2024 Accomplishments
DEAR TRAILS, TDU HAS YOUR BACK
VIEWS FROM JPs TRAIL RESTORATION PROJECT
THANK YOU TO ALL 800+ INDIVIDUALS FOR JOINING THE VOLUNTEER TRAIL FORCE
BONUS… SINGLETRACK RADNESS
End of Year Report
Commit to the line, and adapt to the terrain.
Thanks to your support, Truckee Dirt Union celebrated its fourth official year as a nonprofit with big wins, incredible trail days, and community vibes that kept us rolling—despite a few bumps along the way. Yes, we missed the Donkey Town trail network this summer more than words can express, but that just inspired us to double down on what we could do: rebuild, restore, advocate, and dream even bigger.
From record-breaking rider laps in May to groundbreaking partnerships, we turned challenges into opportunities, laying the groundwork for an epic Donkey Town—aka Jackass Trail—revival in 2025. And the cherry on top? Public recognition from the Truckee Town Council, proof that TDU’s work is leaving an indelible impression on our broader community.
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(Dive into the details of how TDU made 2024 so rad. Read below.)
Highlight Details
Community Trail Days & Events
Hosted five Community Dig Days, generating an epic 1,000 hours of volunteer trail stewardship. Huge thanks to every volunteer who grabbed a shovel and got dirty!
For the first time ever, TDU funded 1,920 hours of paid trail maintenance labor. Four local trail builders turned passion into purpose, and the results speak for themselves.
Launched the Loam Masters Rally—a weekend packed with trail building, racing, and a community BBQ—it's important to note, this was the first permitted ride/race to occur on Jackass Ridge. And we can’t wait to do it again in 2025!
Celebrated summer with a community-wide Fourth of July Parade Rally Ride, turning downtown Truckee into a moving wave of mountain bike stoke.
Wrapped up the season with the Freehub Presents Film Tour in November, drawing nearly 300 mountain bikers of all ages to Alibi Ale Works. The energy in the air was high, and the funds raised to help make more Singletrack Radness were even higher!
Trail Building & Advocacy
Completed three phases of JP’s Trail restoration project in partnership with California State Parks, marking a groundbreaking collaboration that’s setting new standards for MTB advocacy.
Collected unprecedented trail rider usage data through TDU's data tracking initiative, revealing new highs in trail activity May 1 - June 1:
Most Rider Laps in One Day: 441
Most Rider Laps in One Month: 5,304
Average Weekday Rider Laps: 195
Average Weekend Rider Laps: 257
Collaborated with USFS and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to minimize the impact of the Donkey Town closure. We’re proud to say that TDU's advocacy work help avoid a potential 3–5 year closure, paving the way for an awesome reopening in 2025 (fingers crossed).
Spreading the Stoke
Partnered with Alibi Ale Works to release the second edition of Singletrack Radness beer, now available at Raley’s and local Alibi locations. Perfect for post-ride thirst quenching!
Broadcasted 22 fresh episodes of the Singletrack Trail Report on Tahoe Truckee Radio 101.5, delivering real-time trail conditions and bite-sized stoke to listeners. Huge shoutout to JD Hoss of KTKE for producing the show in support of TDU and for stepping up as the sponsor of TDU's Fourth of July Parade float.
Published major features in Adventure Sports Journal, Moonshine Ink, and Sierra Sun, showcasing TDU’s efforts and inspiring more community involvement. Thank you goes out to Kurt Gensheimer and Laney Griffo for authoring awesome stories about TDU's past, present, and future.
Completed implementing and reporting for TDU's first county level grant fund in partnership with Nevada County. Thanks go out to every one at Nevada County for being awesome partners.
New Initiatives & Partnerships
Kicked off an MTB Conservation Initiative collaborating with Truckee Donner Land Trust, aiming to formalize and expand access to Truckee’s iconic trails. Big ideas are gaining momentum.
Secured a three-year partnership agreement with USFS to maintain trails in the Jackass Ridge area and beyond.
Worked with regional partners like Visit Tahoe Truckee, TAMBA, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, The Outdoor Alliance, Truckee Trails Foundation, Truckee Dirt Riders, and CAMTB to align efforts and amplify our collective impact.
Hired founding member Matt Chappell as TDU’s part-time Executive Director and welcomed three passionate new board members: Georgia Clark, Bob Avis, and Scott Kessler.
Looking Ahead
With the Donkey Town network poised for a top-to-bottom reboot this Spring and momentum building across our initiatives, we’re gearing up for our most ambitious year yet. Whether it’s creating new trails, advocating for access, or rallying the community, we can’t wait to ride into the future with you.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support fuels everything we do. Here’s to another year of stoke, stewardship, and Singletrack Radness!
Truckee Dirt Union Team
Matt Chappell
Executive Director
Skye Allsop
Board President
Greg Forsyth
Board Member – Development Chair
Dave Metres
Board Member – Outreach Chair
GP Martin
Board Member – Marketing Chair
Bob Avis
New Board Member
Georgia Clark
New Board Member
Scott Kessler
New Board Member
Jonnie Benda
Trail Crew Leader
Rob Holidinski
Trail Builder
Christine Kelly
Trail Builder
Joel Severy
Trail Builder
Your donations help make all this possible. 🙏