cycle wild

Silver Falls Bike Camping – May 26-28

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:59:34 +0000

Cycle Wild presents: Bike Camping!

Memorial Day weekend’s destination: Silver Falls State Park

If you’ve never come on a Cycle Wild camping trip, PLEASE take the time to read this entire email. If you’ve been out with us before, here’s the basics for this trip:

- Depart: Vera Katz Statue on Eastbank Esplanade – 10 SE Salmon St. at 9am (meet at 8:30am)

NOTE: We *WILL* be leaving at 9am sharp, this is a 60 mile trip taking 8 hours.

- Mileage: 60 miles

- Cost: Less than $20 per person for camp fees (exact amount depends on number of participants)

- Other costs: You are responsible for your own food. Firewood is $5 per bundle, please bring a couple $ to pitch in

Route/Cuesheet: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1165701

Weather: http://tinyurl.com/CW-silverfalls

REGISTRATION: You MUST register to go on this trip: http://cyclewildsilverfalls.eventbrite.com/

——————-

Details:

Destination: We’re headed to Silver Falls State Park east of Salem, Oregon. Silver Falls is the largest park in the Oregon State Park system, and has the amazing Trail of Ten Waterfalls, a 2 mile hiking trail of unparalleled scenic beauty. Like all Oregon State Park campgrounds, Silver Falls has showers, but they are located about 3 miles from our group camp on the other side of the park.

Silver Falls has a main campground and numerous group camps. For this trip, we have the Tent A and Tent B group sites. The sites have a 50-person capacity, so we’ll have a lot of room, but we’ve also already got 36 people reserved for this trip. There are toilets and water in the group camp area. There is a concessionaire 3 miles away at the South Falls Lodge that serves burgers and hot dogs. There are a number of grocery stores in Silverton, about 15 miles before the campground, plus a Fred Meyer a bit before midway in Canby.

Trip and Weather: Weather for the trip is likely to be in the 60s-70s, but it’s Oregon so anything goes. Come prepared for heat, cold, and rain. Bring bug spray and sunscreen, it’s now the season for both. The route is mostly on low-medium traffic rural roads, with some suburban riding from Portland to Oregon City and in Canby.

This is *NOT* a beginner trip. There is significant elevation gain, and a lengthy ride. The one-way distance is 60 miles, with a total of 3,900′ of elevation gain. Most of that is a climb from roughly 400′ to 1,600′ elevation from Silverton up to Silver Falls. The park is mostly at the same elevation, with the showers, South Falls Lodge and main campground about 3 miles away with some rollers in-between. (200′ drop to the showers, and a climb back up on the return)

Trimet/MAX: We will not be using Tri-Met on this trip. All types of bikes may be used without having to worry about whether they are allowed on transit.

“Bug-out” Options: If the ride to/from the park is too strenuous, Salem is nearby, with transit options to get back to the Portland Metro area.

Food: There is a Fred Meyer in Canby, nearly halfway into the ride. There is a Safeway and a couple other grocery stores in Silverton, about 15 miles before our destination. Our route skirts Silverton, but does not go into town, in order to save another 100′-150′ of climbing. Individual groups riding to the park may choose to use Silverton as the food stop. (due to the large size of this trip, we will be riding in several groups) Both Safeway and Fred Meyer have organic food, but if you have dietary restrictions or a driving desire for non-GMO organic food, you might want to bring some from Portland. Due to the wide variety of dietary restrictions in Cycle Wild participants, we don’t generally do group meals. There will likely be enough camp stoves to cook food if you don’t have one, and there’s always the option of hot dogs over the campfire. If there’s interest in morning pancakes, I may make pancakes (and possibly bacon) for everyone for Saturday or Sunday breakfast.

Return trip: We typically return in 2 groups – an “early” group, and the main group. The main group will likely leave the park between 10am and 11am, returning about 7 hours later to Portland. The early group will leave at whatever time they negotiate. from Clackamas.

Ride etiquette: Cycle Wild doesn’t dictate how its riders ride, other than to say be courteous, and when there isn’t enough room to safely ride two abreast, please ride single-file. We are a “no-drop” group, which means there will always be a sweeping rider who will ensure that those at the back of the group make it to camp safely.

Gear: You should have a tent, sleeping bag, and other necessary items with you on this trip. Don’t forget a flashlight! Our recommended minimum gear list is here: http://www.cyclewild.org/gear-list/ If you have questions about what to bring, or think you might not have the gear you need, contact “matt.picio” at “cyclewild.org” (sorry for the lack of hyperlink, trying to prevent spammers) and I will be happy to help you.

Please bring a patch kit and/or spare tube in addition to your other gear. If anyone gets a flat, one of the ride leaders will ensure you’re not left behind.

Contact Number: Put this number in your phone if you’re going on the trip – 503.781.5095 (Matt Picio)

Milo McIver Bike Camping – May 5-6

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:42:07 +0000

Cycle Wild presents: Bike Camping!

This weekend’s destination: Milo McIver State Park

If you’ve never come on a Cycle Wild camping trip, PLEASE take the time to read this entire email. If you’ve been out with us before, here’s the basics for this trip:

- Depart: Cleveland Avenue MAX Station (Gresham end of the BLUE LINE MAX) at 10am (meet at 9:30am)

- Mileage: 21 miles on the outbound leg, 24 miles on the return leg – THIS TRIP IS NOT A LOOP

- Cost: Less than $10 per person for camp fees (exact amount depends on number of participants)

- Other costs: You are responsible for your own food. Firewood is $5 per bundle, please bring a couple $ to pitch in

Route/Cuesheet: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1136173 (outbound) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1136849 (return)

Weather: http://tinyurl.com/cvvgeg

——————-

Details:

Destination: We’re headed to Milo McIver State Park near Estacada, Oregon. McIver State Park is home to one of the state’s most popular disc golf courses. The park also has a number of hiking trails, and a couple day use areas in addition to the campground. There is river access to the Clackamas River, but it’s a good ½ mile from the campground area.

McIver has a main campground and 3 group camps. For this trip, we have the Steelhead group site. The site has a 50-person capacity, so we’re not worried about it filling up. There are restrooms and showers in the main campground about a hundred yards away from the group camps. There should also be toilets in the group camp area.

Trip and Weather: Weather for the weekend is a high near 60 and low near 40. There is a chance of showers on Saturday, but Sunday is supposed to be dry. The routes out and back are half low-traffic roads and half high traffic roads with wide shoulders. About 7 miles on Hwy 224 on the trip out and back and an extra 2 miles on the return will be high traffic and fairly loud. On the return, we’ll be coming back through the Clackamas industrial area – Sunday traffic will be very light, and it gets us off the main road. We’ll be crossing a few railroad tracks,

We’re taking the “back way” into the park – a gravel/dirt PGE access road which travels at river level rather than the 200′ climb/descent in and out of the park’s main gate. If you have very narrow tires, the gravel may pose a problem. The access gate has an opening bikes can get through – the opening was just wide enough to admit a cargo bike on the March trip, so we’re confident it can accommodate cargo bikes and trailers with some care.

Kids: There will be a couple families on this trip. If you have kids and want to bring them camping – awesome! Join the fun! FYI – the section on Hwy 224 will be loud. The part of the group with kids will stop more often, and will take longer to get to the park. If you don’t care much for kids, no worry – the 50-person group camp is plenty big enough to pitch your tent away from kids or from my snoring. Also FYI, the trip out is 21 miles, the trip back is 24 miles. We’re taking a different route back for safety reasons. Also be advised that the trip out has a 300′ fairly steep hill (descent).

If you REALLY don’t like kids, then perhaps this isn’t the trip for you. Check out one of our many other trips this year – the farther trips are less likely to have kids.

If you’re concerned about your child’s safety or the levels of traffic, our June trip (June 2-3) will be heading to Stub Stewart State Park. That trip is almost entirely on low-traffic roads and 10 miles of car-free trail. (total trip 23 miles one-way)

Trimet/MAX: Trimet’s official policy is NO TRAILERS. Cargo bikes or other “non-standard” bikes can also be restricted from MAX and won’t fit on bus racks. If you need to ride to the meetup, be advised that it will add another 19 miles to the trip length from Portland. Our suggested route is here: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1136859 There are shorter routes to Gresham. Estacada lies at the end of Trimet’s #30 bus line, which runs to Clackamas Town Center, but only Monday – Saturday. There is no Sunday bus service to Estacada.

Food: There is a full-service grocery store in Estacada (Thriftway) and a pharmacy. There is also a Subway, a pizza place, and a couple other restaurants. Estacada is about 2-3 miles before the campground. The Thriftway has some organic food, but if you have dietary restrictions or a driving desire for non-GMO organic food, you might want to bring some from Portland. Due to the wide variety of dietary restrictions in Cycle Wild participants, we don’t generally do group meals. There will likely be enough camp stoves to cook food if you don’t have one, and there’s always the option of hot dogs over the campfire. If there’s interest in morning pancakes, I may make pancakes for everyone for Sunday breakfast.

Return trip: We typically return in 2 groups – an “early” group, and the main group. The main group will likely leave the park between 11am and noon, returning about 3 hours later to Clackamas. The early group will leave at whatever time they negotiate. THIS TRIP IS NOT A LOOP – we will return to the end of the GREEN LINE MAX – the Clackamas Town Center MAX station. I will lead folks to the Springwater Trail from Clackamas TC who aren’t riding the MAX. It’s about 10 miles to downtown Portland from Clackamas.

Cars: Cycle Wild does self-supported camping trips, we typically have no motor vehicle support, nor motor vehicle campers in our group – but it’s not a hard rule. We’ve used motor vehicles to pre-stage firewood on a couple of primitive trips, and occasionally to get to a campground early to reserve first-come, first-served sites. We will likely have one car out on this trip with some folks who are interested in seeing what we’re about and don’t currently have the equipment they need for this trip. If you are coming on the trip, and have kids, or a disabled partner/spouse who you want on the trip with you and who can’t ride themselves, you’re welcome and encouraged to have them come out to this trip in a car – we can have up to 6 motor vehicles at the group site.

Please bring a patch kit and/or spare tube in addition to your other gear. If anyone gets a flat, one of the ride leaders will ensure you’re not left behind.

Breakfast: Some of us will likely meet at the Gresham Elmer’s Restaurant before departure, about 8:30am. Elmer’s is one block east of the Cleveland Avenue MAX Station. If anyone *IS* going to Elmer’s, please post it on the Cycle Wild Discussion list so folks know there’s something going on and when to meet:

Contact Number: Put this number in your phone if you’re going on the trip – 503.781.5095 (Matt Picio)

Silver Falls Trip Registration

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:21:52 +0000

Here’s the link to register for Silver Falls: http://cyclewildsilverfalls.eventbrite.com/

There is a 25-person cap on the trip.

Ainsworth Bike Camping This Weekend!

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:30:21 +0000

Hello Friends! It’s time again for Bike Camping!

For April’s installment of Cycle Wild’s monthly bike camping series,
we’ll be heading out to the sight-packed Columbia River Gorge! We’ll
travel down the historic Columbia River Highway and soak in such spots
as Women’s Forum/Chanticleer Point, Crown Point/Vista House, Latourell
Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Multnomah Falls, and Horsetail Falls!

The ride itself is only 22 miles, with one gradual climb of several
miles to get to Women’s Forum. After passing Multnomah Falls we’ll
camp at Ainsworth State Park, the first campground we can reach.
Camping fees should be $5-10 per person. Free hot showers available
at the campground.
And we’ll return the next day.

We’ll meet at the Cleveland Ave MAX Station (east end of the line for
the Blue Line) at 9:30 am, Saturday April 7th. The only food options
on the route are the country market in Corbett (where we’ll make a
brief stop), the snack bar at Crown Point, and the gift shop/snack
bar/expensive restaurant at Multnomah Falls. So you should stock up on
major groceries BEFORE we depart from Gresham, as food is limited at
the above-listed options.

You are required to bring everything needed:
tent/sleeping bag/pad
food!
stove/fuel (if you are going to cook)
bike tools (esp. patch kit/spare tube/pump)
warm clothing for hanging around camp
etc.

Route info (map and cue sheets):
http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=322056

This ride will be led by Shawn Granton of the Urban Adventure League.
Hope you can join us for an awesome trip!

Oxbow Campground “Closed Until Summer”

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:52:14 +0000

As many of you know, Oxbow Regional Park sits right on the Sandy River northeast of Gresham and southeast of Troutdale. The Sandy River is prone to seasonal flooding, and we discovered earlier this month that the park had been closed due to severe erosion which damaged the park access road and damaged or destroyed a number of facilities, including the ampitheater.

Metro has announced on their website that due to the severe facilities damage in the campground portion of the park, the campground will remain closed until an undefined date in the summer while park staff works with a contractor to determine how to best deal with the current situation. From the sound of the web article, it appears that a number of campsites and the loop road were damaged/destroyed and upcoming changes will permanently affect the camping configuration in the park.

Oxbow is perhaps the most exposed local campground to these effects – campgrounds on the Clackamas and Willamette Rivers, while subject to flooding, are not normally prone to the same level of severe bank erosion. So if you’re planning to camp by bike east of Portland, please keep in mind that Oxbow will likely be closed at least another 2-3 months and plan accordingly.

Bike Camping this Weekend!

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:18:13 +0000

Yes, it’s time again for BIKE CAMPING!

Join us this weekend at ~~Oxbow Regional Park~~! Milo McIver State Park

We’ll be riding from Voodoo Too at NE 15th & Davis (just off Sandy Blvd) and riding 31 miles, mostly on the Springwater Corridor and some low-traffic roads to Oxbow Regional Park to do some off-season camping by bike along the Sandy River nestled next to some old-growth forest in an area filled with local wildlife. the Cleveland Avenue MAX Station in Gresham to Milo McIver State Park. Oxbow is currently closed due to major damage done earlier this year by flooding of the Sandy River.

Where: Cleveland Avenue MAX Station (1000 NE Cleveland Ave, Gresham) (Gresham end of the BLUE LINE)
When: Saturday, March 10th @10am (departure time 10:30am)
Returning Sunday, March 11th starting about noon – ETA return 4pm

Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Milo-McIver-Back-Way-from-Gresham
Weather Forecast: http://tinyurl.com/cvvgeg
(forecast is high 50, low 42, chance of showers)

Cycle Wild does not charge anything for the camping trips we lead, but riders are responsible for their individual park fees, etc.

What do I need to pay? Each person is responsible for their own camp fees, a share of the firewood, and their own food. Should be about $5-10 per person. $5 for firewood.

What do I need to bring? Tent, Sleeping Bag, Food, Clothes – the usual, and a towel if you plan to use the showers.

We will make a food stop at the Estacada Thriftway.

Join our Discussion Group!

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:14:56 +0000

Did you know Cycle Wild has a discussion group? We do! Did you enjoy the last trip? Post about it! Tell us where we went wrong, or how you felt about the route. Post questions about gear! Are you selling something / giving something away? Looking for advice on a route? It’s on Google groups – right here! And, yes – you can set your membership settings to “read only on the web”

Please join us there, and start some discussions!

Battleground Lake Camping Tomorrow!

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:05:45 +0000

NOTE: The City of Vancouver has an all-ages mandatory helmet law, so BRING YOUR HELMETS!

DEPARTURE:
Saturday Feb 11, 10am
from Expo Center MAX Station
Approx. 23 miles. A few small hills, though mostly level to slight
upward incline. Urban/suburban riding for the 1st half on bike paths,
lanes, or sideroads. 2nd half is mostly rural with shoulder riding on
moderately busy roads or shoulderless low traffic country roads, the
exception a busy mile segment through downtown Battle Ground.

Battle Ground (city) is only 3 miles before the campground, and has
plenty of opportunities to supply up. We’ll stop at Fred Meyer for
groceries, supplies, and sundries, but we can also stop in town for
lunch/coffee if it strikes anyone’s fancy.

FACILITIES: Battle Ground is pretty typical in facilities for a
Washington State campground this side of the Cascades. This means:
-flush toilet bathrooms with showers in main area. SHOWERS ARE
COIN-OP, BRING QUARTERS.
-firewood theoretically on-site.
There is a lake if anyone finds the urge to swim, plus some trails in
the park. I’ll probably walk the one around the lake.

If you are TENT CAMPING, there are two areas for that. The MAIN LOOP
is where all the RVs and such go, but it is also where the cabins are.
Since it’s dead of winter, there will probably be only a few RVs
there. Regular sites are $21 per night. Ugh.
There is also the WALK-IN sites scattered along a trail. It’s pretty
rustic, the furthest sites about 1/2 mile from the parking lot (woot!)
but will also be a 1/2 mile from the cabins as well. There are pit
toilets and water spigots along the trail, full bathrooms located at
the beginning of the trail. These sites should be only $12!

More info about the park:
http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Battle%20Ground%20Lake&subject=all

SUNDAY: The return will be via a totally different route of 24 miles
and cross the I-205 bridge so folks can hop on the Red Line MAX near
the airport. Similar mix of suburban/rural riding, with an option of
stopping for lunch at Laurelwood Brewing in Battle Ground. Of course
if you felt like it you could simply go back the way we came, but this
route offers a different flavor of Clark County.

RIDE MAPS/CUE SHEETS: (please let me know if these don’t work!)

here’s from Expo Center to Battle Ground, approx 23 miles:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/933882

back from Battle Ground to Cascades MAX, 24 miles:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/933890

Champoeg State Park Update

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:21:07 +0000

Update: I am been informed by Park Manager Bryan Nielsen that the hiker/biker campsite at Champoeg is open year-round. The volunteers have been notified of this. If hiker/biker is closed, it will be clearly posted at the park and online, the site(s) are only closed for safety reasons, like the high water a couple of weeks ago.

If you are planning to camp at Champoeg State Park this off-season (and who isn’t!), please be aware there is currently an access issue with the hiker/biker sites there. In previous years, we’ve been able to use hiker/biker when the “A” Loop has been closed. I’ve been informed by a parks volunteer that this is not the case. Oddly enough, we were able to use it last February during the yurt trip, under similar conditions. I have emailed Oregon Parks & Recreation Department requesting clarification on the issue, and will post that clarification when I have it. Until then, please use the tent camping sites in the “B” Loop. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay the tent site price rather than the hiker/biker price.

Thanks, and ride/camp safe this winter season!

New 2012 Schedule!

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:54:29 +0000

There may be some minor changes to the schedule as details are finalized – check the website periodically for updates.

Trip	Dates	Difficulty	Estimated Cost*	Ride Leader(s)	Notes
Battleground Lake State Park (WA)	Feb 11-12	Easy	$15 + food	Matt Picio / Shawn Granton	Cabin camping, reservation required, 10 person limit
Oxbow Regional Park	Mar 10-11	Easy*	$10 + food	Matt Picio	Showers require quarters
Ainsworth State Park	Apr 7-8	Moderate	$10 + food	Matt Picio
Milo McIver State Park	May 5-6	Easy	$10 + food	Matt Picio
Silver Falls State Park	May 26-28	Moderate / Challenging	$15 + food	Matt Picio
Stub Stewart State Park	Jun 2-3	Easy	$10 + food	Matt Picio
Sunset Falls (WA)	Aug 4-5	Moderate	$10 + food	Shawn Granton
Mount St. Helens area	July (near Independence Day)	Moderate / Challenging	$10 + food	Matt Picio
ANNUAL TOUR A	Aug 11-19	Very Challenging	$150 + food + Amtrak	Matt Picio	300+ miles in 8 days.
ANNUAL TOUR B	Aug 18-26	Very Challenging	$150 + food + Amtrak	Matt Picio	300+ miles in 8 days.
Coast Trip (Location TBD)	Sep 1-3	Challenging	$15 + food	TBD	Labor Day weekend
Clackamas camping	Sep 22-23	Moderate	$10 + food	TBD
Hwy 26 Corridor MHNF (Location TBD)	Oct 6-7	Moderate	$10 + food	TBD
Clackamas camping (Location TBD)	Nov 3-4	Moderate	$10 + food	TBD
Champoeg State Park	Dec 1-2	Moderate	$10 + food	Matt Picio	Winter camping - tents or possibly yurts

Notes:
Costs vary. Cycle Wild does not charge anything for camping. Park sites charge a fee for campsites, and campers either pay a park fee individually or reimburse the person who made the reservations. Food is the responsibility of the individual, so food costs vary.
* Oxbow is easy in that the trip is less than 20 miles. It *does* have a 17% grade hill when leaving the park – so steep that nearly everyone has to walk it. Be prepared for a strenuous climb out.
** Return or Departure on this trip is via Amtrak, campers must make own travel arrangements for tickets and bicycle transport. Details will be posted with trip announcement.