WEEK 8: ANGELS REST & ROWENA CREST

FIRST 100 DONORS RECEIVE REI SWAG GEAR & YAKIMA DISCOUNT CODE FOR 2020

$100+ DONATIONS ALSO GET ENTERED TO WIN EITHER:

• A REI OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE FOR 2

• A YAKIMA Dr. TRAY HITCH BIKE RACK

DONATE

Drawing of the REI & YAKIMA GEAR WILL BE ANNOUNCED 1/5 AT TKO’S BUILDERS-KEEPERS HIKE & SOCIAL

TKO'S BUILDERS-KEEPERS HIKE & SOCIAL 1/5

Can’t give $? Volunteer at the TKO + trail partIES and be entered to win the REI & YAKIMA GEAR!

TKO + REI / YAKIMA TRAIL PARTY - Killin WetlandsTKO SCOUT SCHOOL: ADVANCED SCOUTING LAB 12/29

OREGON’S TRAILS ARE SPECIAL, LET’S KEEP THEM THAT WAY.

Angels Rest was where we officially put tools-to trail for the first time in 2008 – grabbing our garden tools and trying our best to glean what we could from our more established partners in Washington Trails Association and Pacific Crest Trails Association. When the Eagle Creek fire hit on Labor Day in 2017, it was the annual return to Angels Rest that was the first trail party we had to postpone. Not knowing then it would take more than 6 months for us to be permitted to scout to the top for the first time. March 2018 we began to restore the trail and kept after it – looping up above the viewpoint to Wahkeena – through spring of 2019. A labor of love, we have volunteer leaders hitting the trail regularly to report back on the work to follow up on.

And just as that viewpoint to the west is a dream, Rowena Crest steals breathtaking views to the east. Jump up the trail and lift to a higher view at Tom McCall Point – passing by some of the most highly sought after and accessible wildflower viewing in the Columbia Gorge. We are officially jumping in to help with our partners Oregon State Parks and The Nature Conservancy who share the land these trails climb through. From viewpoint to viewpoint across Oregon, TKO is ready to tackle all of your trail priorities – we just need your support to climb up.

SUCCESS:

ANGELS REST POST-FIRE

0

Feet of Trails Improved

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Stewardship Events

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Volunteer Participants

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In Kind Value of Volunteer Time

Post-fire moonscape:

ANGELS REST HAS ALWAYS SEEN FIRE 

On March 14th, 2018 TKO Executive Director and (soon-to-be) Stewardship Manager met the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Trail Supervisor for a scout to the top and they were amazed at what they saw. The bottom section on State Parks land was a low severity burn, rolling through the understory with a cleaning effect. Jog up to the Forest Service segment about 2 miles from the trailhead and there wasn’t a leaf left. Some of the trees had seemed to be more toasted, but those were later recognized as being snags from the last time Angels Rest burned in the 90s.

An opportunity was awarded us,

ONE ROCK AT A TIME

There is a strange band of clay that runs through the Columbia Gorge and can be found at Angels Rest – a site visited by over a million people each year. With that strange soil type and crazy level of visitors, the backlog of maintenance is disheartening. We knew that if ever there was a time to move big rock and reconstruct trail tread, while the trail was closed was our chance. And we went after it. Now we seek to advocate for enhancements to this out and back trail. Help support us to build new trail at Angels Rest! 

DONATE

Sticking to what we do, 

LAND & TRAIL STEWARDSHIP – PARTNERSHIP

We’ve found a place helping our land conservation partners with their trail management woes. Whether it be The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, North Coast Land Conservancy or Lower Nehalem Community Trust – we can help one another in protecting our public access lands through partnering and doing what we all do best.

TKO SCOUT SCHOOL: ADVANCED SCOUTING LAB 12/29

An array of the Painted Hills:

TNC’s Juniper Hills Nature Preserve

And just as our partnerships have brought us to Smith Rock and Cascade Head, The Nature Conservancy has asked to have our expertise in trail design and initiating development at this property near Post, OR – a remarkable array of central Oregon landscapes, featuring John Day and Clarno “painted hills” formations. TKO will be heading up volunteer vacations in June 2020 at Juniper Hills. Whether it be ocean views on the Headlands or desert vistas on 10,000 acres between the Ochocos and Maury mountain ranges, TKO is getting after trails in Oregon.

Latest News

Trail Ambassadors are getting ready to launch!

By Loren Payne

Spring is quickly approaching! That means before we know it, Trailkeepers of Oregon will be kicking off another Trail Ambassador season. Through partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks, the Mt. Hood – Columbia River Gorge Tourism Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Friends of the Columbia River Gorge, Trail Ambassadors will take to trails beginning April 22nd to engage with trail users across the state. We are always looking to grow our team – if you’ve been looking to give back to the trails you love, we want you on board!

[…]

@ by Natalie Ferraro

Family Friendly Events are Back!

An adult holds a fern while a child uses lopper to cut it at the base.

Join TKO on the last Sunday of each month to learn all about trail stewardship!

By Natalie Ferraro

Trailkeepers is excited to once again be offering Family Friendly trail parties for 2023. These events are a chance for kids of all ages to learn some of the basics of trail stewardship, spend quality time with family and friends outdoors, and learn the value of taking care of a place they love. We think our Family Friendly trail parties are some of the best fun you can have on a Sunday, but you don’t have to take our world for it. We asked TKO volunteer Jon and his son Liam to share why they love volunteering with TKO. […]

@ by Natalie Ferraro

Safety, Fun, Service – becoming a TKO Crew Leader

A close up of two faces. One person wears a blue jacket and a yellow hat, the other wears a yellow jacket and an orange hat. They both have dirt on their faces and are smiling.

Being a Crew Leader with TKO is rewarding work and comes with a fun and supportive community that can’t wait to welcome you!

by Elaine Keavney and Loren Payne

So you’ve earned your green hat, and are getting “hooked” on trail stewardship.  As you get to know your crew leaders, do you find yourself wondering whether leading a crew would be something you would enjoy? Read on for some information about leading crews, and what you need to do if you would like to become a TKO crew leader!

[…]

@ by Natalie Ferraro
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