came together to support TKO training events in eastern Oregon.
Expanding our training curriculum this year, we found ourselves connecting with eastern Oregon volunteers and groups that were looking to grow their trailkeepin’ skills. The events we hosted together opened up opportunities for folks from eastern Oregon communities to give back to their local trails in new ways. The training events of 2022 were made possible thanks to the support of awesome groups already doing great work in the region, including Wallowa Mountains Hells Canyon Trails Association, and the Mount Emily Recreation Area,Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Eastern Oregon Visitors Association (EOVA, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Bureau of Land Managment and many, many more! TKO is excited to continue to bring these types of trainings to our easter Oregon partners and volunteers to support them in bringing their trailkeepin’ to the next level!
Every gift of $30 or more this week will enter you into a raffle to win one of three gift certificates for dinner for 2 at a 10 Barrel brew pub near you.
If you’re feeling generous, a gift of $75 or more will ALSO get you entered into a drawing to win a Patagonia rain jacket + a pair of Danner boots!
Anyone who donates their time at a TKO trail party this week (12/19 – 12/23) will also be entered to win at the $75 level.
by TKO volunteers at Smith Rock State Park in 2022
TKO has been working to expand our stewardship further into South and East Oregon, and one of our favorite projects has been at Smith Rock State Park near Bend, Oregon. TKO volunteers came out for 5 trail events at Smith Rock, including the annual Spring Thing event held by the Smith Rock Group and a collaborative trail party with our friends at Go Beyond Racing!
Volunteers learned about rock work and tread techniques while improving the Wolf Tree Trail, River Trail, and Mesa Verde Trail. Stay tuned for more projects in the Bend and Sisters area as we strive to serve trails in need of help all across the state!
Throughout 2023 TKO has been lucky to participate in some outstanding trail projects in the Willamette and Umpqua River Valleys. These projects, critical to maintaining and reopening trails, allowed volunteers to grow their trail construction skills in some of Oregon’s most beautiful natural areas!
Have you caught the “saw bug” yet? Join TKO on a logout and you just might! This draw to saw work, the itch to feel the saw interact with wood as you cut, captivates many a trail crew member after just one day pulling saw. Saw work is a critical aspect of trail stewardship, and it’s this feeling that TKO has worked to inspire in emerging sawyers across Oregon.
Smith Rock State Park is an outdoor recreation haven for hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, and beyond. Due to high visitation and the unique, fragile nature of the ecosystem, it is critical that the 12 trails throughout the park are well maintained. We at TKO feel very lucky to have served this special place throughout 2023, and we’re gearing up for another year!
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351