Love getting out in the fresh air and want to help your community? We have a great opportunity for you! Come help us get the Salmon Ridge Sno-Park trails ready for winter ski and snowshoe season. We need you!
Your work not only improves our trails, but also counts as volunteer contributions which help us secure our grants for grooming and track setting the ski trails. This is a great way to spend a summer or fall day in the woods, learn about the trails, and support local cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Come join the fun and help us out.
Some hand tools plus power equipment will be provided. You are encouraged to bring your own loppers, labeled with your name.
Bring sturdy boots, gloves, rain gear, TP, lunch, and lots of water.
Trip leaders can check USFS fire danger levels here:
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/mbs/news-events
- IFPL – State DNR site showing Fire Prevention Levels
- IFPL Operating Procedures brochure
- USFS Firewood permits
2023 Work Party Information
Trails are in much better shape at the start of this summer than the last two years, but needless to say, there is work to be done. We have scheduled four work parties throughout the summer, thinking to work on our main back-country ski/snowshoe trails. (Some of us think these are the most fun outings.) We will be scheduling other sessions to check drainage on the main trails, hopefully to clear branches as they are trimmed by contractors to allow more snow on the groomed trails, to work on Anderson beyond the washout, etc. Stay tuned! You can get more information or RSVP to Lynne at toliver1@cablespeed.com or Pete at ski@tryonhayes.com.
- Saturday, June 10 – 9:30 – 1:30 – The upper half of Huckleberry Trail. Park on Cougar Loop.
- Saturday, July 15 – 9:30-1:30 – The bottom half of the Connector Trail. Park at the far end of Razor Hone. We’ll meet at the main parking lot at 9:30 and drive out together, but if you want to come later, drive to the gate, hike up far Cougar and look for the signs and a big stick across Cougar marking the start of the Connector.
- Saturday, October 7 – 9:00-3:00 (or some subset of that time…) White Salmon has been mowed, but some of the cut brush needs to be removed from the shoulders. Our indomitable Lynne Oliver will be up at White Salmon working on this, how about joining her? Gloves and boots! She will start work at 9:00 at the parking area at the turnoff for White Salmon (MP 51.5). If you are later than that, just go out White Salmon until you find her! (it’s possible to drive out with most any car).
- Saturday, October 14 – 9:00-3:00 (or some subset of that time…) Razor Hone and Mom’s have also been mowed. Not only that, but branches have been limbed from overhanging trees on Mom’s so that more snow will reach the ground. This has been done by contractors, but some cut slash is still on the ground that needs to be removed. Gloves and boots! Meet Lynne in the Salmon Ridge Snopark parking lot (MP 46.9) at 9:00 to start work. If you’re late, find her on Mom’s or Razor Hone…
- Saturday, October 21 – 9:00-3:00 (or some subset of that time…) To be determined. More clearing cut brush off the trails if it hasn’t been completed – or maybe traversing/brushing the Ridge Road trail from the downhill ski area to White Salmon (If there is no snow down low, we could be parking at the downhill lot and going down this trail. It has some awesome views! Check back here on the 18th or 19th to see an update.
- Saturday, October 28 – 9:00-3:00 (or some subset of that time…) To be determined. More information will be posted after the 21st.
Can’t make it to these scheduled work parties? Feel free to do a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ work party. Most of what needs to be done is just moving wood off the road and off the shoulders. No tools (except a good pair of gloves) required. See DIY work party page for more information.
We usually work rain or shine, but if the weather is especially bad (or hot) on any of these dates, it is up to the discretion of the crew leader to postpone to another time. In the event of a postponement, the crew leader will contact you and let you know ahead of time, assuming that you let them know you plan to attend.