We’ve begun work on revamping the turns Linda’s Line. March 28th, 6:29pm
When it comes to Gateway Green trail enhancement projects, one of the areas inquired about the most is Linda’s Line. Linda’s Line, AKA the single track route down the grass covered hillside at Gateway Green, starts just inside the south gate and sweeps back and forth across the hillside. Initially imagined as a climbing trail, it was designed to serve as the pedal up to gravity fed descent trails.
The irony of course being, practically everyone rides it as a descending trail and pedals up the gravel road, or takes the paved bike path. As a descending trail, a number of sections leave much to be desired, and the trail flow essentially ejects riders off trail in a number of locations.
For the last two weeks we’ve had 10 riders come out to help build, and we’ve added new enhancements and features each week.
We’re still waiting on those freeride lines, (update: we received a green light to lay them out and build them, pending volunteer bandwidth – this is where you come in) which have yet to materialize due to a lack of dirt and building materials as well as budget. (much of the hillside is littered with construction debris from the old jail under a layer of top soil)
We tested the new turns last night and they went from being the worst part of this trail to the best.
Although I’ve been leading trail enhancement build sessions on behalf of the NWTA and FOGG as part of the DirtLab Evolution project, we’ve stayed away from the hillside pending news on future funding as well as the updated concept plan.
The exit of this turn and a few others are on the list to be addressed soon.
The Phase II plan is completed, (you can view it here) and thanks to an FTP grant, planning for the freeride line and construction could come as soon as this fall. It may not happen until Winter/ Spring of 2018/ 19 though, as seen in the plan schedule.
I don’t know about you, but I’d love to have something to ride this spring, especially in time for those summer afterwork sessions in the evening. Here’s the good news: at our local stewardship meeting I pitched a number of ideas for Linda’s Line which we’ll be implementing up until and during the Big Dig April 7th. The LST at Stub Stewart has yet to take the Ditch Witch back, which means we still have the means to get this stuff done now.
That wasn’t all I pitched though. Additional concept and features pitched and approved include amping up Linda’s Line to be more like a slalom track, improving the berms, creating rollers and flow.
Plus we’re green lit to create a BMX friendly session zone with a dirt bowl/ half pipe. I’m especially looking forward to adding dirt rollers and jumps into the existing advanced dirt jump line. (eventually there will also be an additional intermediate line placed to the left of the wood kickers as well) PLUS more flow trail features and flow on on the Cliff Line.
Did I mention we’ll also be building a full size dirt pump track? (assuming we have the ditch witch, soil and a vibrating plate compactor)
The downside: it isn’t all going to happen this year, and that’s ok. As a project largely being pushed forward by volunteers, it’ll happen when we can make it happen, one piece at a time. Big picture though, we’re going to have one hell of a dirt play ground for all ages.
Project consultant Chris Bernhardt of Sentieros Design is working on securing an additional 90 (update: it sounds like we’ll have far less for now, but it is slated to arrive this week) dump track loads of soil. There’s our pump track, free ride line on the hillside, (did I mention we could start flagging that now?) more jumps, berms, and dirt bowl.
Before/After
If there are features or design elements you want to see at Gateway Green, leave a comment below and or come out to help us build it. Please note that this is a sanctioned project in partnership with NWTA, FOGG and Portland Parks and unsanctioned building isn’t permitted. Bringing a shovel out on your own time only means we have less time to do the planned work as we’ll be forced to address it.
New rollers and berm improvements in progress.
We can use some help
Here’s the problem. We don’t have the time or bandwidth to actually build all this awesome stuff. Though I’ve worked as a trail builder/ consultant for IMBA in the past, I am not paid to build at Gateway Green, and as a volunteer steward like everyone else that has been coming out to build, I only have so much time I can spare to dedicate to trail building. With limited bandwidth build sessions until the April 7th date are limited to Wednesday afternoons, from 5 until dark. (we’re adding some Tuesday dates by request.)
Kurt was one of the many riders running laps of the newly revamped section of trail.
For updates on build sessions we’ve created a Facebook group, Portland Bike Parks (you can also contact me to be put on an email list)
Build Day Schedule
Join the Facebook group, drop a comment below or email me at jason(at)bermstyle.com if you want to be notified via email for the next dig session.
The next build days are:
Tuesday April 3rd, at 5pm – (tools provided, bring lights for the ride home)
Saturday April 7th
