On June 28, 2025, Joe Miller rolled out of Lakeview, Oregon, on an 11-day push along the Oregon Timber Trail Adventure Route. By the time he reached Hood River—553 miles and 42,400 feet of climbing later—he was battered, euphoric, and full of stories. This final post closes out the series by sharing what came next for Hanna, his first-week ride partner, whose journey took a different turn after they split paths.

A scientist, ceramicist, and all-around badass on a bike, Hanna rejoined the route in Sisters and pushed through some of the toughest terrain on the trail. Her resilience, humor, and grit shaped the early days of the ride—and her story deserves its own spotlight.

After 11 days, 553 miles, and more than 42,000 feet of climbing, Joe Miller rolled into Hood River—exhausted, elated, and changed. The final leg from Gibson Horse Camp to Hood River delivered everything the Oregon Timber Trail Adventure Route is known for: a long descent through orchard country, a punishing 7-mile climb to Kingsley Reservoir, and a steep, brake-burning drop to the Columbia River. Joe’s account captures not only the grit and skill required to finish this route but also the gratitude that comes with completing a truly wild adventure.

After climbing out of Rock Creek Forest Camp, the road turned from smooth “butter gravel” to a wild buffet of terrain—pumice “granola,” loose “rice & beans,” and even “beef stew” boulder fields that punished hands and bikes alike. The third and fourth days on the Oregon Timber Trail Adventure Route tested both riders and equipment, carving a path across Winter Rim’s windswept edge and down toward Thompson Reservoir before rolling through the high desert into Chemult. Joe Miller and his riding partner Hanna captured not just the physical grind of the trail, but its humor and texture—the naming of each surface, the generosity of strangers, and the quiet satisfaction of reaching town after miles of hard, honest riding.

“The climb begins immediately out of Lakeview and continues on good gravel, not too steep, with excellent views overlooking the valley below. After the first five miles, the grade lessens, but continues to climb gradually for another 3.5 miles, concluding at a busy intersection where six roads come together and where the Crane Mountain National Recreation Trail crosses.”

“This is a great route that puts you out into some of the most remote areas of the state, with lots of adventure riding and beautiful scenery. Although this version of the OTT is the ‘gravel’ version, don’t let that fool you—most of my time was spent on surfaces I would classify as ‘other than gravel.’ It is hard, technical, and most certainly not a traditional gravel ride.”