Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance

EVERGREEN CREATES AND PROTECTS SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN BIKING OPPORTUNITIES IS WA STATE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH FOUR PRIMARY PROGRAMS: TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION, VOLUNTEERISM, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY BUILDING & ADVOCACY.

TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: IN 2021, EVERGREEN'S CONSTRUCTION WORK ENCOMPASSED ACTIVE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TOTALING 20 MILES, AND COMPLETIONS/OPENINGS OF 23.9 MILES OF NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE AND/OR MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL TRAILS ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE... WE OPENED THE FOLLOWING NEW TRAILS: 1 MILE AT SEABROOK, 3 MILES AT RAGING RIVER STATE FOREST, 2 MILES AT EAST TIGER MOUNTAIN STATE FOREST, 1 MILE AT DOCKTON PARK ON VASHON ISLAND, 2 MILES AT THE YACOLT BURN STATE FOREST, 1.5 MILES AT LITTLE MOUNTAIN IN MT VERNON, 1 MILE AT RANGER CREEK IN PORT GAMBLE, 6 MILES AT NO2 CANYON IN WENATCHEE, 3 MILES AT MOUNT SPOKANE, 2.4 MILES AT TOWNS TO TEANAWAY, AND A 1 MILE TRAIL REROUTE AT LIBERTY LAKE NEAR SPOKANE... WE CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOLLOWING TRAIL MILES AND PROJECTS: 4 MILES AT SNOQUALMIE PASS, 1 MILE AT CHEASTY GREEN SPACE IN SEATTLE, 6 MILES AND TRAILHEAD IMPROVEMENTS AT NO2 CANYON, 3 MILES OF DH TRAILS AT NANEUM, 5 MILES AT PORT GAMBLE, 1 MILE AT TIGER MOUNTAIN AS WELL AS PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDED FEATURE AT ROTARY PARK IN ELLENSBURG... WE ENGAGED IN THE DESIGN OF THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS AND TRAILS: TENNANT TRAILHEAD SKILL PARK DESIGN, LINCOLN PARK PUMP TRACK DESIGN, QUINCY PUMP TRACK DESIGN, CHEASTY NORTH LOOP TRAIL DESIGN, OLYMPIA KAISER BIKE PARK DESIGN, NORTH MOUNTAIN (LOUP LOUP) TRAIL NETWORK DESIGN AND CULTURAL RESOURCE STUDY, CHEWELAH LAND TRUST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS DESIGN, PACKWOOD TRAILS PROJECT ASSISTANCE, COLONNADE REFRESH AND PUMP TRACK DESIGN IN SEATTLE, STRAWBERRY RIDGE RIDE PARK AND GRAND FOREST TRAILS ON BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, CEDAR LANES PUMP TRACK DESIGN IN AUBURN, AND THE ILLER CREEK TRAIL NETWORK DESIGN NEAR SPOKANE... PROFESSIONAL TRAIL MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AND CONTRACTS CONTINUED FOR KING COUNTY PARKS, METRO PARKS TACOMA, CITY OF REDMOND, ECHO RIDGE, , CHELAN DOUGLAS LAND TRUST, TWISP RIVER AND CHICKADEE IN THE METHOW VALLEY, MISSION RIDGE & DEVILS GULCH TRAILS NEAR WENATCHEE, AND AT VARIOUS SITES AS PART OF OUR REI MAINTENANCE AND REGIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM GRANTS. WE ALSO COMPLETED A SIGNIFICANT BACKCOUNTRY MAINTENANCE AS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANS-CASCADIA, FUNDED BY THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT... OUR 2021 TRAIL WORK WAS GREATLY IMPACTED BY DEVASTATING WILDFIRES. MUCH OF OUR FALL WAS DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING FUNDRAISING AND MAINTENANCE PLANS FOR TRAILS THAT WERE BURNT IN THE GREATER ENTIAT AND METHOW VALLEY REGIONS WITHIN THE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST.

COMMUNITY BUILDING & ADVOCACY: EVERGREEN HOSTED 5 COMMUNITY EVENTS DRAWING NEAR 2,000 ATTENDEES AND OFFERED A TOTAL OF 182 GROUP RIDES FOR JUST ABOUT 1,000 MOUNTAIN BIKERS. THIS WAS STILL LESS THAN "TYPICAL" YEARS, BUT 2021 MARKED A COME-BACK OF SEVERAL SMALL IN-PERSON EVENTS AND RIDES. OUR SECOND VIRTUAL "TAKE A KID MOUNTAIN BIKING DAY" DREW AN AMAZING 700 PARTICIPANTS. IN LIEU OF OUR LARGE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL, WE AGAIN POSTED A VIRTUAL DIRTY DOZEN RIDE CHALLENGE, WHICH CHALLENGED 1,901 PARTICIPATING RIDERS TO RIDE 13 TRAILS ACROSS OUR 8 CHAPTERS. ALTOGETHER WE ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 5,300 MOUNTAIN BIKERS IN COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS AND RIDES. OUR MEMBERSHIP REACHED 9,088, 12% GROWTH OVER 2020... WE ADVOCATED FOR GENERAL MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS AS WELL AS NEW TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE. WE COLLABORATED WITH OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL RECREATION AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP GUIDE WA STATE RECREATION POLICY AND ENCOURAGE DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY. WE CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECREATE RESPONSIBLY COALITION TO HELP INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THE LANDS AND TRAILS ON WHICH THEY RECREATE, AND WE JOINED THE NEWLY FORMED OUTDOOR ALLIANCE OF WASHINGTON TO ENGAGE IN FEDERAL AND STATE RECREATION POLICY ISSUES... WE HOSTED AND FACILITATED A 7-MONTH IN-DEPTH STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY E-BIKE ACCESS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL TRAILS. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A STATEWIDE RECREATION RALLY DAY, ENGAGING 15 ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS IN 8 VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH STATE LEGISLATORS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTMENTS IN OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND TOURISM BENEFITS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WASHINGTON WILDLIFE AND RECREATION COALITION'S LEGISLATIVE DAY... OUR ADVOCACY IS PROMOTED VIA MULTIPLE E-NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, IN PERSON AT TRAILHEADS, AND VIA ELECTRONIC ADVOCACY ALERTS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE OUR MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, AND FOLLOWERS IN THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC LAND POLICY, PROTECTION, AND ACCESS ISSUES, AS WELL AS STATEWIDE TRAIL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ISSUES... OUR EVENTS BUILD COMMUNITY, RAISE AWARENESS, AND GROW THE NEXT GENERATION OF MOUNTAIN BIKE LEADERS, TEACHERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND TRAIL STEWARDS. OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS INCLUDED NEW DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES TO HELP INCREASE DIVERSITY IN OUR SPORT AND BECOME MORE WELCOMING AS AN ORGANIZATION AND AS A COMMUNITY, INCLUDING STAFF TRAINING AND NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. OVERALL, WE CONTINUE TO FOSTER A STRONG CONSERVATION ETHIC AND SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR AMONGST OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ENCOURAGE BOTH VOLUNTEERISM AND ACTIVE, ENGAGED, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.

EDUCATION: AFTER LIMITED OFFERINGS IN 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 2021 BROUGHT A RESTRUCTURE FOR SAFE OPERATIONS AND WITH IT A RENEWED ENERGY FOR BOTH YOUTH CAMPS AND ADULT CLINICS. REGISTRATIONS FILLED UP FAST: OUR ADULT CLINICS, CLASSES, AND PRIVATE LESSONS ENROLLED 840 INDIVIDUALS, AND OUR 46 DIRT CAMP SESSIONS SOLD OUT QUICKLY, AT 636 YOUTH RIDERS. IN TOTAL, 1,543 MOUNTAIN BIKERS PARTICIPATED IN OUR EDUCATION OFFERINGS, HIGHER THAN ANY YEAR PRIOR TO 2021!... OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM CONTINUED THE RECENT TREND OF ENGAGING MORE WOMEN AND NON-BINARY PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR, AT 53% FEMALE (447 STUDENTS), 44% MEN (341 STUDENTS), AND 2.6% OTHER (NON-BINARY/OTHER/PREFER NOT TO DISCLOSE. OUR YOUTH CAMP PARTICIPATION AMONG GIRLS INCREASED SLIGHTLY AGAIN THIS YEAR AT 20% GIRLS (130 STUDENTS), BUT CONTINUES TO TRAIL YOUNG BOYS, AT 76% (482 STUDENTS). 3.6% (23 STUDENTS) IDENTIFIED AS NON-BINARY/OTHER/PREFER NOT TO DISCLOSE... EVERGREEN ALSO RE-STARTED GROUP RIDES, ALBEIT SMALLER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS AS WE NAVIGATED SAFE OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPERIENCES DURING THE ONGOING PANDEMIC CONCERNS IN 2021. IN PREVIOUS YEARS, GROUP RIDES AMOUNTED TO OVER 200/YEAR AND ENGAGED MORE THAN A THOUSAND RIDERS. OUR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM FOR INSTRUCTORS AND RIDE LEADERS INCLUDED 49 INSTRUCTORS. WE ALSO OFFERED 1 VIRTUAL AND 2 IN-PERSON TRAIL SCHOOLS, ENGAGING 106 STUDENTS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SUSTAINABLE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION, AND HELD 2 CHAINSAW CERTIFICATION CLASSES, CERTIFYING 18 STUDENTS... WE CONTINUE TO SEE HIGH INTEREST IN GROWING OUR MOUNTAIN BIKE EDUCATION SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE. THE MOST REMARKABLE CHANGE IN 2021 WAS DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERAL PARTNER PROGRAMS IN VARIOUS CHAPTERS: TEAM NATURALEAZA IN OUR CENTRAL CHAPTER CONDUCTED 100% SPANISH SPEAKING CLASSES. OUR CASCADES TO SOUNDS CHAPTER IN THE GREATER SEATTLE REGION COLLABORATED WITH OUTDOORS FOR ALL ON ADAPTIVE MTB CLINICS AND NEEDS, AS WELL AS PILOT EDUCATION CLASSES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE C2S CHAPTER ALSO COMPLETED ITS FIRST EVER ALL GIRLS CAMP AT BLACK DIAMOND, AS WELL AS AN ALL-WOMEN MTB CLINIC AT SWAN CREEK. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTH EDUCATION TRAINING INSTITUTE (YETI), WE COMPLETED AN INTRO MTB PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN SOUND KING COUNTY. IN OUR EAST CHAPTER, OUR INSTRUCTORS DELIVERED 2 DAYS OF INSTRUCTION TO YOUTH WITH ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES... WE ISSUED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENROLL 48 UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND ADULTS (3% OF OUR STUDENTS) IN OUR DIRT CAMPS AND CLINICS, AND LED SEVERAL BIPOC GROUP RIDES IN DIRECT EFFORT TO MAKE OUR SPORT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM MORE WELCOMING. OUR CRANKSISTERS WOMEN'S RIDE PROGRAM COMPLETED 96 GROUP RIDES ENGAGING JUST OVER 600 WOMEN! OUR RIDES AND CLINICS SERVE A DIVERSE AUDIENCE INCLUDING YOUTH, BEGINNERS, WOMEN, AND ADVANCED CHILDREN AND TEENS. EVERGREEN MEMBERSHIP IS NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE.

PART III STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTENANCE. EVERGREEN ORGANIZES AND COORDINATES VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTENANCE WORK PARTIES TO MAINTAIN, IMPROVE, AND/OR REPAIR TRAILS DAMAGED BY WEATHER AND USE. IN 2021, OUR VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTENANCE EFFORTS GOT BACK ON TRACK TO APPROXIMATELY 70% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. WE REVAMPED THE PROGRAM WITH ONGOING COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTENANCE WORK PARTIES, HOSTING A TOTAL OF 535 VOLUNTEER WORK PARTIES IN NATIONAL FORESTS, STATE PARKS, STATE FORESTS, AND COMMUNITY PARKS. WORK PARTIES WERE HELD WITH A RECORDED 4,308 VOLUNTEERS, AND CONTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 21,491 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK ON MORE THAN 650 MILES OF TRAILS... TRAIL MAINTENANCE TOOK PLACE ON 46 SITES AND TRAILS WITHIN US NATIONAL FORESTS, WA STATE FORESTS AND CONSERVATION LANDS AND MUNICIPAL PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, INCLUDING: EAST TIGER MOUNTAIN, RAGING RIVER, AND YACOLT BURN STATE FORESTS; DUTHIE HILL MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK; BLACK DIAMOND OPEN SPACE; SQUILCHUCK. OLALLIE, DASH POINT, AND MORAN STATE PARKS; BEACON HILL, SWAN CREEK, ILLER CREEK, CAMP SEKANI AND PORT GAMBLE COMMUNITY PARKS; AND MULTIPLE OTHER TRAIL NETWORKS IN THE OKANOGEN-WENATCHEE, MOUNT BAKER SNOQUALMIE, COLVILLE, AND GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FORESTS, SUCH AS SKI HILL, SUN MOUNTAIN, KETTLE CREST, STRAWBERRY RIDGE, 410 CORRIDOR, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL FRONT- AND BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS... WE WERE ABLE TO HOST LARGE GROUP AND MULTI-DAY VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY EVENTS AGAIN IN 2021, INCLUDING 'THE WHOLE SHABANG," A WOMEN-ONLY TRAIL WORK PARTY AT RAGING RIVER STATE FOREST IN OCTOBER ATTENDED BY 30+ WOMEN, AND THREE MULTI-USE 3-DAY WEEKEND WORK PARTIES WITHIN THE ENTIAT RANGER DISTRICT OF THE OKANAGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST, TACKLING BACKLOGGED TRAIL MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANSCASCADIA. SADLY, OUR SEASON WAS GREATLY IMPACTED BY DEVASTATING FIRES AND FOREST SHUTDOWNS AND SHORTENING OUR MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES BY MULTIPLE MONTHS... ADDITIONAL NON-TRAIL WORK VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDED 42 BOARD AND COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED 1,855 HOURS, 115 EDUCATION PROGRAM VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS WHO COLLECTIVELY TAUGHT 2,380 HOURS OF CLASSES AND CLINICS, AND AN ADDITIONAL 74 VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED 710 VOLUNTEER HOURS AT EVERGREEN EVENTS AND GROUP RIDES. OUR TOTAL VOLUNTEER IMPACT FOR THE YEAR WAS 26,436.50 HOURS DELIVERED BY 4,539 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS - 88.12% OF OUR 30,000HR ANNUAL GOAL.