Skookum
08-02-2006, 12:56 AM
McKenzie River Trail
27 miles 1500' gentle descending sweetness
Always nice to have great expectations realized in what turned out to be a great weekend. With so much positive comments coming from a trail it was nice to be nearly guaranteed a great ride.
L rounding around Clear Lake
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT1.jpg
With so much hype surrounding this trail i've been definately looking forward to putting my tracks on it. It is a river ride so having an appreciation for the aesthetics of the natural surroundings is important. Usually that means stopping alot and looking around and soak in the serene atmosphere.
Snacks cruisin
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT2.jpg
But it sure doesn't hurt for the trail itself to be awesome itself making the ride equally as enjoyable. A trail always is better when it offers you varied terrain.
Evilbob navigating thru the lava rock
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT3.jpg
What impressed me on MRT is it's really 3 really good trails in 1 single great trail. The upper half a ride around a beautiful lake with the challenge of lava rock, the middle section more techy rocky sections but passing next to 2 waterfalls and the blue pool, and the bottom section a fast flowy ramble near the river. Not to mention the fabulous old growth timber on all of them.
Can you see the rider?
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT4.jpg
Psycho1! and L
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT5.jpg
There is a bit of climbing even when you shuttle, but the trail is so well built there really isn't a section of hike a bike save for the bridges where the railing impede being on a bike during a crossing.
pedal pedal pedal
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT6.jpg
Absolutely beautiful terrain...http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT7.jpg (http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRTvid.avi)
i mean c'mon, riding above not one but two crashing waterfalls?!?! Ya gotta be kidding me!
Trailhacker above Tamolitch Falls
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT8.jpg
Of course Oregon can never let me return unscathed. Bastard hornets have no appreciation for photographers stepping on their nests while taking pictures, got me good... My ankle still itches....
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT9.jpg
There are a few rocky technical sections and some of the bridges are fun to ride across, but really the hardest thing about riding here is keeping your eyes on the trail. So damn beautiful my eyes were constantly being drawn away from the trail.
If i spent a couple days staging ride photos i could easily fill a book with quality shots. The terrain is that rich.
My camera battery died at the Blue Pool where the river is reammerging from a lava tube. Pretty much halfway thru the ride, but honestly i was happy to stuff the camera in the pack and enjoy the goodness that seemed to last forever.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT10.jpg
The final 3 miles i broke off and sprinted, and as i carved thru the final turns, i was satisfied. Strong enough to hammer the final little climbs, cutting thru the trail with the river by my side, the wind cooling as i read my trail lines. Content as i naturally react and the forest is transformed to a greenish blur in my peripheral.
Awesome.
Castle Rock via King Castle Trail
11 miles 2600' elevation
A few days before i took off for the weekend i found out my plans had changed and i'd be available to do a little solo pre-McKenzie ride sneak and peek, before i met the others at the campsite. Perusing the maps a few potential rides were evident, but the more and more i looked at this one, the more and more i thought it would be a great little trail ride.
Turned out to be the "perfect" trail ride.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockA.jpg
Buff singletrack a flowing out and back with old growth. It was a joy to climb, honestly a joy! i never really can say i honestly enjoyed climbing a trail. Now i can, i enjoyed climbing this trail.
A stop near clearcut about halfway up and a look at Castle Rock and the elevation that looms ahead.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockB.jpg
Of course a top shelf trail ride in the Cascades wouldn't be complete without a payoff view at the top.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockC.jpg
Castle Rock Panorama (http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockPano.jpg)
And how fortunate i was to be able to rail down this quality quality descent.
To summarize i'd say that McKenzie is the best "river" trail ride i've ever been on, and King Castle/Castle Rock is the best "trail" ride i've ever done.
So worthy....
27 miles 1500' gentle descending sweetness
Always nice to have great expectations realized in what turned out to be a great weekend. With so much positive comments coming from a trail it was nice to be nearly guaranteed a great ride.
L rounding around Clear Lake
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT1.jpg
With so much hype surrounding this trail i've been definately looking forward to putting my tracks on it. It is a river ride so having an appreciation for the aesthetics of the natural surroundings is important. Usually that means stopping alot and looking around and soak in the serene atmosphere.
Snacks cruisin
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT2.jpg
But it sure doesn't hurt for the trail itself to be awesome itself making the ride equally as enjoyable. A trail always is better when it offers you varied terrain.
Evilbob navigating thru the lava rock
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT3.jpg
What impressed me on MRT is it's really 3 really good trails in 1 single great trail. The upper half a ride around a beautiful lake with the challenge of lava rock, the middle section more techy rocky sections but passing next to 2 waterfalls and the blue pool, and the bottom section a fast flowy ramble near the river. Not to mention the fabulous old growth timber on all of them.
Can you see the rider?
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT4.jpg
Psycho1! and L
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT5.jpg
There is a bit of climbing even when you shuttle, but the trail is so well built there really isn't a section of hike a bike save for the bridges where the railing impede being on a bike during a crossing.
pedal pedal pedal
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT6.jpg
Absolutely beautiful terrain...http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT7.jpg (http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRTvid.avi)
i mean c'mon, riding above not one but two crashing waterfalls?!?! Ya gotta be kidding me!
Trailhacker above Tamolitch Falls
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT8.jpg
Of course Oregon can never let me return unscathed. Bastard hornets have no appreciation for photographers stepping on their nests while taking pictures, got me good... My ankle still itches....
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT9.jpg
There are a few rocky technical sections and some of the bridges are fun to ride across, but really the hardest thing about riding here is keeping your eyes on the trail. So damn beautiful my eyes were constantly being drawn away from the trail.
If i spent a couple days staging ride photos i could easily fill a book with quality shots. The terrain is that rich.
My camera battery died at the Blue Pool where the river is reammerging from a lava tube. Pretty much halfway thru the ride, but honestly i was happy to stuff the camera in the pack and enjoy the goodness that seemed to last forever.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/MRT10.jpg
The final 3 miles i broke off and sprinted, and as i carved thru the final turns, i was satisfied. Strong enough to hammer the final little climbs, cutting thru the trail with the river by my side, the wind cooling as i read my trail lines. Content as i naturally react and the forest is transformed to a greenish blur in my peripheral.
Awesome.
Castle Rock via King Castle Trail
11 miles 2600' elevation
A few days before i took off for the weekend i found out my plans had changed and i'd be available to do a little solo pre-McKenzie ride sneak and peek, before i met the others at the campsite. Perusing the maps a few potential rides were evident, but the more and more i looked at this one, the more and more i thought it would be a great little trail ride.
Turned out to be the "perfect" trail ride.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockA.jpg
Buff singletrack a flowing out and back with old growth. It was a joy to climb, honestly a joy! i never really can say i honestly enjoyed climbing a trail. Now i can, i enjoyed climbing this trail.
A stop near clearcut about halfway up and a look at Castle Rock and the elevation that looms ahead.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockB.jpg
Of course a top shelf trail ride in the Cascades wouldn't be complete without a payoff view at the top.
http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockC.jpg
Castle Rock Panorama (http://home.comcast.net/~skoo00kes/CastleRockPano.jpg)
And how fortunate i was to be able to rail down this quality quality descent.
To summarize i'd say that McKenzie is the best "river" trail ride i've ever been on, and King Castle/Castle Rock is the best "trail" ride i've ever done.
So worthy....