For more than two decades, our emphasis has been placed on safeguarding the natural environment at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area, which operates on national forest land under a special use permit. This area contains the Stringer Meadows wetlands complex and the large Hood River Meadows Wetland, numerous fragile alpine meadows, clear flowing streams that feed into the East Fork of Hood River, and high alpine stands of mountain hemlock and slow growing white bark pine. Over the years Friends of Mount Hood has opposed various plans for major resort development at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area, and recently we have fought a proposal for a destination resort near the Cooper Spur Ski Area on the northeast slope of the mountain.

Alert:   Timberline's proposal for Mountain Bike Trails and Skills Park

In the spring of 2010 the operator of Timberline Ski Area and Timberline Lodge, RLK & Co., submitted to the Mt. Hood National Forest a proposal to construct and operate within the ski area a lift-assisted downhill mountain bike trails network and a skills park. The proposal involves

• developing an extensive trail network for downhill mountain bike riding within the area served by the Jeff Flood Express Chairlift,
• adding bike carriers to the Jeff Flood Express Chairlift for use by bike riders during summer months,
• developing a skills park with obstacles in the Bruno's area directly below the Wy'East Day Lodge.

• The Timberline Mountain Bike Trails and Skills Park Preliminary Assessment is found on the Mt. Hood National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/projects.   The document is listed on the Projects webpage in the section Under Analysis.
• Comments on the Timberline Ski Area Mountain Bike Trails and Skills Park Preliminary Assessment, submitted to the Forest Service by Friends of Mount Hood and other groups.
• Comments on the Preliminary Assessment, by hydrologist Jonathan J. Rhodes.
• Press release from Friends of Mount Hood: Controversial Downhill Bike Park Draws Opposition.
• March 2011 Friends of Mount Hood Newsletter.

The proposed network of 17 miles of downhill bike trails would include single track trails with an average construction corridor of 2 feet and other excavated trails having construction corridors averaging from 5 to 8 feet in width. The trail system would criss cross an area containing stands of old growth trees on steep slopes, alpine meadows with wildflowers, wetlands, and riparian reserves surrounding the headwaters of Still Creek and West Fork Salmon River. A lift-assisted downhill mountain bike program would not be compatible with the expectations of the numerous visitors that come during the summer months to experience alpine scenery and beautiful vistas on the highest mountain peak in Oregon and to view Timberline Lodge, which is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

The removal of trees and the excavation of trails on steep slopes would cause serious erosion in the project area during the construction phase. Afterwards, continuing damage would result from erosion along the bike trails and from damage caused by mountain bikers exiting off trails and riding over the fragile volcanic soils. The resulting increase in sedimentation in Still Creek and the West Fork Salmon River could have a negative impact on the water quality and aquatic habitat of these streams that are within the Sandy River Watershed. Both rivers support habitat used by winter-run steelhead, a threatened species in the lower Columbia River basin.

Located just below the timberline on the the south slope of Mt. Hood, the project area contains stands of mature and late-successional conifers, as well as open meadows with expanses of native wildflowers that are spectacular when blooming in the summer. The headwaters of Still Creek and the West Fork Salmon River emerge from some of the many wetlands scattered throughout the region. If the proposal is approved, summer visitors to Timberline would essentially be prevented from hiking in the project area. Deer, elk, and other wildlife would also be disturbed by fast moving bikes. The environmental damage to the area already caused from the construction of the Jeff Flood Express Lift and ski runs should not be followed by another destructive project!

There is no necessity for the Forest Service to approve the Timberline proposal merely to provide mountain bike enthusiasts an opportunity to ride on lift-assisted bike trails since there already exists a 40 mile network of mountain bike trails with lift-assisted access at Ski Bowl, a ski area on Mt. Hood located near the village of Government Camp.

In his article, A bike park is incompatible with Timberline Lodge, Friends of Mount Hood board member Dennis Chaney writes about the loss of landscape, loss of forest, loss of vegetation and wildlife, and loss of aesthetic appeal that would result from the operation of lift-assisted mountain bike riding at Timberline.

For additional information on Friends of Mount Hood, please visit the following web pages:

• Summary of Litigation
• 2009 Settlement
• Cooper Spur area
• Snowmaking
• Newsletters
• Photos taken by Kate McCarthy

Donations to Friends of Mount Hood support our ongoing effort to protect the environment on the mountain. Friends of Mount Hood is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Friends of Mount Hood Board members: Karl Anuta, Dennis Chaney, Lou Daily, Helen Herner, Phyllis Kirk, Jack Grauer, Kate McCarthy, Chris Winter, John Wood.
Chairperson: Barbara Wilson, FOMH@comcast.net