It’s all downhill from here.

Timberline ski area’s plan for a lift-assisted mountain biking skills park on
Mount Hood has been approved by the U.S. Forest Service.

The project will provide 17 miles of trails and be in operation from July
through October. Bike carriers will be installed on the Jeff Flood chairlift and
the trails will wind through the lower slopes of the ski area, below the tree
line.

In a Nov. 19 decision letter,
Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor Christopher Worth announced the plan’s
approval after two years of review, environmental assessments and public
comments.

“Timberline Lodge and Ski Area were envisioned by its founders as a place
where Oregonians would enjoy the benefits of four season active recreation in
the world-class alpine setting represented by Mount Hood,” Worth wrote in the
decision letter. “FDR amazingly foresaw this potential opportunity when he
dedicated the lodge 75 years ago.”

The project involves mountain bike riders traveling through a bike trail system
which would cross through ski trails and forested areas. It will be designed to
appeal to families and feature predominantly beginner and intermediate level
trails. Worth’s decision includes project design elements that would prevent
erosion and damage to vegetation as well as watershed restoration projects to
correct pre-existing sedimentation issues that would be implemented
concurrently with the bike park construction.

“The environmental assessment document is a thorough, high-quality analysis
of the potential impacts of the project,” said Zigzag District Ranger Bill
Westbrook. “I thank the public for their involvement in the project during the
last two-plus years. Many of the comments helped us improve our analysis
and resulted in a better project.”

Newly re-elected State Representative Mark Johnson regarded the news as a
positive move for the district.

“This project has the potential to be a tremendous boost to our local economy
on the Mountain, and would truly bring world-class recreational opportunities
to our region.” Johnson said. “I recently met with the managers of Skibowl
and Timberline and believe they have an exciting vision for how the
Mountain’s outstanding natural resources can be utilized in a responsible way
to bring economic development to the area. I will do all I can to ensure that
our state agencies are helpful to the implementation of this plan.”

Rick Applegate, a small business owner in Rhododendron, cited the economic
potential of the project as well.

“(This) may prove to be one of the most significant economic events our local
Mountain communities have seen in decades,” Applegate said. “This new park,
in conjunction with the incredible growth and national acclaim that Sandy
Ridge and Skibowl’s mountain bike parks are experiencing, will bring dozens
of new jobs and millions of dollars annually to our communities.”

Other Mountain citizens are still wary of the project and are quick to voice
their opposition. Janine Bertram is concerned about the environmental impact
of the skills park.

“The USFS is cavalier in destroying elk and spotted owl habitat on Mount Hood
in order to bring a few more dollars for Timberline Lodge,” Bertram said. “I
think boosting our rural economy is great. However, the bike trail is short-
sighted. USFS and the Kohnstamm family ought to be conscientious and work
together to build eco-tourism in ways that protect the fragile alpine
environment.”

Dave Fulton, an officer with the Mt. Hood Corridor CPO, was involved in
several meetings of the CPO regarding the original USFS proposal. Fulton said
no official position was taken.

“In general the officers had serious concerns about the proposal, especially in
light of Timberline’s management history – namely unresolved past problems
in the special use permit area, such as unacceptable levels of dissolved solids
from ski run salting, failed vegetation of the base of the Jeff Flood lift, and
sediment issues from existing uses and roads,” Fulton said. “So the proposal
and comments from USFS indicate they would be able to mitigate
environmental issues is suspect and questionable based on their track record.”

Attempts by The Mountain Times to contact Timberline to determine when the
project might be open failed prior to print deadline.

The decision document and environmental assessment are available at:
www.fs.usda.gov/projects/mthood/landmanagement/projects/.