Forged by Fire, Built for the Future: A One-of-a-Kind Bike Supporting Trails and Recovery in the Lost Sierra

The Sierra Trailblazer bike represents resiliency and rebuilding, created in partnership with Sierra Nevada Brewing, Paul Component and Falconer Cycles to signify a phoenix rising from the ashes of the Dixie Fire that burned 1 million acres in the northern Sierra in 2021.

Your donations to the Sierra Trailblazer fundraiser will benefit Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, the organization that builds and maintains trails in Plumas and Sierra counties, where the Dixie Fire burned. From the ashes of the fire, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship executive director Greg Williams developed a concept called Fire Hardened Trails, which outlines a prescription for new trailbuilding projects that aims to reduce ground and ladder fuels and create healthier forests and more resilient communities.

Sierra Trailblazer components details

And you can win it by donating to Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship!

Donations of at least $5 made at the Sea Otter Classic and through April 24, 2025, will help support this effort, while also getting you a chance to win this one-off custom-painted Falconer frame outfitted with American-made parts from Paul Components and White Industries— the crackled “burned” paint job and shiny parts representing the fire and new growth rising from its ashes. Each $5 donation (the average cost of building a trail) gets participants a chance to win the Falconer. The frame is handcrafted by Cam Falconer, who is also based in Plumas County, California, where the fire took place.

Sierra Nevada, Paul Component and White Industries are longtime partners of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and have supported their trail work for many years in the Lost Sierra.

Custom built Falconer frame!

Fire Hardened Trails

The concept of Fire Hardened Trails was born in the aftermath of the fire, when fire crews used trails on Mount Hough—a trail network SBTS has extensively built out for the past decade—as access points to fight the fire. It caused Williams to reexamine the role recreational trails can play in forest management and economic recovery.

Fire Hardened Trails attempts to harness the interconnectivity of local, regional and federal resources by outlining a prescription that could be integrated into new trailbuilding projects, including removing all dead standing and downed trees and trees less than 6 inches in diameter in the primary trail corridor, and reducing brush by 50 percent, thinning 40 percent of trees less than 6 inches in diameter and limbing all trees to a height of 6-10 feet in the limited spread zone.

Before and after Round Lake Trail rebuilding an Mt. Elwell trail from loose rocks to granite stairs
Reducing fuels along the trail corridor.

Along with incorporating the prescription into its own projects, SBTS is working to get it written into California and national environmental review processes, so that trailbuilding organizations across the country have the ability to implement it into their projects. Patagonia highlighted the concept in its recent film, "Fire Lines," which shows how Williams and SBTS are looking to the practices of the past to create a path to a better future.

The Smith Lake Trail bridge construction process with helicopter lifting bridge materials
Reduced fuels on a trail.

Donate today to for a custom Sierra Trailblazer bike!

"Custom Sierra Trailblazer" Terms & Conditions

The "Custom Sierra Trailblazer" fundraiser is open to contestants in the Continental United States. By participating in the "Custom Sierra Trailblazer" fundraiser, you consent to SBTS sending you additional information and updates related to this donation drawing and other SBTS news. The winner must be 18 years or older and reside in a locality where participation is legal. No purchase is necessary to enter. To enter without purchase, you may mail a handwritten postcard (form) to SBTS at: SBTS, 550 Crescent Street, Quincy, CA 95971. Containing your (i) full name; (2) mailing address, including street address, city, state/district, and zip code (P.O. boxes not accepted); (3) telephone number; (4) email address; and (5) date of birth. All write-in entries must be postmarked by April 20, 2025, and received by April 24, 2025, and only one mail in entry per person will be accepted. All submission forms must be received no later than 11:45 p.m. PST on April 24, 2025. Existing monthly donors can make sure their recurring monthly donations are counted in the giveaway by emailing info@sierratrails.org. Contributions to "Custom Sierra Trailblazer" are tax-deductible. The winner understands, acknowledges, and agrees that the winner is receiving a prize and will hereby release and discharge SBTS, and any additional sponsors, their employees, agents, officers, directors, and legal representatives and assigns from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses or expenses arising from or caused by the award of such prize, including, but not limited to the payment of any and all taxes that are due.

Custom Sierra Trailblazer Bike

Support Trails and Win a One-Off, Custom-Painted Falconer Hardtail!