Helens Fest: Ride and Work Event : Mountain Biking : MBPost

Helens Fest 2010: July 9-11 in the Mount Saint Helens Volcanic Monument

Mount Saint Helens: Ape Canyon/ Plains of Abraham

Some of the group stops for a photo op on the Plains of Abraham.

This page is dedicated to trying to capture some of the essence of the inaugural Helens Fest 3-day ride and work event that took place July 9-11, 2010. The brainchild of David Anderson of the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA), he along with Ken Bonn of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (EMBA), Hailey Heath of the Saint Helens Institute and various people from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest as well as dozens of others, teamed up to put on a great weekend ride and work event.

The group gathers for the final time, July 10 at Helens Fest 2010. The next morning was met with more smaller group rides and breaking camp.

About 60 individuals camped at the Marble Mountain Snow Park and joined in two days of riding around the Saint Helens Volcanic Monument at places like Craggy Peak, Ape Canyon, Plains of Abraham, Lewis River, Smith Creek. Any of these rides alone are very nearly epic and when combined with the views, scenery, the geological history of the area that evolves in front of your eyes, and the great single-track, it was more than fabulous biking. It was...EPIC!

This work group helps with clearing and cleaning up some cross country ski trails.

They broke into groups for the day of trail work along some of the area cross-country ski trails, trimming and benching along Smith and Ape Canyon Trails and Bob-Trailering the gear for a Washington Trail Alliance Youth Team.

Evening time to enjoy free brew, recount the day and raffle off some prizes.

Helens Fest 2010 was a great success and people are already talking about H-Fest 2011. When the dates are set and if you are anywhere around the PNW, this may be one you want to put on your calendar.