Central Oregon – Smith Rock, River Trail Party

Crew Leader: Curtis S.

Hike Distance: 6 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 800 ft

Hike Difficulty: Moderate

Work Difficulty: Moderate

Project Overview:

Join Trailkeepers and Go Beyond Racing Helping maintain trails at Smith Rock State Park. We will be repairing some cut-throughs at the junction of River Trail and Mesa Verde trail (West end of Misery Ridge.) It will include some rock work and tread clearing. With the loose rock in this area cut-throughs can grow and destroy the trail and we will be moving rocks to block the user trails. TKO will provide guidance and tools.

Hiking information:

Most of the hike to the work site is flat along the Crooked River. Elevation change is getting in and out of the Crooked River canyon.

What to expect:

You should expect to participate in this work party for its entirety. For safety reasons, please do not arrive late or expect to be able to leave early.

What to bring:

• Lunch
• Plenty of water, there is no potable water at the work location.
• Snacks
• Personal hygiene kit and work gloves (loaner gloves available if you do not have your own)

What to wear:

• Hiking boots or shoes. Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. Tennis shoes are not recommended and open toed shoes will not be allowed.
• Work gloves if you have them. (loaner gloves available)
• Long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Clothing as appropriate for the weather. With Central Oregon fall weather this can range from rain gear to sun screen. More information as the event date gets closer.
• TKO will supply hard hats and safety glasses as needed.

Directions:

Smith Rock State Park, 3.5 miles East of Terrebonne OR, 30 miles North of Bend OR. Follow signs from Hwy 97, East to Smith Rock State Park. Meet North of the Visitor Center near the Canyon Trail Trailhead.

Google Map Link

Latitude: 44.365891 N Longitude: -121.137377 W

COVID-19 Procedures **Please follow all civil authority restrictions for your community. **

In accordance with civil authority restrictions and land manager requirements for safety considerations, the following policies are currently in place:

• All volunteers will watch in the TKO COVID-19 Safety Lab, a broad safety orientation of TKO Safety Policy & Procedures for a COVID-19 Environment. Link will be provided in your registration confirmation.

• All volunteers must administer a health self-evaluation prior to attending in-person volunteer events (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).

• All volunteers will read and sign the TKO Volunteer Waiver updated for COVID-19 for release and indemnity of TKO and the land manager partner. Link will be provided in your registration confirmation.

For a complete list of Covid specific safety measures, see our safety manual, available here.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government at various times throughout history. We are privileged to volunteer on these lands & express gratitude to the descendants of these tribes for being the original stewards of this land.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical & emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable/unsafe – interrupt directly, tell a crew leader &/or complete a post-event survey.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe & welcome in the outdoors due to racism, bias & hate. We commit to being part of the solution to change that. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target individuals or groups will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.