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Oregon / Where every Ride is Epic
5 Days on the Trails in Bend Oregon (Photo: The ultra clear water of Clear Lake on the McKenzie River)
Bend Oregon is called the Mountain Bike Mecca. I have no idea how many thousands of miles of trails they have out there. All I know is I had a friend living in Bend, and I had a 1 week vacation coming up in Early May 2013.
The McKenzie River Route is the EPIC Ride you Seek. This photo shows Clear Lake at the top of the McKenzie River Trail. We watched Fish Swim around the Baited-Hook that you could clearly see while these folks were fishing.
Bend is on the High Desert on the Eastern Side of the Cascade Mountains and is at ~4000 feet elevation. Just as you would expect in a Desert. There are no trees, lots of sand and brush, flat land, and it is very dry. However just 10 miles to the West in the Mountains the Trees are all over 100 feet tall, and forest so thick you have no clear view of any trail. The Western side of the Cascade's is where all the constant and heavy rain falls that Oregon is known for.
Prime-Evil Forest and Home of the Yeti...!
Tire-Shredding Lava Rock Trails
Real Mountain Trail Riding is just around the "Bend"
The WILD RIVERS are out WEST
On the first outing we kept on the fairly flat land of the Dechutes River Basin. The raging water is an attention getter.
This was a 11 mile out and back (22 Miles) along this incredibly raging river. I have never seen anything like this in our North East. This river had so much energy in the water moving through it, I watched a 30 foot tree fly down the river and smash to splinters when it hit a volcanic rock wall. (Photo 14/26) (See Video below)
To add to the terror of this raging river that sounded like a Jet Engine, we had a Hail Storm our entire ride (Photos 10/26 and 13/26). This river carved itself into Volcanic Rock, so the entire trail was on Dry Lava. If you stray off the worn path, your tires get shredded from the Lava Rock. We were dressed for Winter with Many Layers, would not want to crash on the stuff wearing shorts in the summer.
Very Exciting Ride, left a lasting impression of what a Real River is like.
Kapka Butte 25 Mile Roll into Bend
The next day my friend's wife was nice enough to taxi us up to the top of Kapka Butte (6000+ feet) to the Kapka Peak Snow Park, and YES, snowing it was. (Photo 15 of 26).
Started the ride with a quick descent of 800 feet in the 3" snow before crossing the Highway and climbing again, but no snow on this side at all, not even a hint of it.
By Mile 7, and after a few miles of climbing, it was clear we were on a Down Hill section. By mile 13 it was clear we were on a Down Mountain Section… It was about 8 miles of downhill bombing, screaming loud riders, and holding the handlebars sooo tight, you have to stop and rest your arms. (Yes, I screamed in fear on the way down)
25 miles total, most of it down hill and we rolled right into Downtown Bend. Great Ride, Thanks Alex...!
McKenzie River Trail (40 Miles)
My friend said the Must See Epic Ride is the McKenzie River Trail.
Starting at Clear Lake on the McKenzie Highway, this is a 40 mile 2000 foot descent on Single-tracks along the purest river water I have ever seen. There are pools of water so clear you can’t see any water even when it is 50 feet deep. (Photos 20/26 + 21/26).
This was a really great ride, Epic..! Starting in a Lava Field and winding your way down from elevation in a forest so thick the only sound you hear is your tires, and your heartbeat.
In all, 5 days of riding at altitude (2 days in Portland for beer infused recovery at sea-level) and over 120 miles traveled in dense dark forest.
Lake Placid / Adirondacks Mountains / 3 Different Adventures
Saranac Lakes 55 Mile Road Ride
A great Road ride with long rolling hills and periodic spectacular views of many different lakes. The Saranac Lakes Ride starts at the Mirror Lake location and heads to the town "Saranac Lake" before heading once around the loop and returning to that same town. Nice wide open roads, not a lot of traffic, but there are a lot of Lumber Trucks.
Lake Placid 10 Mile MTB Ride
From the Mirror Lake location, there is a great 10 mile MTB ride just around the corner. Great views of the mountains and the Ski Jumps from past Olympic Events.
Ausable Lake Hike (8 Miles)
Hiking in the Adirondacks is not like being in the well marked and maintained trails of NH. The moment you step on a trail in the Adirondacks, you know you are in pure wilderness. Trails are not well marked, and not well maintained. You check in at a Ranger Station, and tell them your Agenda. So stick to that agenda. This was an easy hike with just tons of WOW factor. (Go in the Fall)