It’s the wind whistling through our ears as we descend. It’s the gear shifters clicking as the momentum changes. It’s that last pedal push to finish the climb. It’s all the reasons we love to ride outside. Sometimes the solitude is just right. Often enough though, there’s comfort in the company of others. We’re lucky we get to share these amazing trails with each other. It’s a collective effort to take care of them, as well. After several summers of isolation, we now have a chance to ride together and work together again. The Oregon Timber Trail exists because of the outstanding efforts of our volunteers who offer their time and energy. However, tools, travel, and preparation do come at a cost. This spring, we are hoping to raise $20,000 in order to revitalize areas of the Timber Trail impacted by wildfires, build new connections, and sustain the quality of all four tiers. We thank you in advance for your support.
2022 Race the OTT700 - BIPOC/FTW/Q Scholarship Fund
In an effort to include those often overlooked or excluded by the cycling and outdoor recreation communities, we are offering five $1,000 scholarships to support and encourage Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color as well as gender expansive, trans, non-binary, women, and queer riders to make their adventure on the Oregon Timber Trail a reality.
5 things you can do today
It’s almost May and trail season on the OTT is coming up fast! Last week we announced four new trail stewardship events. The board is working hard behind the scenes, planning for another OTT700 Grand Depart, which will include our second BIPOC scholarship. Registration for both will be live in May. We're planning detours to account for fire closures. With all of this in the works, you may be asking yourself what can I do to help? How can I be more prepared for a season of working on and riding trail. Today on the website we share with you five things you can do today to get ready for the season on the Oregon Timber Trail
Why do trail work?
Trail work season has finally arrived! Event registration is live now on the website. We currently have four trail stewardship opportunities - three in the Fremont National Forest and one in the Old Cascade Crest. When the OTT was just getting started we know the biggest challenge would be maintaining the trail year after year. The part we didn’t know is that we would come to love trail work as much or more than simply riding the trail. It’s a great way to spend time on the OTT, to get to know the trail intimately, to meet cool people. There is a genuine camaraderie that develops at trail work parties. You do as much work as you can - nobody will ask you do more than that. That level of work is very personal and varies day by day. At the same time, we draw energy from one another. When you see someone going for it, and getting into it, it makes you want to do your best. We take breaks, eat snacks and lunch. At night, we make food and chat by the fire. Aside from donating, it’s the best way to give back to the trail. So, don’t delay, sign up today and make your mark on the Oregon Timber Trail. We can’t wait to see you out on trail. Everyone is welcome at Oregon Timber Trail stewardship events!
We asked a few of our repeat volunteers, sponsors, board members why they do trail work on the OTT, and this is what they had to say…
Welcome OTT Executive Director Matt Ruddy!
Today we're excited to introduce Oregon Timber Trail's new executive director, Matt Ruddy. Take a minute to get to know him a bit better. Matt has a very interesting background. He’s an avid mountain biker, music lover, and lover of outdoor places. Matt says he can’t wait “to help the OTTA reach its goals in increased visibility, increased funding and support for paid positions that recognize the enormous amount of hard work that has been dedicated to building the organization, and to keep striving towards creating trail experiences where everyone feels that they belong.”
Let's get trail ready
Trail work season is almost upon us and we want to help you prepare. As always, our first priority is everyone’s safety. Bikepacking and trail work have inherent risks, but less risky with proper planning and preparation. Much of this becomes second nature with experience, but as I was reminded this past weekend, there are courses available that can help us prepare for the unexpected. We don’t just do this for our own peace of mind, but to be more responsible in the backcountry, and to be there for our fellow trail community and trail workers when the time comes.
Chemult Resupply Guide
Around Mile 205.5 on the OTT, you ride onto Hwy 97 about half mile south of Chemult, OR. Chemult is the first town you pass through from the southern terminus without going off route. Chemult is a small town, but it has most services that a bikepacker could want, including hot food, showers, laundry, motels, a campground, and even an Amtrak station! Chemult was established in 1924 as a station on the Southern Pacific Cascade Line named “Knott” during construction. The station’s name was changed to Chemult when the line opened in 1926 and a post office was established the same year. The name Chemult comes from a Klamath chief who was one of the 26 who signed the Klamath Lake Treaty of October 14, 1864. Present day population is 300 and the town sits at an elevation of 4,764 feet.
Letting Go And Growing: Family Bikepacking
Our family of three has been bikepacking for over 6 years, and much has changed in that time. I’m not just talking about the normal progression as a child grows and bikes get replaced, routes get longer or more adventurous. While that’s definitely happened, this past summer saw some of the most important growth to date.
Best Day Rides on the OTT
Sure, it’s still winter and there is still plenty of snow on the higher elevations, but spring is just around the corner. It’s a perfect time to start dreaming and scheming about rides big and small. While the Oregon Timber Trail is an ambitious 670-mile trail, many of us also like bite-sized weekend rides and base camping. One day rides? Yeah, we do those too. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best rides that hit the OTT, or are what I’m calling “OTT adjacent” - in the same zone, but are fun trails that we use for bike practice, fully loaded or otherwise. We created this handy guide that’s full of routes and loaded with trip ideas. Click through to see the guide!
Silver Lake Resupply Guide
The genius of the Oregon Timber Trail is that it takes you to towns like Silver Lake. My introduction to Silver Lake came in 2015 when riding the Oregon Outback Grand Depart. We left a rainy and misty Klamath Falls bright and early and by dinnertime, we were rolling into the Cowboy Dinner Tree for our late dinner. We were exhausted but instantly charmed by the rustic vibe and the fact that this unique restaurant seemed to exist in the middle of nowhere and somewhere out of time. The fact that we arrived under our own power through the woods made it the unique experience that it was.
Dusty Eroh Interview
I first met Dustin “Dusty” Eroh at Revelate HQ when my partner and I made our first ever trip to Anchorage to ride the Kenai Peninsula. Dusty was Revelate’s first full-time employee who has gone on to design and produce many of the bags we’ve come to know and love. In 2017, Dusty and his buddy, “Thrasher” were early OTT pioneers, riding the whole route in 10 days and 8 hours. We sat down recently as Dusty was driving from the Bay Area to Alaska to reminisce about his OTT through ride, learn more about his work with Revelate and hear how life has changed since.
Paisley Resupply Guide
“Did you know? Summer Lake was once a lush lake & wetland, during the Pleistocene epoch, and formed the great lake Chewaucan. The old lake was aprox. 461 sq miles, with depths up to 375 feet deep. It hosted a wide variety of life, with some of the earliest evidence of human life on this continent. The current Summer Lake is a mere 15 miles long, 5 miles wide, and has an average depth of 1 foot. The lake is now too alkaline to host any life, but is a popular bird migratory stop each year.” This little gem of a history lesson was courtesy of the glowing light board in the Paisley Saloon. We had just finished the Bear Creek Loop…well truthfully we rode it as a shuttle, but it’s available as a loop. The Saloon has a deep history itself, being one of the oldest pubs in Oregon. It started serving drinks in 1883! For OTT riders, as you approach the Chewacan river and you feel like you need a break or a solid meal, detour to Paisley and see what’s happening on that day. We asked our local guide, Michael to share a few local secrets.
Ben Handrich Interview
I first met Ben at Cultus Lake resort in 2017. He was riding the Timber Trail with Miles Arbor. Fast forward to 2022, and I just happened to have Ben on my thank you call list for donors. Ben also started the “Odyssey of the VOG” 350 mile endurance gravel race on the Oregon coast.
He’s an upbeat and friendly guy, so we had a nice phone chat and we decided to do a little interview. Ben led the Grand Depart this year before having to call it in Sisters due to fire closures. He’s a strong endurance athlete and content creator and he’s stuck with bikepacking over the years, so we asked him about his approach, preparation and his mental outlook. There are a ton of links, ride stories and packing lists here, so grab your morning coffee and dig in
Lakeview Resupply Guide
Lakeview’s elevation is 4802 feet, which is why it’s known as the Tallest Town in Oregon, aka “Tall Town” If you’ve ridden the Timber Trail from the start, you’ll know that cattle ranching and hay production are key elements of the local economy. We asked Thom Batty, OTTA board member and owner of Tall Town Bike and Camp for the best spots to resupply. He also gave us a new bikeable route from Klamath Falls, which means you can take the Amtrak train to K-falls and pedal the 149 miles to the start of the trail. Tom has also offered to shuttle folks to the start and he says you can park in front of his house. That’s what I call small-town hospitality!