WALKING FOR KOBYN: A JOURNEY TO HONOR, CONNECT, AND BUILD OREGONS SALMONBERRY TRAIL

ON JUNE 18, 2026, I BEGAN A 150-MILE PILGRIMAGE THROUGH OREGONS COASTAL WILDERNESS NOT TO WALK A TRAIL, BUT TO BRING IT TO LIFE.

_THIS JOURNEY IS FOR KOBYN MCCLURE_

KOBYNS STORY IS A REMINDER OF HOW DEEPLY OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY. IN HIS HONOR, IM ASKING YOU TO WALK ALONGSIDE US BOTH BY SUPPORTING KOBYNS FAMILY AND VICTIMS AND BY FUELING THIS MISSION TO BUILD A TRAIL THAT STRENGTHENS RURAL OREGON FOR GENERATIONS.

_WHY THE SALMONBERRY TRAIL MATTERS NOW_

TRAIL RUNNING ISNT JUST A SPORTITS A $20 BILLION MOVEMENT WITH 16 MILLION AMERICANS HITTING DIRT PATHS EVERY YEAR. YET FEWER THAN 2% HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ORGANIZED TRAIL RACE. THAT GAP IS AN OPPORTUNITY: A CHANCE TO BRING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC VITALITY TO OREGONS RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THE SALMONBERRY TRAILA VISIONARY 82-MILE ROUTE FROM PORTLANDS EDGE TO THE PACIFIC COASTSITS AT THE HEART OF THIS MOMENT. BUT FOR IT TO THRIVE, IT NEEDS VISIBILITY, STEWARDSHIP, AND VOICES.

THROUGH ECO RACING NORTHWEST, IM PIONEERING A RACE SERIES THAT COMMITS 50% OF NET PROFITS TO THE SALMONBERRY TRAIL FOUNDATION AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THIS ISNT JUST ABOUT RACINGITS ABOUT REINVESTING IN THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAKE THIS CORRIDOR EXTRAORDINARY.

_WHAT THIS WALK ACHIEVES_

THIS IS A WORKING JOURNEY:

DOCUMENTING THE TRAIL CORRIDOR MILE-BY-MILE WITH PHOTOS, STORIES, AND SAFETY NOTES
LISTENING TO FARMERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND RESIDENTS IN TILLAMOOK, GALES CREEK, AND BEYOND
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE THE SALMONBERRY TRAIL BECOMES A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

OVER 500 MILES ACROSS FOUR MONTHS, EVERY STEP HONORS KOBYNS LEGACY WHILE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A TRAIL THAT WILL WELCOME THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, PROTECT OREGONS WILDERNESS, AND GENERATE LASTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON STRAVA. PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL NOT LOG EVERY MILE. THIS WILL SERVE AS A WAY THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND KNOW WHERE I AM: HTTPS://WWW.STRAVA.COM/ATHLETES/90183209

_HOW YOUR SUPPORT POWERS THIS MISSION_

YOUR GIFT OF $25, $50, OR $100 DIRECTLY FUNDS:

FIELD LOGISTICS: SAFE, EFFICIENT TRAVEL ALONG THE RUGGED CORRIDOR
COMMUNITY STAYS: LODGING WITH LOCAL FAMILIES AND FARMS
STORYTELLING: EQUIPMENT TO CAPTURE THE TRAILS BEAUTY AND VOICES
SUSTENANCE: NUTRITION FOR 20+ MILE DAYS IN REMOTE TERRAIN
OUTREACH: MATERIALS TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES

GOAL: $5,250 (COVERS ALL FIELD COSTS THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2026)

EVERY DOLLAR STAYS ON THE GROUNDENSURING THIS WALK DELIVERS MAXIMUM IMPACT FOR KOBYNS MEMORY AND OREGONS FUTURE.

_TWO WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE _

1 FUEL THIS JOURNEY: DONATE HERE TO DOCUMENT AND ACTIVATE THE SALMONBERRY TRAIL: HTTPS://GOFUND.ME/518082C93
2 SUPPORT KOBYNS FAMILY: CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THEIR CAMPAIGN: HTTPS://GOFUND.ME/34424141B

TOGETHER, WERE BUILDING MORE THAN A TRAIL. WERE CREATING A LEGACY OF CONNECTION, RESILIENCE, AND HOPE.

WALK. LISTEN. BUILD. FOR KOBYN.

WATCH HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A GATHERING AFTER THE SILVER FALLS TRAIL RACES, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN SILVER FALLS, OREGON, OCTOBER 16-18, 2026. I WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT MY FINDINGS AT THAT TIME.

RON MACKENZIE, FOUNDER OF ECO RACING NORTHWEST

_WATCH THESE VIDEOS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRAIL:_

https://youtu.be/rhONq4YBsv0?si=LiZNEq8ASrHrXdi6

https://youtu.be/yKJfXrZq9ZY?si=QjYSd1zOwZ8sTBh7