Mount Bachelor to open downhill bike park on Sept. 13
BEND, Ore. — Mount Bachelor’s new Downhill Bike Park will open for its one-month season beginning Sept. 13.
The trails will be available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 13, plus on Columbus Monday, Oct. 14.
Operating hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets for opening day will be sold in advance, online, starting Sept. 3. Due to the limited capacity on the trail network, tickets are expected to sell out. The address is www.mtbachelor.com.
All riders must sign a release of liability waiver and buy a daily chairlift ticket which will serve as an access pass. A full day will cost $29, while afternoon only will be $19.
Riders are required to have helmet, closed-toe shoes and a bike with functioning front and rear brakes.
Terrain in the bike park includes jumps, wood and dirt ramps, jibs, logs and other features.
When fully built, the bike park will contain more than 13 miles of single-track downhill mountain bike trails. Construction is planned to occur each summer until the network is complete.
There will be no beginner trails open until next summer.
Deep River boat ramp to be closed Sept. 3-5
ROSBURG — Oneida boat launch on Deep River in Wahkiakum County will be closed Sept. 3 through 5 for urgent repair on the fractured ramp and floating dock.
During the three-day closure, a work crew will install interlocking concrete blocks to secure the ramp and clear the way for installation of a new float and pilings.
“We’re waiting to do this work until the Buoy 10 chinook season is over, but can’t push the project any later,” said Sandra Jonker, regional wildlife program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Timing of the work is determined by the optimal low tide schedule.
The agency plans to close the ramp for one or two more days later in September to install the new dock and pilings.
The ramp repair and dock replacement are part of a larger effort to improve safety and general conditions at the site, which the department acquired in 2011 to preserve access to the water.
Other improvements in September include paving and stripling the main parking lot, laying gravel on the overflow lot and installing new toilets.
Grants awarded for Cape Horn trail
WASHOUGAL — The non-profit Cape Horn Conservancy has been awarded an almost $10,000 grant from the National Forest Foundation to restore vegetation, protect habitat and do re-routes on the Cape Horn Trail.
The Columbia Gorge Environmental Foundation is providing a grant of $2,000 and contributions from the Forest Service, conservancy, Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Washington Trails Association will bring the work value to more than $37,000.
The trail is a 7.5-mile loop using a portion of a county road.
Vancouver Wildlife League to discuss pheasant program
The Vancouver Wildlife League will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2108 Grand Blvd.
Members will discuss the upcoming pheasant-released program in the Vancouver Lake lowlands plus other topics.
The public is welcome.
