Oregon Nordic Club Portland Chapter HOME SEARCH About ONC Membership News and Events Nordic Issues Officers & Committees TRIPS Day Trips Overnight Trips Trips Guide Resources for Trip Leaders TRAILS Mt Hood Guide Mt Hood FS Trail Report St. Helens and Mt Adams FS Trail Report Topo Maps DIRECTIONS & WEATHER Directions Weather GEAR Ski Gear What to Wear Rentals and Retailers Shop Online LINKS ONC Chapters ONC Photo Gallery Nordic Skiing Other Links Send mail to webmaster with comments about this web site.   Reconstruction of Oregon Highway 35 Skiing in Pocket Creek, Teacup, Bennett Pass and White River areas will be affected by moving Highway 35 Oregon Department of Transportation, the Forest Service, and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration have big plans for Highway 35 where it crosses White River and Clark Creek. This stretch of road was badly damaged by floods in November 2006, forcing emergency repairs. The agencies involved want to perform major works on the highway to prevent this from happening again. For the White River crossing their alternatives are: Improve the highway close to the current location Move the highway upstream from current location Move the highway down stream from current location For the Clark and Newton Creek areas their alternatives are: Improve the highway in the current location Move the highway between the Teacup area and the Pocket Creek Road Move the highway onto the Pocket Creek Road What does this mean for Nordic skiers? For one thing, Tom Webb from Teacup estimates that 60% of the Nordic area will be affected by this proposal. The new shelter will definitely be affected and other sno-parks may be too. More information and detailed maps are available in this handout, which was distributed at a public meeting of which the Nordic Club was not notified. The Mazamas Nordic Committee has informed us that this project has a new manager. Greg Gifford is Federal Highway Administration’s new project manager for the Highway 35 Improvements at White River and Newton/Clark Creeks project. George Fekaris was the Project Manager but is moving to a different position at FHWA. This project will most likely affect cross-country ski trails in the Pocket Creek, Teacup, White River and Bennett Pass areas. Although the official deadline for submitting comments has passed you can still contact Mr. Gifford about it. His phone number is 360 619-7622 and e-mail address is greg.gifford@fhwa.dot.gov. Please contact him and give him comments and concerns. More info about this project and link to their Web site is posted on our Web site: www.onc.org/nordicIssues.html. The Club's Position ONC’s official stance is in favor of keeping the highway in its current location and making improvements that would prevent damage from flooding and debris flows. Make you views known! Send your comments by Saturday, December 15, 2007 to: George Fekaris, Project Manager By e-mail: or_erfo2007@mail.wfl.fhwa.dot.gov Or mail: George Fekaris, Project Manager Federal Highway Administration 610 East 5th Street Vancouver, Washington 98661 If you have questions please call George Fekaris at (360) 619-7766. More Information The agencies have produced a color newsletter describing their plans. In 2003 a fesibility study was conducted: it can be found here There is an ODOT website page for the project. 1999–2008 Portland Chapter ONC. All Rights Reserved.