Is There Anything Better Than Opening Day at the Bike Park?
As snow continues to melt higher up in the mountains over the past few months, bike parks have begun opening one by one. That included the Timberline Bike Park this past weekend that sits perched on the side of Mt Hood here in Oregon. Since I missed opening day last year, I knew I had to be there this year.
The momentum of bike parks continues to grow. Timberline is relatively new to the scene, having opened in 2019. It is one of three different bike parks found at ski resorts dotted across the state. That is out of 13 ski resorts. There used to be four bike parks, including two in the same town (Government Camp). However, a lawsuit due to a mountain bike accident closed the doors of the well-loved Skibowl.
My goal for the day at Timberline was to explore, take photos, and talk to as many people as possible. That included staff and riders alike. I was interested in answering the questions … Why Timberline? Why bike parks?
Immediately upon arriving, just before the park opened, the parking lots were already jammed full. It was a fun sight as skiers, snowboarders, and mountain bikers occupied the same parking lots. Cars, trucks, SUVs, and Sprinter vans were all in unison as snowboards, skis, and bikes were peeled off the tops and backs to get ready for the day. Every other vehicle had differing clusters of people––snowboarders gearing up next to the mountain bikers putting on knee pads, chest protectors, and helmets.
The historic Timberline Lodge was the dividing line between people there for snow vs. dirt. Everything above the lodge was snow play. Everything below was bike park. Since it was a warm summer day, chairlifts carried skiers and snowboarders in t-shirts above while mountain bikers in t-shirts (or synthetic jerseys) descended the mountain.
As I made my way across the parking lot, I stopped and chatted with several mountain bikers donning their battle armor for the day. “Why Timberline?” I asked. That was the same question I asked throughout the day, in the parking lot, on the trail, and waiting for the chairlift. While the answers varied, there were common threads to the answer. “It’s close to Portland.” “I love this place.” “It’s special.” “I hit as many bike parks as I can.”
Building and maintaining bike parks is a challenge. The trails are buried under countless feet of snow for a good portion of the year. Once the snow begins melting, there’s the rush to get the trails ready for the bike park season. That means opening day is a moving target. Last year, Timberline opened at the end of July. This year was on the 8th.
Then each location has varying soil types. Mt Hood is a volcano. Technically, an active one too. That means the soil type will differ from other bike parks on non-volcanic mountains throughout the West. The trails are shaped out of volcanic soil. When dry, it can be quite dusty, almost like sand. Already on opening day, the trail builder crew was out wetting down key portions of the trail. Add a little moisture to the soil, and the once-dusty berm becomes sticky. The jump lines through the trees were especially dialed in.
One of the challenges Timberline faces is not only the volcanic soil but the newness of the trail system. It takes time to dial things in. That means, each year, it gets better and better. I remember sitting in public meetings years before the Timberline Bike Park was a reality. There was lots of excitement about the potential of this new bike park and what it could mean for mountain biking in the region. The phrase that kept getting bantered around by one presenter was “… like Whistler.” The ultimate dream for any bike park is to be the “next Whistler.”
Stringent environmental regulations pose the challenges of building and maintaining trails on a mountain like Mt Hood. That limits what builders can and cannot do. Some areas are more ecologically sensitive than others. If you’ve spent any time on the flank of a volcano, then you’ll understand. Despite all of the challenges, Timberline Bike Park is a gem. I must admit my favorite part was sitting in silence on the chair lift and watching the scene unfold before me. From people below me zipping into view on a trail, sitting on bikes in clusters at trail junctions chatting, or catching air on a jump line, it was a sight to behold. Even better was eagerly anticipating the unfurling views of Mt Hood. Spectacular.
I can speak for many mountain bikers across the region; having the Timberline Bike Park in our backyard is a treasure. The best part? It will continue to get better year after year. We can take pride in it.
Words: Sean Benesh Photos: Sean Benesh
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
