Kirin blogging here: being a new mom I spend more time with my baby and less time guiding or being on trail at all. Regardless, I still need to get out for the occasional adventure. So, last Thursday Erika, Lindsey (both Cogwild guides), Jodi (from Sunnyside) and I headed east to ride Lookout Mountain.
Getting out of town is part of the adventure. We left early in the morning and drove through Prineville to the Ochoco Ranger Station. From there we rode the road up to the saddle and hopped on single track up to the Independent Mine Trailhead. Next, the four mile singletrack up to the summit of Lookout was spectacular. There were so many flowers they were growing onto the trail. I accidentally ran them over, oops. Penstemon, Lupine, Mule’s Ears, Oregon Sunshine, Columbine, Larkspur, Buckwheat, the flowers changed as we gained elevation until they carpeted the summit. Lower down there were Western Iris throughout the meadows.
At the top, we took a break to check out the view and regroup before the gnarly descent. Erika cleaned the rock garden! What a stud. I get all tense with the exposure and chicken out early. I prefer the lower sections that speed through the Ponderosas and the meadows.
Although trail work had been done on the uphill, the downhill still had about 10 big trees down that we had to climb over or crawl under. They weren’t a big deal, I like the opportunity to stretch and catch my breath before the downhill resumes.
Jodi took a digger on an off camber rocky section and split open her elbow. We were able to practice our first aid skills, which was fun. We butterflied her wound closed and she later got stitches at urgent care. The incident moved the ride to the epic adventure category.
On the way home we stopped for ice cream at the Tasty Freeze in Prineville. The day reminded me what I like best about riding: just being out there.
Photographs by Lindsey Voreis
Posted by Cog Wild Guide Crew at 9:55 pm:
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Bend is not only great for mountain biking, but evening cruiser crawl’n. Thursday night has turned into the night that folks meet, with costumes or funky apparel if possible and cruise the streets.
Of course 80′s music piped through an old school boom box from an iPod shuffle sets the tone. Last night, cruising downtown with Michael Jackson’s Thriller pumping seemed very appropriate, people hooted and hollered and of course stopped to dance as well.
Join us next week – 7pm at Riverside Market. Bring some brews, funky attire and be ready to ride the streets!!
The important factors: boom box, brews and funky clothing!
It is final – Ellsworth and Cog Wild are teaming up to offer a 3 day camping trip outside Bend this summer for 24 riders. Being an Ellsworth rider myself, I am really excited for the trip and being a possee of Ellsworth riders out on the trail.
The details of the trip can be found on our website at www.cogwild.com/ellsworth, check it out and come ride! Just wanted to share the news, here are a few shots of Ellsworths out on the trails here in Bend.
Our good friend Steph is a third grade school teacher and she had her entire class out for an afternoon of bike fun and skills.
Mel and I from Cog Wild, James(steph’s boyfriend) and Kirt and Lindsey Voreis of Allride and Santa Cruz Syndicate fame all came out to help.
First was the safety talk and cantaloupe drop.
Kirt drops the helmet with the cantaloupe in it.
The drop was a very dramatic demonstration of how well a helmet protects your head. Lindsey held up the two cantaloupes. It was pretty clear which one was protected and which wasn’t.
one head survived, the other cracked, and the 'brains' spilled out.
After some skills courses for all the kids, we headed for the Slalom Playloop, near phil’s trail head. The largest line up I have seen at the top formed as the kids got ready to drop in.
Huge crowd at the drop in.
Everyone got a chance to ride, and the kids who were a little scared, received expert assistance from James. James helped build the slalom track, so he had great advice about how to ride it smooth.
James guides a student down the track
The kids had a great time, and I think we will see some of on the trail someday, they were all very excited to mountain bike more.
You can tell bike season is upon us with all the chatter around town about bikes. Not only riding bikes, but much more.
Friday night is the release of local Silver Moon’s Epic Trail Ale – a new Scottish-style ale to benefit Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) as well as the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance and the Tumalo Langlauf Club. The party starts at Silver Moon at 6pm and should be a lot of fun!
Then in a few weeks is the first annual Bend Bicycle Film Festival on May 29th. We are all very excited for the festival, as locals are scrambling around town to get movies made, the rest of us are just looking forward to a night of celebrating our trails and road riding options. Here is a teaser for the night:
See you on the trails!! Or around town talking about riding..
Photographs by Lindsey Voreis
