Central Chapter Newsletter - January 2024

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The end of 2023 has come, and like the end of a great ride, it is time to rest and reflect on the amazing adventure 2023 was. Full of challenging technical obstacles, features that took trust in our skill and approach, sections of fun flow, and plenty of rewarding uphill grinds, 2023 proved to be one of the wildest, and most successful rides ever for the Evergreen Central chapter. 

Central Chapter Newsletter - January 2024

The end of 2023 has come, and like the end of a great ride, it is time to rest and reflect on the amazing adventure 2023 was. Full of challenging technical obstacles, features that took trust in our skill and approach, sections of fun flow, and plenty of rewarding uphill grinds, 2023 proved to be one of the wildest, and most successful rides ever for the Evergreen Central chapter.

In just a moment we will lay out a handful of the most exciting accomplishments, but for me, last year stands out for the many, many little moments that made up the season. Whether it was volunteers stepping up and doing more maintenance than ever in a single year, to staff stepping out of comfort zones to tackle new and challenging projects, to members and supporters reaching out with in-kind support and donations, 2023 was absolutely full of examples of what draws me to Evergreen and to our mountain biking community. 

I want to personally thank all of our locally based staff (builders and educators), the hundreds of volunteers, each one of our donors and sponsors, and the entire Statewide Evergreen team that made all of the amazing outcomes produced these past twelve months possible. While I personally spend a lot of solo time on the bike by choice, it is this community, all of you, that help make Washington, and the Central Chapter, the best place to ride. 

As I step away from the role of Central Chapter President, I want to thank Tony Feeney for being willing to accept the baton and to lead this amazing group into 2024. I’m excited to see Tony continue to work with the Central Board as they chart the next steps for the chapter. I also want to thank and congratulate Riley Shewak and Ray Birks as they take on new roles as Vice President and Secretary respectively. Finally, I want to thank Julie Ellington for all the effort she has put in behind the scenes to set up all of us for success in 2023. While not as obvious to the average rider, the work put into fundraising, finance, events, staff support, and board team building that Julie put in this past year is truly impressive. 

While I am stepping into a new role as President of the State Board of Directors, I remain here in Wenatchee, and Central will always be the chapter closest to my heart. As you read the rest of this newsletter I ask that you reflect on what Evergreen means to you. Use the accomplishments of 2023 to become inspired to find new ways to engage, to get others engaged, and help us make an even bigger impact in 2024.

See you on the trail,

Tony
--
Tony Hickok
Central Chapter President
Statewide Board Vice President

 
 

2023 Accomplishments

New Trails Opened & Projects Completed - 6 Miles

Other Projects Completed

  • No. 2 Canyon Infrastructure Parking Lot, Picnic Shelter, Kiosk, Picnic Tables, Road Maintenance Funding 
  • Cashmere Pump Track, Cashmere

Trail Maintenance

  • 90 miles of trails maintained 4th of July/Icicle Ridge, Squilchuck State Park, No.2 Canyon, Ski Hill, Sage Hills, Mission Ridge, Beehive, Squilchuck Trail, Lake Clara Trail, Red Hill, Red Devil

Education 

Total Participants (school programs, camps, adult classes, private lessons) = 536 (7% increase vs 2022)

 
 

Thank You Volunteers

2023 was a banner year for volunteer support in the Central Chapter. Over 600 individual volunteers spent over 4,300 hours building trail or supporting trail building at No. 2 Canyon, Ski Hill, Squilchuck State Park, Mission/Devils, Icicle/4th of July Ridge, and Sage Hills riding areas. Without the dedication of our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish our goal, making Central Washington the best place to mountain bike. So, we’d like to express our sincerest gratitude to all of our volunteers who dedicated their time both on and off trail. 

We’d also like to recognize the following individuals who went above and beyond, volunteering more than ten hours. They’ve received unique Evergreen branded gifts as an additional thank you, a program that will continue moving forward.

Emily Lumpkins
Sophie Summers
Jenny Cooper
Logan Feeney
Paxton Carroll
Phillip Martello
Sarah Busse
Tara Steigmeyer
Asa Duffield
Mike Duffield
Bruce Bendickson
Andrew Brunner
Julie Ellington
Roper Steere
Veronica Mabee
Addelyn Hickok
Steven Ladish
Aria Knutson

Brett Johnson
Mat Lyons
Alden Harris
Klara Berschauer
Rich McIver
Tom Alexander
Michael Forney
Steve Brockert
David Mabee
Jesse Livingston
Maverick Mabee
Lisa Wilson
JoJo Fitsch
Ray Birks
Cody Stanton
Matt Rose
Jason Hopkins
Hector Luevano

 

Tom Ford
Porter Lumpkins
Nick Fugazzi
Fred Stanley
Ryan Graig
Brennan Gerbers
Bob Schuewemann
Al Murphy
Kerry Kunz
Riley Shewak
Tony Hickok
Hudson Berschauer
Andy Kahn
Mic Mclane 
Harlan Hoper
Dave Dunnell

Thank You Sponsors

 

Thank you to all the sponsors that power our work and our education programs!

Arlberg Sports | North 40 | Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company | Mission Peak Physical Therapy | Cascade Autocenter | Northern Fruit Company | Crunch Pak | Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort | The Taproom By Hellbent Brewing | A1 Asbestos LLC | Arroyo Accounting | Children’s Dentistry Northwest | Banner Bank | Stifel | Sage Mountain Natural Foods Market | Town Toyota | Garlini’s Napoletana | McDougal & Sons Fresh Tree Fruit

 

Trail Builders Ball

Mark your calendars! The much-anticipated Trail Builders Ball is set for April 12, 2024. Get ready for an evening filled with celebration, community, and a shared passion for the trails that bring us together.

Join fellow trail enthusiasts, builders, and supporters for a night to remember. It's not just a ball - it's a celebration of the hard work, dedication, and love that goes into creating and maintaining our beloved trails.

Stay tuned for more details, but for now, save the date and start thinking about your outfit - it's going to be a night to remember!

 
 

Winter Grooming Update

A wet and warm start to winter plagued the valley until recently when the temperatures dropped and with that so did the snow!

Grooming is now underway at both Squilchuck State Park and Ski Hill, and the conditions have been fantastic!

Squilchuck now has both sides of the park open after last year's closure on the eastern side, and with an opened canopy, the snow accumulation has really improved the riding experience on Creature Comfort, Twisted Giant, Rabid Badger, and Yellow Jacket.

Check our Facebook Page for updated grooming information and maps.

Current Grooming conditions for Ski Hill can be found here.

While Echo Ridge currently does not have specific trails groomed for fat biking, they do have ungroomed trails that allow fat biking.

For a map of trails open to fat biking, you can download a PDF here.

An effort by the Chelan Ranger District to run a trial grooming in February is in the works, with a 5-mile loop including The Shoe, Devine Intervention, and a portion of Bob’s Trail.

Keep an eye on our social media for more information soon!