Author: Kelsey Shaw

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COMING SOON (WITH YOUR HELP): THE OREGON DESERT TRAIL

Inventorying trail in the Pueblo Mountains.
Photo: Jeremy Fox

With 4000 members and supporters behind it, the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) is mapping a 750 mile hike linking a series of remote, high desert areas between Bend and Idaho.  Beginning at Hart Mountain in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and ending just short of the Idaho border at Lake Owyhee State Park, the trail passes through towns, water sources, and campsites as it guides hikers and horseback riders through ONDA’s favorite high desert expanses.  The route relies entirely upon trails and jeep tracks that already exist: no new trails will be built.  Volunteers have spent the last few summers inventorying the route: they’re half finished with the project and hope to complete the job in the next two years.

For more information about this project, contact Oregon Natural Desert Association, 50 S.W. Bond St., Suite 4, Bend; 541-330-2638, onda.org.

Sources: ONDA and OregonLive.

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PORTLAND GETS A NEW CLIMBING (AND MORE!) GYM

Planet Granite Sunnyvale

California based Planet Granite  is expected to open a new location in NW Portland.  The Portland location will be their largest gym at 32,000sq.ft. and is expected to open in 2014.  Not only will the gym contain 55ft walls and bouldering, they are also planning to have yoga studios, a fitness area, and a steep training ramp. For more information and to track the progress visit their website.

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FOREST SERVICE PREPARES TO ALLOW LOGGING AROUND FRENCHES DOME

Photo Courtesy Judson Hall

Local Forest Service watchdog group BARK reports that the USFS is preparing a timber sale in the ZigZag Ranger District.

According to BARK, “The Horseshoe Sale” comprises 2000 acres of timber nestled between the Bull Run Watershed Protective Area and the Mount Hood Wilderness.

In addition to Frenches Dome, the sale could profoundly impact a number of popular hiking trails and campgrounds.

  • Trails:
    Top Spur Trail, Ramona Falls Trail, Burnt Lake Trail, Cast Creek Trail, Horseshoe Creek Trail, Sandy River Trail, Upper Horseshoe Trail, Lolo Pass Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail.
  • Campgrounds:
    Lost Creek Campground, McNeil Campground, and Riley Horseshoe Campground  

BARK views this sale as a worrying departure from the logging moratorium enjoyed in the ZigZag Ranger District since 1998.

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BLM CONSIDERS ENDING A RED ROCK BOLTING BAN

La Madre Mountain

In 2000, the placement of new bolts was banned in the La Madre Mountain and Rainbow Mountain sectors of Red Rock Canyon, effectively chilling the development of new routes within an area comprising 48,000 acres of the park.

Now the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is overseen by BLM, is considering a change in the rules to open La Madre and Rainbow Mountains to bolting.

The BLM is currently soliciting comment on the matter, and is holding a series of public workshops for climbers to express their opinions.  The comment period ends on November 18.  Officials say the new rules could be in place in early 2014.