Making Washington a Better Place to Ride

Nov 13, 2013 at 17:51
by Stacy Karacostas  
Making Washington a Better Place to Ride

by EvergreenStacy
Views: 1,516    Faves: 3    Comments: 0


Do you love Washington singletrack...? Riding it, watching videos of other people riding it, or dreaming of riding it?

We do too! That’s why we make it our mission to protect, maintain and build new trails across Washington State…Plus host awesome events and races, teach trail work and riding skills, get kids on mountain bikes, make you giggle with our videos, and more.

But seriously, did you know there are more than 500,000 mountain bikers in Washington (not to mention the PNW, BC, and heck – the whole world), but only 2000 are members of Evergreen?

More members gives us more power when working with land managers, government agencies and politicians - so we can build and maintain even more sweet trails. Plus individual memberships and donations account for 28% of our total annual funding!

Just think what we could do to make Washington a better place to ride if we had 5000, or 10,000 members supporting our work...

And it starts with you.

If you’re a current Evergreen member, THANK YOU! Please help spread the word, share this video, and convince your friends to join (we've found holding their mountain bike ransom to be very effective for this).

If you’re one of the 498,000+ who are NOT members, please join!

Membership costs less than 10 cents a day; and there's more benefits than you can shake a stick at including:

• More stellar trails to ride
• 100+ miles of trails maintained statewide.
• Discounts on special Evergreen events.
• Access to Evergreen classes and special member-only events and trips.
• Discounts and deals from our supporting partners including companies like Stevens Pass, Trek Bicycle Store, Element Cycles, The Lumberyard, Shore Play, and more.
• A community of like-minded mountain bikers who support fun, sustainable, legal trails.
• The warm fuzzy that comes with helping Evergreen protect your access to trails; negotiate with landowners, government agencies, politicians and land managers on your behalf; and build and maintain trails for you to ride.

All that and more for just $3 a month. If you haven't joined or renewed, what are you waiting for?

Support the cause by going here now and JOINING.

Author Info:
EvergreenStacy avatar

Member since May 14, 2012
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36 Comments
  • 14 0
 Shoot...I'm looking for membership at $.09 per day...

Proud member of Evergreen. I give money, but wish I could give them time. They do such a great job building and maintaining the trails we all love to play on. Thanks to all my fellow members who are giving time and effort so the rest of us can reap the benefits.
  • 4 0
 Here's the thing, I ride the cold creek trail system all the time. Participate in build days, fund shuttle events, etc. Yet there is no tie-in between the trail systems, trail managers, and the riders saying this is an "Evergreen" location/event. To be honest, I feel this is why membership numbers are so low. I encourage you to reach out to your local chapters and have them put up signage at their local events highlighting Evergreen, and calling to action those who are there to join.
  • 1 0
 Agreed!
  • 2 0
 Absolutely chaboii. We are working on getting all of new chapters, including Cold Creek, properly branded and making sure they have all the Evergreen shwag needed to show they are a part of our org. It just takes time, and there's only myself and our Exec Director in our office, and the bulk of that kind of work falls to me - along with all of our communications, membership support, most of our fundraising efforts with the exception of grant writing, and most of our event planning. But I promise we will get there. :-)
  • 1 0
 Chaboii - sorry to hear you've had this experience. I feel fortunate that the **only** voice I am hearing/reading about trail improvement projects is from EMBA via Stacy. (Thanks, Stacy!) I hope that your chapter can make some improvements to spread the good word!
  • 5 1
 Any mountain biker in washington state should join Evergreen, chances are 90% of the the trails were either built by evergreen or are maintained by them. i am a proud to be a part of what they do!! props to all the leaders at EMBA!!!!!!!
  • 3 0
 What's being done with the LBSes in Washington to further the cause? Something as simple as a sign by the register or door, a hang tag on some bikes or near them, just working with the shops to mention Evergreen, etc. I'm a member, volunteer building trail, etc, but I'm always amazed at the blank stares I get when mentioning Evergreen and what it does for us in the state.
  • 3 0
 Also Agreed! What better place or time to recruit new, anxious members than when they are possibly buying their first bike, a new bike or new gear to ride again. Its a win/win... the more these people ride the more often they will be returning to the shop.
  • 1 0
 At the shop I work at we are always handing out EMBA stickers.
  • 1 0
 We are working on a bike shops program now Cronarkom. We too are amazed at the number of riders who have no who we are or what we do. And getting bike shops to spread the word is key. It just takes time to get everything in place.
  • 3 0
 We're all suckers for a raffle. I wouldn't trash that suggestion so fast. A complete bike would be a bit spendy, but I'll bet there are some more reasonable prizes that would generate just as much participation. Oh, and how about letting the long time members participate as well?
  • 1 0
 What kind of raffle are you thinking TheDustyRider? I've considered trying some kind of membership drive/raffle next year, and am open to suggestions and ideas for sure!
  • 1 0
 I'll say that the raffle at the Tiger Enduro was an example of how *not* to do it: one rider in front of me got a case of Clif bars, a pair of expensive Shimano glasses, something from FSA and a water bottle or similar. Why not divy that up 2 or 3 or 4 ways? Kinda weird. I dunno. Struck me a little imbalanced.

What about raffling off tickets to an event of a member's choosing? Choose between an enduro, a shuttle day (like in Battle Ground), a day at Stevens, or Biketoberfest? I'd be stoked to get free entry/shuttle for one of those days, and you know for sure I'm going to bring my friends (who will be paying).
  • 1 0
 Great ideas sngltrkmnd! Thanks for sharing. I'm trying to work out something along these lines for our membership drive next year.

As for the Tiger raffle, I didn't stick around that late in the day or have anything to do with that particular raffle, but I can say we often bundle prizes into a group vs raffling them one at a time just because it takes for freakin' ever and people get bored. Plus, when we're selling raffle tickets we bundle items to make them more valuable/interesting, then we usually let people enter their tickets just for the bundles they want.
  • 3 0
 Sample of Evergreens work: FREE Evergreen Trail School Saturday, November 16th in Maple Valley
Join Evergreen's trail crew for another Trail Building School... this time in Maple Valley on Saturday, Nov 16 from 8:30am-5:00pm. We'll run an interactive classroom portion for 3.5 hours, break for lunch, then head over to Henry's Ridge for the hands-on work party.
If you ride Henry's Ridge join Evergreen, volunteer to maintain and/or build more trails. Never been to Henry's Ridge, Google Map "Henry's Ridge Natural Area" click on the Bicycling tab in the right corner under Map. Trails will be highlighted in green. Joining Evergreen is the best way to let King County Parks hear the Mountain Biker Voice and get more trails built!! Tiger Mountain and Duthie Hill are also some of my favorite Evergreen projects and trails. Worth traveling to from any part of the world to ride.
  • 2 0
 Thanks everyone for the kind comments and positive suggestions. Actually, great minds clearly think alike because we're in the process of implementing just about every idea listed here. :-)

Evergreen has grown a ton in the year and half+ since I've come on board, taking on 4 new Regional Chapters plus the Washington Student League for middle and high school students. Membership has almost doubled since I started too, but we were pretty small to start with. That said, we're definitely still getting all the consistent branding in place and spreading the word...

Evergreen tech-t's have gone out to the chapters for volunteers and trail crew. We're working on tents and banners. And a new Website for Evergreen as a whole as well as sites for all the Chapters is on the way. Oh, and I just started rolling out a test run of a bike shops program that will provide hang tags, signage, memberships with bike purchases, and more. Posters are also being mailed to every bike shop I can find shortly.

All this is to say, we're getting there. And we appreciate all your support! Speaking of...If anyone wants to volunteer a little time and help me make any/all of this happen, please do get in touch. :-)
  • 2 0
 Proud Member of Evergreen!!! Shortly after joining they decided to build some trails and a pump track across the street from my house. While I can not guarantee you will get the same result I do look forward to the St Ed's trails getting up and running. While we wait for that we have Burlington indoors new 90000sq ft indoor trails to hit!!!
  • 2 0
 Just tell me where's the DH runs are and who shuttling and ill have cash for u. That's really what i want to say but don't take it the wrong way. Your do an excellent job on trails for trail rides, I'm just not that into xc/trail riding. Thanks!
  • 6 0
 Rider656, I appreciate the comment. But just know we are working on more than just XC/trail riding. In addition to all the great freeride options at Duthie, we have a DH trail or two we're working on. It's just still all in the behind-the-scenes still trying to get approval/funding etc. part of the process. And that all takes time. Hopefully I'll be able to share more details on those projects soon...

But in the meantime, all the other work we do advocating for access, working with land managers, and maintaining trails is creating a much better rep for mountain bikers statewide, and making it easier and easier for us to get all kinds of trails built. So if you want more dh trails, please do support us. Your membership, and your voice, strengthen us and make the chances of those trails being approved go way up!
  • 1 0
 Will do, Sounds good! Thanks Stacy!!!
  • 1 0
 Rider656 keep in mind that a lot of great trails that we shuttle on are indeed improved by EMBA and its hard-working crews. No reason not to share your hard-earned dough for that great work!
  • 1 0
 Awesome! Thanks for the support Rider656.

I also forgot to mention that you should go ride the dh trails that our Cold Creek Chapter has built and maintained down near Battle Ground. It's the only legal dh on DNR land in the state. They typically do one or two special shuttle events as fundraisers in the spring too, and one of the Enduro races as well. I'll make sure they're all posted on the Evergreen calendar and alerted via email.

You can also check out their Website (still to be rebranded as they're one of our newest chapters) www.coldcreekmountainbikers.org
  • 1 0
 Almost everyday in the spring, summer and fall several riders stop at my espresso bar at milepost 36 on highway 2 and ask "where can I ride my mountain bike around here?" While I love DH riding and photographing NW Cup racers at Stevens Pass, it's not for all riders and the only other designated/legal place in the upper Skykomish Valley is Wallace Lake/Falls road system. The I-90 corridor is rich with rail trails and assorted single tracks. I have talked and shared my visions with the Forest Service, Chambers of Commerce and the Iron Goat folks, but need help. Hey EMBA...can you help? We would love to join and hand out your applications and further promote EMBA and the amazing Sky Valley as a MB friendly destination...
  • 3 0
 Thanks for the comment LilAlpenDude. We at Evergreen feel your pain, and are working hard to get some more riding options for folks on Hwy 2. We hope to start work on a 15 mile Alpine Baldy loop outside Skykomish this summer. We've also been working on the Reiter area, but that has stalled out a bit unfortunately.

If you want to dm me, or email me directly at stacy @ evergreenmtb.org (no spaces, of course) I'd be happy to chat more and see how we can work together to get more going on.
  • 1 0
 Stacy, thanks for the hard work this year! The amount of projects evergreen has gotten rolling this year is amazing! Looking forward to being involved in the West Sound chapter and working on the future of Gibbs, Anderson Lake, Green Mtn. and many other trails here on the peninsula. Also, have to give a shout out to Tyler and Bryan out at Tiger Mt! The new trails out there are looking awesome!
  • 1 0
 Thanks so much for all your support sgsrider! We're pretty stoked about everything that's happening, and the folks at the West Sound Chapter are rocking it for sure!!
  • 1 0
 I'm one if the folks at the west sound chapter and also work for silverdale cyclery. It was good chatting with you the other day, Stacy! Come over again for a ride sometime!
  • 1 0
 Will do sgsrider! I had a blast over there for the West Sound Chapter kick off a couple months ago.

And it was great chatting with you too. It's always funny on these forums when you don't realize you're actually communicating with someone you know. :-)
  • 1 0
 Yeah, the internet is funny like that! We were glad to have you! Come over anytime!
  • 1 0
 How many members are on the west side vs. the east side? Say wenatchee is the dividing line.
  • 1 0
 Bsam450, there are almost three times as many members on the west side vs the east side. By this definition west side includes our new West Sound Chapter on the Kitsap and Cold Creek down in Battle Ground. But we are really just getting things rolling with all our new chapters, given that four have been added in a little more than a year.
  • 1 0
 The west side of the state having three times more members make sense. If you look at the map there are very few trails on this side of the state. Riders on the Eastside are not exposed to the trails Evergreen are building resulting in a lack of knowledge of the organization.
  • 2 0
 That's all going to change now that we the Central Chapter based in Wenatchee, the Eastern Chapter based in Spokane, and the Methow Chapter based in Winthrop. But we do need to update the map with new trails statewide and are working on that.
  • 2 0
 +1 for more info on the East Chapter. Would love to get involved.
  • 4 0
 allmtnshredder, you can stay up to date on what Evergreen East is up to here: www.evergreeneast.org Please do contact them to see how can get involved.
  • 3 0
 allmtnshredder - You can also like our Facebook page (Evergreen East) to stay up to date on what's happening. We have lots of cool trails planned next year for Beacon and Mt Spokane and trail development at other places is in the works.







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