Mountain Bike Oakridge a Success

Great weekend, next year we should camp at Sand Prarie campground, list the whole weekend as Gonzo, and definitely do another Saturday night potluck.

Ted, Kendra, Victor, Robert, Cage (and Melanie), Chris, Brooke, Doug, Ed, Steve, Myself, John, and Jim joined Randy with Oregon Adventures for a fun filled weekend in Oakridge.After a couple good days of rain earlier in the week then we were blessed with awesome trail conditions and nice weather.Thursday, John and I arrived to the Blue Pool campsite (of which the Blue Pool does not exist aymore) and met up with Robert after horrible traffic down from Portland.  New rule, leave by noon.  Robert scoped out the best group type sights of the grounds, 17 and 18.  We set up camp, enjoying the light traffic and soothing sound of rushing water and passing trains.

Up at 7 for coffee and eggs, potatoes and sausage.  Left blue pool at 8 and met up with Randy at teh signal point boat ramp wes of akridge at 9 for a shuttle to the top of Alpine.  Even though I'd studied the route it was nice to see that a couple extras showed up including Jim from Lake Tahoe and Shiggy from mtbtires.com that knew the way better then I.  Ted and Cage also joined us along with John Harris and Doug.  Off to the top of Alpine.

We got to the top for $30 a head and proceeded to do the upper loop of Alpine with Shiggy as our guide before making our descent.  Shiggy decided to break off and go mark some trails for next weeks MBO.

We decided that our 30 plus mile day just wasn't going to be enough, so we all collectively decided to pass by the Tire Mountain turnoff and continue down Alpine.

We didn't however agree to climb back up, but it was inevitable and thus Dennis ‘it’s a loop’ Veatch led the fearless group back up to the top.  

On towards Tire Mountain, and Tire mountain Tie.  Another agreed upon out and back (minus John) to add additional mileage and descending to our day.  But once again, no agreement to the climb back up.

We hopped onto Winberry and rode the long descent down to the car and made our way back to the campsite after a 10 hour day.  Some of our group decided to grab Mexican and a hot shower at the RV park on the way back.  Upon arriving at Blue pool again, we met up with the rest of the crew and talked about our ride.  Then hit the hay.  Oh the feeling of an air mattress with a hole in it.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/dashboard.mb?episodePk.pkValue=8696677

Saturday morning, more eggs, sausage and potatoes.  Left to meet Randy at Sand Prarie Campground by 10 and found that he brought the tour bus to take us up to the top of MFW and that Jim from Tahoe decided to go for another run.  $30 a head and we were on our way, all the way to the top, not just halfway.

We decided to break off into a couple groups.  Ted, Brooke, Chris, Robert, Jim, Cage, and myself ran up to the top of Indigo and enjoyed what is touted as the best 2 mile stretch of downhill single track in the western hemisphere (they were right) while the rest of the group ran down the MFW to wait for us at the Horse Trail turn off.

The entire trail system was in incredible shape and a bit more challenging than I remember.  Ok, a lot more challenging, but also a lot more fun!

Met up with the rest of the group, reminesced and touted our successes and the remaining trail to come.

Got back to Sand Prarie Campground at about 5, scoped a couple of campsites and decide that even though SP may not have a great group site, it’s a nice enough ground and right at the end of the MFW Trail to justify having the next event there.  Oh, and there were also no trains or traffic. http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/dashboard.mb?episodePk.pkValue=8697414 

Back to Blueless Pool and time for our weekend potluck.  Curry chicken, salads, and so much food that even after burning a collective 50,000 calories, we couldn’t finish it all.  After dinner we rallied up a few and headed a mile down the road to McCredie Hot Springs for a much needed soak.  Had the entire springs to ourselves.  Back to the site for another night on a flat mattress.

7am, jesus I’m tired.  “Randy, can we push it back an hour?” Packed up the site, met Randy in downtown Oakridge at 10:30 and once again, Jim from Tahoe joined us for a shuttle to the top of Lawler for $20.

A bit of a rough road, but after a bit of time, we arrived.

After getting dropped off, we were off.  Down Lawler for a rock and root trail of fun!  Had to stop though and enjoy the sights, and what a view. 

We got on the trail and Doug experienced something I never knew could happen. A rock impacted Doug’s shin hard enough on a decent to cause this much blood.

After a quick patch up, then we were back down the trail to the bottom where we met up with Randy again for a shuttle to the top of Hardesty.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/dashboard.mb?episodePk.pkValue=8697745 

A bit of a climb after the drop off to get to the trail due to a washout of the road, but nothing our group couldn’t handle.  Then wow, what a trail.  Can’t imagine any better end to a wonderful weekend. 

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/dashboard.mb?episodePk.pkValue=8697744

10,000 feet of shuttling: $80

New brake pads: $30

10,000 feet of climbing, 20,000 feet of descending with no injuries or serious mechanicals: Priceless