Showing posts with label Oakridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oakridge. Show all posts
Sunday, November 10, 2013
MTB Oakridge Alpine Pix 2
Some pix taken by Big Trouble in Little China…from someone who actually has an eye for this stuff, as opposed to just point and clicking…
The approach to the grinder climb
partially up the grinder
Where are the Sisters and BrokenTop?….thataway!
a hard earned rest for BGLC
in the trees and on the trail!
the meadow….get ready to work those brakes
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
MTB Oakridge Alpine Bliss
One of the planned highlights while Dan was out from the East Coast was to head to Oakridge and ride Alpine. We ended up lucking out on day selection as we hit one of the last sunny days mixed between a bunch of rain and snow. We were unsure of how the day would play out considering the forecast called for a bit of a mixed bag. As it turned out, it could not have been a more perfect mix of conditions.
The drive to Oakridge was fairly non-eventful. After pulling into the parking lot by the red covered bridge, we started the routine of getting ready and trying to determine how to dress for the upcoming grind up the forest service road. Having done the grinder before, I was prepared to under-dress a little knowing that soon enough there would be an hour of huffing and puffing up the road. Soon enough we were on the dirt road and I looked over at Dan and said something along the lines of get comfortable for the next hour.
We were both on single speeds and the key was finding a comfortable rhythm as we worked our way up up up.
I was determined to make sure Dan had the full meal deal relative to Alpine so the plan was to ride up to Cate's Cut in and dive on to the trail there. We stopped along the way up and took in the big views that showed off the Cascade Peaks along the backdrop of blue skies. It was weird to think that we were now on the other side of Bachelor, Sisters, BrokenTop, etc and that Bend was just on the other side of them there hills…..
Cate's Cut in came quickly enough and we got on the trail and continued climbing for a few hundred more feet of elevation gain. Before too long, we were up in the meadow where we stopped in the bear grass and took it all in. At this point, I could tell the 2 hour drive and the subsequent 1+ hours of steady climbing were going to pay off in spades. Dan had this look of peace and wonderment about him…mission accomplished.
The long descent was filled with amazing kodak moment opportunities and the trail was riding better than any other time I have been lucky enough to ride that trail. The trail was pretty much perfect. All too soon, we finished the first descent above windy gap and then caught what might be some of my very favorite trail of all time….Return of the Jedi. There is something amazing to me about this section of Alpine. The old growth, the riding, the flow, the canopy and lighting along that section…all very special. I was curious to see how Dan would react.
I grunted my way up the climb before the final descent on that section and waited for Dan. Little did I know that he was off his bike and just enjoying the moment. He eventually made his way to where I was and all I heard was 'what….what…..WHAT world are we in? Where are we? What is this?'. After a few more phrases of bewilderment we got to the best part of that section and descended all too quickly.
We got back to Windy Gap and then rode the road to catch Alpine at the next junction. We noticed a new trail that started by Windy Gap and then continued to eyeball as we rode to the next junction to catch Alpine. The trail paralleled the road and was the missing section of trail needed to connect the only road section while descending this iconic trail. We looked at each other, and quickly retraced our pedal strokes uphill so we could ride the new trail. The trail is a nice little connector that takes you sidehilling below the road. As with all new trail, it was a little lumpy but should be just fine once it gets ridden and sits under some snow for a while.
The rest of the descent down Alpine was filled with more phrases of amazement and whoops of delight. We took a bunch of pictures and managed to thoroughly enjoy the day. I have never had a bad ride on Alpine and this day might have just topped them all. The ride never disappoints and it is amazing to be able to ride from the top ands cover the trail that changes characteristics as it descends through different micro-climates.
The cherry on top was that it might be one of the very last opportunities to ride Alpine from its highest point as weather might very quickly close the top sections down.
Pictures to follow - ride statistics below:
The drive to Oakridge was fairly non-eventful. After pulling into the parking lot by the red covered bridge, we started the routine of getting ready and trying to determine how to dress for the upcoming grind up the forest service road. Having done the grinder before, I was prepared to under-dress a little knowing that soon enough there would be an hour of huffing and puffing up the road. Soon enough we were on the dirt road and I looked over at Dan and said something along the lines of get comfortable for the next hour.
We were both on single speeds and the key was finding a comfortable rhythm as we worked our way up up up.
I was determined to make sure Dan had the full meal deal relative to Alpine so the plan was to ride up to Cate's Cut in and dive on to the trail there. We stopped along the way up and took in the big views that showed off the Cascade Peaks along the backdrop of blue skies. It was weird to think that we were now on the other side of Bachelor, Sisters, BrokenTop, etc and that Bend was just on the other side of them there hills…..
Cate's Cut in came quickly enough and we got on the trail and continued climbing for a few hundred more feet of elevation gain. Before too long, we were up in the meadow where we stopped in the bear grass and took it all in. At this point, I could tell the 2 hour drive and the subsequent 1+ hours of steady climbing were going to pay off in spades. Dan had this look of peace and wonderment about him…mission accomplished.
The long descent was filled with amazing kodak moment opportunities and the trail was riding better than any other time I have been lucky enough to ride that trail. The trail was pretty much perfect. All too soon, we finished the first descent above windy gap and then caught what might be some of my very favorite trail of all time….Return of the Jedi. There is something amazing to me about this section of Alpine. The old growth, the riding, the flow, the canopy and lighting along that section…all very special. I was curious to see how Dan would react.
I grunted my way up the climb before the final descent on that section and waited for Dan. Little did I know that he was off his bike and just enjoying the moment. He eventually made his way to where I was and all I heard was 'what….what…..WHAT world are we in? Where are we? What is this?'. After a few more phrases of bewilderment we got to the best part of that section and descended all too quickly.
We got back to Windy Gap and then rode the road to catch Alpine at the next junction. We noticed a new trail that started by Windy Gap and then continued to eyeball as we rode to the next junction to catch Alpine. The trail paralleled the road and was the missing section of trail needed to connect the only road section while descending this iconic trail. We looked at each other, and quickly retraced our pedal strokes uphill so we could ride the new trail. The trail is a nice little connector that takes you sidehilling below the road. As with all new trail, it was a little lumpy but should be just fine once it gets ridden and sits under some snow for a while.
The rest of the descent down Alpine was filled with more phrases of amazement and whoops of delight. We took a bunch of pictures and managed to thoroughly enjoy the day. I have never had a bad ride on Alpine and this day might have just topped them all. The ride never disappoints and it is amazing to be able to ride from the top ands cover the trail that changes characteristics as it descends through different micro-climates.
The cherry on top was that it might be one of the very last opportunities to ride Alpine from its highest point as weather might very quickly close the top sections down.
Pictures to follow - ride statistics below:
Thursday, June 6, 2013
MTB Oakridge Alpine Tire Mtn Cloverpatch
The last day of riding on our trip came all too soon and we had decided to go back up the big climb up the forest service road to catch Alpine and hook into Tire Mtn. It was sunny and clear when we started and as we climbed up and got higher, we found ourselves in the clouds. It changed from clear and sunny to foggy and misty.
We made our way up Windy Pass and hooked into Alpine where we descended until we hit the spur for Tire mtn. The trail intersection is not marked at all so you have to pay attention or else it is easy to miss. I was trying to capture a Kodak moment and the wifer was ahead of me and did exactly that...she missed the turn. Unfortunately she was out of my line of sight so I was not able to see which way she went. I yelled out to her and did not hear anything back. I decided to take my chances going via Tire mtn. After a while I started to think I should have caught up to her and that she must have continued down Alpine. I tried calling but our signal was pretty spotty so that did not work. I sent a quick text and by then she figured out she missed the turn and re-traced her steps. About the time I made my way back to the junction, she had found the trail again.
We snaked our way along the side of the ridge through what seemed like a totally different micro-climate. It was wet and really really lush. At a couple of points, the trail opened up and we rode through a wildflower patch. All the while, the mist hovered in the air to provide a bit of a surreal riding experience (in a good way). We continued to snap picture along the way, but as usual the pictures really never seem to do justice to what our eyes and senses take in real time.
At one point, the wifer decided to go off-piste. I had the camera in hand and was locked and loaded for pictures...my better sensibility prevailed as I figured it would be too mean to take pictures of her detour...however, I did get a picture of her getting back to the trail once I knew she was not hurt.
Soon enough we started our descent and we wound our way through old growth. The riding was impeccable. The trail was so much fun and the scenery was up to snuff too. We rode with big grins on our face, stopping frequently to ogle the setting. We had the trail to ourselves and it felt like we were in Jurassic Park at points.
The junction to Cloverpatch came all too soon and we found ourselves climbing back out and trying to dodge and weave the poison oak that had overgrown the trail. We ascended for a few hundred feet and then had another nice and long descent. This descent was even steeper with some equally tight switchies to keep your tech skills honed. The trail eventually kicked us out onto a dirt road that we would descend for the last few miles and then work our way back to Westfir.
The dirt road descent and ride back to town somehow don't fit the character of this ride. It would be downright dreamy if they could link trail back into town (and we hear that it is currently being proposed). That would be ultra dreamy...not just dreamy, but ultra....yup yup
some pictures of the day:
We made our way up Windy Pass and hooked into Alpine where we descended until we hit the spur for Tire mtn. The trail intersection is not marked at all so you have to pay attention or else it is easy to miss. I was trying to capture a Kodak moment and the wifer was ahead of me and did exactly that...she missed the turn. Unfortunately she was out of my line of sight so I was not able to see which way she went. I yelled out to her and did not hear anything back. I decided to take my chances going via Tire mtn. After a while I started to think I should have caught up to her and that she must have continued down Alpine. I tried calling but our signal was pretty spotty so that did not work. I sent a quick text and by then she figured out she missed the turn and re-traced her steps. About the time I made my way back to the junction, she had found the trail again.
We snaked our way along the side of the ridge through what seemed like a totally different micro-climate. It was wet and really really lush. At a couple of points, the trail opened up and we rode through a wildflower patch. All the while, the mist hovered in the air to provide a bit of a surreal riding experience (in a good way). We continued to snap picture along the way, but as usual the pictures really never seem to do justice to what our eyes and senses take in real time.
At one point, the wifer decided to go off-piste. I had the camera in hand and was locked and loaded for pictures...my better sensibility prevailed as I figured it would be too mean to take pictures of her detour...however, I did get a picture of her getting back to the trail once I knew she was not hurt.
Soon enough we started our descent and we wound our way through old growth. The riding was impeccable. The trail was so much fun and the scenery was up to snuff too. We rode with big grins on our face, stopping frequently to ogle the setting. We had the trail to ourselves and it felt like we were in Jurassic Park at points.
The junction to Cloverpatch came all too soon and we found ourselves climbing back out and trying to dodge and weave the poison oak that had overgrown the trail. We ascended for a few hundred feet and then had another nice and long descent. This descent was even steeper with some equally tight switchies to keep your tech skills honed. The trail eventually kicked us out onto a dirt road that we would descend for the last few miles and then work our way back to Westfir.
The dirt road descent and ride back to town somehow don't fit the character of this ride. It would be downright dreamy if they could link trail back into town (and we hear that it is currently being proposed). That would be ultra dreamy...not just dreamy, but ultra....yup yup
some pictures of the day:
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
MTB Oakridge Alpine via Kate's cut in
We ended up getting skunked on day two of our trip mostly due to an impromptu visit to Eugene to get a new water pump for the tin can. The old water pump fizzled out and if there was any hope of having water during out trip, the Eugene stop was a must. I did a little due diligence and was fairly certain it was the water pump but there was still a seed of doubt until I replace the new water pump.
The other trailer camping lesson we learned was to make sure the trailer is level when parked. Having it sit at an angle impacts the water levels and can over-state or understate your current levels. As with anything else, the more you do it, the more you figure it out and unlock the mysteries of stupidity, or knowledge.
back to the riding....The wifer had not done the notorious Alpine trail so we decided to hit up the trail via Kate's cut in. It was a nice long forest service road climb and I did a quick lap on the Jedi section of the trail while the wifer made her way up to Windy Pass. Jedi!!! Gotta LOVE that section of trail. It is my favorite section of Alpine and it never disappoints! Pure fat tire nectar....if only it was longer! This was one of the sections I remembered from the Cream Puff and it really just stuck in my mind.
I also forget how spectacular the views are looking towards Bend once you get up high on the road towards Kate's cut in. The views opened up looking right at Sisters, Bachelor, and BrokenTop. It was only for a couple hundred of feet but it makes you realize just how close you are (as the crow flies) to central Oregon, even though you are in a totally different climate.
back to the ride...fairly standard affair...up the road, down the trail....good stuff
The other trailer camping lesson we learned was to make sure the trailer is level when parked. Having it sit at an angle impacts the water levels and can over-state or understate your current levels. As with anything else, the more you do it, the more you figure it out and unlock the mysteries of stupidity, or knowledge.
back to the riding....The wifer had not done the notorious Alpine trail so we decided to hit up the trail via Kate's cut in. It was a nice long forest service road climb and I did a quick lap on the Jedi section of the trail while the wifer made her way up to Windy Pass. Jedi!!! Gotta LOVE that section of trail. It is my favorite section of Alpine and it never disappoints! Pure fat tire nectar....if only it was longer! This was one of the sections I remembered from the Cream Puff and it really just stuck in my mind.
I also forget how spectacular the views are looking towards Bend once you get up high on the road towards Kate's cut in. The views opened up looking right at Sisters, Bachelor, and BrokenTop. It was only for a couple hundred of feet but it makes you realize just how close you are (as the crow flies) to central Oregon, even though you are in a totally different climate.
back to the ride...fairly standard affair...up the road, down the trail....good stuff
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