Methow Chapter: 2024 Recap and Trail Updates
Each year, the Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance takes on the responsibility of opening up many of the summer trails here in the Methow. We start methodically at Sun Mountain, and then turn our attention to other beloved trails in the Tripod area and beyond.
For such a small organization, we cleared over 50 miles of singletrack this year alone! While we could say that we are all in this endeavor for the sweet jumps, flowy berms and steep lines, that's not why we're here. Mountain biking and summer trail use, to many of us, is a deeply felt and passion filled endeavor. Trails are what we seek when we want to explore. Trails are places we go with our friends to connect and recharge. They are also places we go for solace and reflection.
In many respects, the summer trail system that we share here in the Methow forms the backbone of a large, inclusive and supportive community. As always, it is an honor to help support this trail system that means so much to so many people.
Give Methow:
As you work your way through our annual report, please consider donating to Evergreen during the Give Methow fundraising campaign, October 1-31st. 100% of your donation will go directly to supporting trail in the Methow next year. Thank you again for all your support!
2024 by the Numbers:
2024 Trail Budget: $127,750
Trail Maintenance: $46,500
New trail Construction: $73,000
Operating Expenses: $5,000
Outreach and education: $3,250
Advocacy and Trail Work:
1500+ hours of volunteer trail work on Methow Valley summer trails this year.
Sun Mountain: It is the trail system we all know and love. From Pete’s Dragon to Coal Creek and up and over Thompson Ridge, our EMBA staff and dedicated volunteers built and continue to maintain this 25 + mile network.
- 250+ trees logged out from April- October
- 20 miles of tread rehabbed
- 1500 ft extension of Climb it Change completed
- 300 volunteer hours tuning Pete’s Dragon and Wild Turkey
- 25 miles of brushed trails (yeah, fire weed is a real pain!)
- Climb it Change retaining wall and raised trail completed ( this was done in partnership with the MVRD to minimize erosion and bolster side slope that had been compromised as a result of the Cedar Creek fire)
- New 3.0 mile descending trail permitted starting from the Summit of the Thompson Ridge Trail descending to the bottom of Coal Creek.
What to expect for 2025:
- Continued Spring log out and maintenance
- Reworking and re-routing the beginning of the Thompson Ridge Trail and Woodpecker to mitigate soil and erosion concerns due to the Cedar Creek Fire
- Plans for a new descending trail from the top of Thompson Ridge connecting to Coal Creek
Loup Loup/Tripod Area: In case you haven’t checked it out, Loup Loup is becoming its own stand alone trail system. Trails like Ursus, Telemark and Bear With Me are quickly becoming part of our trail vernacular.
- Completion of Ursus, a 1.0 mile black descending trail
- Completion of Buckaroo, a 2.0 mile green cross country Loop around the Loup Loup Base area
- Completion of Bear With Me, a 2.0 mile climbing trail. We are actively working with the Methow Valley Ranger District to permit and build the lower portion of Bear With Me; which will start directly across from the exit of Usus.
- Total trail mileage completed in 2024; 6.5 miles
Coming Spring of 2025: Oso Peligroso; a 2.0 mile blue tech trail with additional 1.0 mile trail leading to the Loup Loup Base area.
Other trail maintenance:
- Completion of brushing of Blue Buck
- Clearing and tread rehab on Bear Mountain Trail
Recap of our Dig + Ride Campout weekend at Loup Loup:
Over 30 folks came out to the Loup for our annual Dig + Ride Weekend at the end of September. This is an annual event hosted by the Methow Chapter that focuses on community, trail building, maintenance projects and group rides in the Tripod / Loup Loup area.
Over half a mile of trail was hand dug by our amazing volunteers. Many rocks were moved, slabs exposed and backslope sculpted. We worked on a new Blue descent trail, named “Oso Peligroso.” Be on the look out for this trail opening in the spring of 2025!
For next year, we will be turning the focus of our September Dig + Ride events back towards restoring historic forest service system trails in the Tripod area and beyond.
Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, we couldn’t do this without you!
Looking towards to the Future:
As we look toward 2025 we have so many exciting projects and plans. Be on the lookout for more trail connectivity and trail work at Loup Loup. We will continue our commitment to maintaining summer trails at Sun Mountain. In addition, we know that there are many historic forest service system trails desperately in need of maintenance. Look for more ways to get involved in bringing these trails back into circulation. It's a high priority of ours.
Lastly, we cannot do any of this meaningful work without our dedicated members, volunteers, supporters and trail staff. Please consider us when donating during the Give Methow Campaign. We are hoping to raise 14,000 dollars to continue our important summer trail work next season. It won’t happen without your support.
It is an honor to be a part of this amazing and vibrant trail community and we value helping create meaningful experiences. We also know that the success of our organization is a result of dedicated volunteers and supporters. THANK YOU! We look forward to connecting with all of you who make this community such a rad place to live and ride. See you on the trails!
Council Members
Joe Brown: Chapter President
Carolyn Marquardt: Vice President
Josh Gewirtz: Treasurer
Eric Strand: Secretary
Nick Brown
Cody Olson
Benjamin Drummond
Professional Trail Crew
Austin Graham
Eric Zimmerman
Blake Joseph
Jack Brown
Cody Olson