Approximately 70 volunteers turned out for the annual work party at Coldwater Lake on June 1st. It was a great team effort from NWTA, Growlers Gulch Racing, the USFS, and Daybreak Racing that saw most of the 12-mile loop around the lake cleaned.
I think we sometimes take for granted how effective our group is. When was the last time you asked someone about the results of a work party and they replied, “Oh, we cleaned about 10 miles of trail in four or five hours and built a bridge while we were at it.” Trust me. It doesn’t happen.
211 - The north side of the lake needed minimal attention. The tread has remained in good shape, so our focus was on taking down the alder and Arctic willow and maintaining a corridor. The rock delta was virtually unchanged from last year and, while challenging, is completely rideable if you have the legs and the technical skill.
A big addition on the 211 is a 16-foot bridge constructed by Jerry de Ruyter. The USFS was able to tow the bridge and all the crew’s tools and materials to the drop-spot, and they put it in place. It now spans a small creek and an area that was boggy throughout the year.
230A - It’s a real challenge getting machines up that vicious climb. My hat is off to our bob-pullers: Andrew Holder, Matt Crampton, Owen Rodabaugh, and Kim McCormack. I was trying to spell them by pushing the bobs for 75 to 100 yards or so while they rested. Let me just say that it was very difficult just to push. Cleaning that climb without putting a foot down should be a bucket-list goal (without a trailer bob, of course) for anyone who hasn’t already done it.
We killed it from the trailhead to the back of the lake. That DH run from the 230-230A intersection back to the parking lot is one of my favorites, in part because the sight-lines are so good.
230 - We had a strong group of runners from Daybreak Racing working from the bridge up. They had to run out nearly five miles just to get to their tools at the drop-off point. We had a crew led by Ben and Kim McCormack working down toward them. This section is always our biggest nemesis. I initially thought there was still half a mile we didn’t get to, but Vincent and others stayed out and completed it all.
We also had a crew working on the upper part of the 230 (from the 230A intersection up toward St. Helens Lake). Based on the news I received, they made it about a mile, so that was a big bonus.
The People Who Make It Work - There is no way to give enough credit to Juntu Oberg, whose efforts make the rest of us more effective. She and her crew handled the waivers, the raffle, and the purchase, preparation, and serving of a fantastic meal.