Blog
27 | Oct | '22
Liz Lunderman
In August, we asked our trail builders, “Why do you build trails?” Some had answers right away. Others pondered the question while digging in the woods. For Brian Tustison, it came to him a few months later when he was joking around with David Fleischhauer, Evergreen’s trail program manager.
“I caught myself joking with David, 'I'll make that happen once I am not depressed.’ It got me thinking about how mountain biking has helped pull me out of those dark times.”
When Brian sat down with us to talk about his ‘Why I Trail Build’ story, we found another message that Brian thought was important for the community: it is okay not to be okay. The more we talked about mental health and how mountain biking and trail building can positively impact mood, the more he realized how important it is to share his story.
Matt Blossom, a trail builder in our West Sound Chapter, is also a big advocate for destigmatizing mental health. Brian and he are close buds on the trail, and after discussing the project, Matt felt moved to share his story as well.
Brian and Matt openly discuss their journeys in hopes of shedding light on the benefits mountain biking and trail building have brought to them. This is in no way saying mountain biking can fix depression. This story is about how bringing exercise, the outdoors, and community into one's life, are keystone pieces known for generating happiness, and how this has positively impacted Evergreen trail builders.
21 | Oct | '22
Liz Lunderman
“Be open-minded, don't fear the bad but embrace the good!” exclaimed Jocye Musafiri to a group of Congolese youth after she tried mountain biking for the first time.
On a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Duthie Bike Park, The Nature Project (TNP) collaborated with Musafiri to bring 11 students from The Congolese Integration Network Youth Program (CINYP) to join Evergreen staff and TNP professional athlete mentors for an afternoon of adventure, learning and fun. Brad Evans, a former Seattle Sounders player, and Cooper Helfet, a former Seattle Seahawks tight end, and Lofa Tatupu, a former Seahawks linebacker and coach, participated as representatives from The Nature Project. Cooper founded The Nature Project to empower young adults to cultivate intentional, healthy, and connected lives through impactful outdoor experiences with professional athlete mentors. The Youth Experiential Training Institute (Y.E.T.I.) provided a stellar bike fleet for the event so the youth could get acquainted with mountain bikes.
11 | Oct | '22
Liz Lunderman
On the weekend of September 30th, a hearty group of 30 Evergreen members from across the state came together to help the Methow chapter maintain a 3-mile section of the Bear Mountain trail above Twisp. The Bear Mountain trail has been neglected for a number of years and needed some help. Eventually it will connect with the planned North Mountain Trail project at the Loup Loup ski area with an additional 30 miles of great singletrack.
31 | Aug | '22
Liz Lunderman
Mountain bikers are innovative thinkers, designers, and creatives. They can imagine a single-track trail in places that would be the last place any other person would think of trying. That creative vision of a few riders brought an epic place to ride to life under the I-5 Freeway. And thus, Colonnade was born.
It's time for a refresh!
29 | Jun | '22
Patrick Walker
Continued Learning, Taking Action and Glimpses of Moving the Needle
Two years ago we launched an organization-wide effort to learn about, recognize, and address social inequities and injustices within our mountain bike community and programs. Announced in a Personal Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Statement from Executive Director Yvonne Kraus on June 5, 2020, we vowed to prioritize inclusivity and diversity and to learn, act and change to make Evergreen and the sport of mountain biking a more welcoming place to be. We committed ourselves to prioritize equity and diversity to help make the Washington State mountain bike and recreation community inclusive for all.
25 | May | '22
Patrick Walker
We can't wait to see you at the Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival, presented by NORCO!
In partnership with Kitsap County Parks, our professional build staff and West Sound Chapter volunteers have outdone themselves to create a brand new Port Gamble ride park located in the Port Gamble Heritage Forest. And you'll be some of the first to ride it!
We've had two years since our last Fest, and this year we wanted to bring it back in a bigger and better way. Port Gamble is the perfect host location with great trails and a much better venue to access for everyone! We have to thank our amazing sponsors who have stepped up this year to make sure the fest is better than ever! Our presenting sponsor NORCO Bicycles has put a ton of effort into the ride park and the event! Be sure to try out their bikes as they will be donating cash back to the trails for every demo you ride!
Read on to see what's on the docket and make your plans for June 18-19th
Register for Demos, Races, Camping and Shuttles here
27 | Apr | '22
Patrick Walker
The Trails Fund builds your trails, but not without YOU!
Funding for trail projects comes in many forms, grants, contracts, major donors, and what we call #RiderPowered. Our #RiderPowered projects depend on the community collectively digging into their wallets and donating to build our Trails Fund.
Dig in for more great trails!!
25 | Feb | '22
Patrick Walker
More Great Trails - More Great People: New Hires and Promotions.
Your small, scrappy, trusty, professional and passionate Evergreen Team is getting bigger and better!
In 1989, we started with an all-volunteer crew and operated for a long time before hiring our first (part-time) employee and Executive Director, Justin Vanderpol in 2004. Justin then hired our first-ever staff trail builder, Mike Westra, forgoing half of his salary so Evergreen could afford to bring Mike on board!
Fast forward 18 years to today, and we're happy to say "Welcome and Congrats!!" to our expanding and evolving team. From our humble all-volunteer beginnings in 1989, we now employ nearly 100 staff in mid-summer, serving the whole state and supported by over 9,000 members - how amazing is that?
Read on to see who and what is new, and check out our whole team on the "Our Team" page, please reach out to each to help them celebrate their growth and new careers with Evergreen:
02 | Dec | '21
Patrick Walker
Next year could be off the charts for Evergreen, and as the new Statewide Board President, I have big boots to fill and I'm grateful to be part of this exciting time.
I moved to the Seattle area 12 years ago knowing the mountain biking would be amazing, even back then. I spent the first year digging some of the initial trails at Duthie Bike Park and riding the three trails at Tiger Mtn.
Fast forward to 2021, and Washington state has made its mark, as a destination and paradise for riders across the country.