Recap: Cispus Chainsaw Collaborative
Earlier this month we had the pleasure of traveling to Randle, WA for the 3rd annual Cispus Chainsaw Collaborative. Orogenesis has been a part of the Upper Cowlitz Valley Trails Coalition for 5 years now with the goal of solving one of the most complex gaps on the whole 5,000 miles. That is a long-term goal, and any ambitious goal starts with collaboration. This chainsaw training is a shining example of the power of collaboration—we were able to certify 30 students and probably had hundreds of years of collective chainsaw experience in the room from members of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Washington Trails Association, Back Country Horsemen, and Trans-Cascadia. Over three days, students learned the basics of saw maintenance, appropriate safety gear, the physics of binds, hazards, and of course got plenty of trigger time too.
Not only did we have the opportunity to learn from a passionate group of professionals eager to share their knowledge, I was able to walk away with my B Bucker certification. And now is the season to put it to use—save the date for our return to the Klickitat Sisters Trail on July 19-21st!