Mt Bikers; Attempts to stop timberline mtb park

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 292 Posts Obsessed

This sucks.....

Dear Members and friends -

Mazamas Executive Council will be making a signifigant and difficult decison on Tuesday March 12th, 2013 surrounding the proposed mountain bike park development at Timberline Lodge, which is scheduled to start construction in the summer of 2013.

Friends of Mt. Hood with support from the CRAG law center have asked the Mazamas to be involved both in name and with administrative and financial support in a forthcoming lawsuit and injunction against the USFS and Timberline/RLK Mgmt. to stop the building of these mountain bike trails.

Executive Council will be deciding if we should participate in this lawsuit and injunction next Tuesday at 7PM and wants and needs YOUR input on the decision. There are a multitude of issues to consider, as well as signifigant potential costs and benefits on both sides of the decision.

Mazamas has previously opposed the project at the recommendation of Mazamas Conservation Committee because the Executive Council agreed that it was very important that the USFS carefully evaluate the potential enviromental impacts of the project. The USFS performed an Environmental Analysis and issued a 'Finding of no signifigant impact' decision http://goo.gl/wHqcq on 11/19/13. Mazamas then signed onto an administrative appeal of this decision to the Regional USFS office. On 2/28/13 the Regional USFS office affirmed the decision by Mt. Hood National forest to allow the project to proceed, along with a variety of mitigation and monitoring efforts.

Here is the USFS page with several linked documents on the project:

http://goo.gl/tA6mk

Here is the Timberline Lodge website describing the development:

http://www.timberlinelodge.com/play/other-mountain-activities/mountainbike/

Here is the Friends of Mt. Hood page describing their position on this development:

http://www.friendsofmounthood.org/Timberlinebikepark.htm

Meeting Details

The meeting will be held on March 12th, 2013 at the Mazama Mountaineering Center at 527 SE 43rd Ave. in Portland and discussion around this item will begin at 7PM. All members and the general public are welcome to attend. Anyone who wishes to present or speak to Executive Council on the matter will be alloted 2-3 minutes. Please contact Lee Davis our Executive Director at lee@mazamas.org in advance and/or arrive as early as possible if you wish to speak and no later than 6:20PM so that we can get you on the list. We intend to fairly divide the presentation time between differing viewpoints. We are encouraging input and expect high attendance. Presentations will end at 8PM, Executive Council will discuss and debate as they see fit until 8:20PM and the decision will be made at 8:25PM.

Thank you,

Doug Couch

President

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

they have a pretty weak argument against the bike park. Erosion can be controlled with numerous methods. The traffic argument may hold up, but that just means they need to expand the road to alleviate traffic, or start shuttles like they do at the Grand Canyon & Zion. As far as not meeting some visitor's expectations, I think its outrageous to say that. Everyone has different expectations, so don't worry about it.

Still, if anyone can turn out and speak in support of the bike park, that's huge.

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

I expect every time I'm in hood river it's 80 degrees and perfect 8m west wind.

A.K. · Since 01 Jul 2006 190 Posts Stoked

I am in shock... Mountaineers that don't support Mt. Biking??? I would have expected the Mazamas to be on the opposite side of the tracks and actually be pushing for Mt. Bike development and access..... Whats the deal with these climbers?

forrest · Sun Mar 10, 13 8:36 pm

The real funny thing is the Mazamas are being complete hippocrates here. Those guys bring in bus loads of people during their training courses... Weekend at Horse Thief Butte...