with Doug Thiesies -Hood River County Forester, Gary Paasch – mountain biker & trail-builder, and Arthur Babitz – County Commissioner and mountain biker
Hood River, OR – January 15, 2025 – Mt. Adams Institute’s Sense of Place series continues with “More Than Skinnies & Singletrack: A History of Mountain Biking in Post Canyon,” featuring Hood River County Forester Doug Thiesies, trail-builder Gary Paasch, and County Commissioner Arthur Babitz. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 15. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the show running from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. A livestream option will be available for virtual attendees.
This presentation will explore the history and evolution of mountain biking in Post Canyon, featuring perspectives from forestry management, trail-building, and the local mountain biking community.
Event Description
Unlike most counties in the Pacific Northwest, Hood River County managed to keep local control of its forests following the Great Depression. In the ensuing decades, timber revenue proved essential to the Hood River community. Logging funded services like public health and law enforcement (still does), and the forest offered a place for hunting and fishing – as it had done throughout human history in the Gorge.
But when mountain bikers began to show up on forestland – especially in a place now known as Post Canyon – a place that was already working so hard for its local community, it was about to be asked to do even more.
What did mountain bikers see in the clay soils and rolling terrain of Post Canyon? How would this local workhorse-of-a-forest change in the ensuing decades as a result, and what might its future hold?
Join Gary Paasch, Arthur Babitz, and Doug Thiesies as they re-introduce us to Post Canyon and share what it took for a community, a sport, and a forest, to try and co-exist.
Event Details:
More Than Skinnies & Singletrack: A History of Mountain Biking in Post Canyon
When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Doors at 6:00 p.m., show from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. PDT.
(If the event is sold out, Unclaimed seats will be released to the waitlist at 6:45 p.m.)
Where: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave., Hood River, OR 97031
A livestream option is also available.
Get Tickets: https://givebutter.com/ahistoryofbikingpostcanyon
Advanced purchase is encouraged as events often sell out.
About the Speakers:
- Doug Thiesies brings over 30 years of forestry experience, including his current role as Hood River County Forestry Director, managing the county’s 34,500-acre tree farm and multi-use trail system.
- Gary Paasch, founder of School of Send mountain bike camps and a dedicated trail-builder, has been shaping Post Canyon’s biking experience for over 25 years.
- Arthur Babitz, Hood River County Commissioner, combines his passion for mountain biking with a dedication to local history, volunteering as a photo archivist and managing the Historic Hood River blog.
About Sense of Place:
Sense of Place is a program of Mt. Adams Institute, a Gorge-based nonprofit that strengthens the connection between people and the natural world through education, service, career development, and research. For more information on the series and Season 15, visit senseofplacegorge.org or follow us on Instagram @senseofplacegorge.Subscribe to the Sense of Place Newsletter for event updates and behind-the-scenes stories.