tank to ensure proper operation of a pump that had been installed years prior but had not reliably functioned. The pump supplies a water trough in camp 200 feet from the creek. Proper operation of the pump will ensure that the creek will not be impacted by horses seeking a fresh water source. This is an example of a project that does not directly affect mt. bike trails but helps the National Forest who is in the best position to help us when we need it.