Crater Creek Trail Clearing

Monday October 16th was a beautiful day at Crater Lake and the Larch trees were showing their fall golden glory! MVBCH members Gina and Dave Johnston, DK Williams, Mark Brantner, Mary Pat Bauman, and President Cathy Upper worked hard to see the view by cutting out 27 trees while climbing 2000’ over 4 miles up the Crater Creek Trail.

The Fall Color Rides of 2017

Over the past several years it has become an informal but much welcomed MVBCH tradition to save the last three rides of the season especially for viewing the beautiful fall colors of the Methow Valley. So, for October 9th, 10th, and 11th, 5 MVBCH members (Julie Johnson, Mark Brantner, Dave and Gina Johnston, and Betty Wagoner) camped at the Goat Creek Sno Park in the north valley to be close to the favorite trails known to have the best colors.

On Monday the 9th, members Anita Ellis and Mary Pat Bauman joined the “hardy 5” riders who had camped at the Sno Park and they all rode to Mazama for their morning Latte treats.

Stopping for a drink on the way back from Mazama

Starting Work on The North Summit Horse Campground

On Sunday October 8th 2017 Bill Ford, Cathy Upper, Kay MacCready, Suzan Davis, Mark Brantner, Dave Johnston and Mary Pat Bauman formed a work party to work on the North Summit Horse Campground (NSHC). This was the 5th work party "on site" since the agreement with the US Forest Service was finally signed on September 15th, 2017 (the other work parties were September 23, 28, 29, and October 1, 2017). They wanted to get as much done as possible before the winter months! They flagged the pull-through roads at the six campsites so Mike McHugh could better see them when the roads are punched in. They also set two posts to mark the entry road with laminated signs explaining the new horse camp project and dismantled the existing high lines per Forest Service Ranger Mike Liu’s request. (Note: Highlines can be dangerous to snowmobilers when the snow is deep.)

(L-R) Kay, Dave, and Mark

(L-R) Kay, Bill, Suzan flag a pull-through road

(L-R) Cathy, Mark, Dave set one of the entrance poles