Evergreen trail builder, Heather de Choudens, organized an all star team of trail leads and builders. She shared, “we were especially stoked that the crew represented builders from all over PNW including Bellingham, Port Gamble, Duthie, DNR, and all the way down to Oakridge, Oregon.” It was important to De Choudens to gather leaders from across the region to represent their local scenes and bring a variety of perspectives and building styles to the event.

On Saturday, the Shovel & Shred crew grabbed their tools and went to work on the North Mountain trails including Upper Skyline, Lower Jackpot, and Showcase Showdown (which included building a new reroute option - coming soon!) 

“One of my favorite moments was helping a crew hunt for rocks in the forest to stack behind a fresh berm. Everyone was laughing, dancing and singing to Evergreen ambassador Zander’s 90s jams, and packing the dirt down together. It was such a good vibe, and seeing that berm take shape - solid, sustainable, and fun as heck - made me so stoked! 

~Jessica Mavica, CTS Vice President, Sturdy Dirty Enduro Organizer & Shovel & Shred Volunteer

“I worked on Jackpot on Saturday, where I learned the ins and outs of trail maintenance. I was fortunate to be part of a group of experienced women who shared their knowledge and answered all my questions. It was also a great opportunity to meet riders from different areas - I can’t wait to hit the trails with them soon! 

~Kelsey Williams - Seattle, WA, Shovel & Shred Attendee

After a day in the dirt, it was back to the event’s staging grounds Moe’s Coffee, to refuel and recap the day before folks explored nearby trails and the town of Darrington. Then, as the sun set on the Cascades, attendee’s headed back to camp for Yappy Après, a time to swap stories around campfires and soak up unforgettable community vibes. Transition took us ‘under the sea’ with delicious fruit & gummy shark kabobs, SHARK-cuterie and so many bubbles, Red Bull brought the summer oasis vibes featuring a delish new white peach flavor, the ‘Basic Bitches’ (made up of the Sturdy Dirty Bitches and SRAM) kept the party lit with a cozy fire, endless giggles, and spiked cider, then of course, Evergreen’s West Sound Westies brought the Pink Pony Club to life, adding a whole other level of fun and flair to the evening.

On Sunday, the cold and rain didn’t stand a chance at putting the damper on our trail riding fun - we fueled up on Red Bull then rode bikes for hours with shuttles thanks to Dig Deep Tours and Hugwagons based in Bellingham, WA! Watching riders level up on some fun new tech made for many smiles and high fives. First tracks on freshly tuned trails was a pleasure haven, and my, did we earn those post-ride burgers and tots from Moe’s Coffee. 

Big thanks to the groups and sponsors that made this weekend of magic possible, Red Bull, Transition Bikes, SRAM, and Sturdy B Racing. And a massive amount of gratitude to the town of Darrington and its amazing businesses including Rivertime Brewing and Moe’s Coffee Shop who have hosted and provided our staging space for the last three-years. We’re beyond grateful to everyone who showed up to support this event - it truly takes a village. And a special shoutout to event leads Chrissy Calvert, Liz Lunderman and Heather de Choudens for their logistical wizardry, trail work curation and delivering the perfect dose of fun woven into an unforgettable weekend. Every moment was packed with good vibes and nonstop smiles! 

We can’t wait to come back next year - who wants to join us?!

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE 

Please credit photographer Holly Roa (@hjrphotos) when sharing!