Four of us set out from just west of Salem, riding nice gravel through Baskett Slough NWR. We followed Rickreall Creek up past the reservoir and got into some climbing, 22% on fresh gravel is tough.
Near the top the map and gps showed a little tie road going over to Black Rock but it didn’t exist in reality so we took a long detour around a ridge and then did a big climb through clear cuts. Eventually we made it into the Valley of the Giants, which was very beautiful, and made camp.
The next day was a lot of climbing through clearcuts in the sun. We had another road that didn’t exist and our re-routes led to a lot of walking up steep grades. After many group navigation meetings we settled on a new route to the north and reached the Drift Creek watershed which led us right down to Lincoln City. We were all pretty toasted by this point and after some excellent fish and chips decided to book a hotel room and head back on the road the next day.
It was hard but a really great trip with old friends. Here a few lessons to myself for next time:
1. The coast range is rugged. It doesn’t look like much on a map but that is some wild country, with a million unmarked logging roads, dead ends and no people. Carrying some kind of satellite messenger thing in the future might not be a bad idea.
2. Carry more water. I had 62oz on the bike and a filter but water access was not as easy as I thought it would be. At one point we were almost out and my buddy shouted “Horsetails!”. He knew they grow by water and we found a little spring burbling out, that tasted so good.
3. Tires. I ran a Gravelking 43mm to try to keep up with my faster friends but I wish I had gone with a Mezcal 2.1 for the washboards and descents, especially as there was a lot of debris on the less travelled roads.
Milesandsmiles1 on
I did a trip earlier his year on the C2C, and it had some grueling climbs, the grade is no joke, but very beautiful country.
The_Motley_Fool---- on
Don’t want dead ends? Heat maps are your friend.
I offered a conversation in your last post as I’ve got some experience in this area of the coast range. Could have saved you some headaches. Good luck on your next outing.
everydayiscyclingday on
I enjoyed your pics and reading your trip report. Sounds like some serious type 2 fun mixed with good friends, which is what it’s all about I guess.
Which map service did you use? Here in Northern Europe openstreetmap is usually pretty good, but I have been handed a couple of detours as well through the years.
3pinripper on
Is that a former mud slide in picture 6? What’s going on there? Beautiful pictures tho
5 Comments
Four of us set out from just west of Salem, riding nice gravel through Baskett Slough NWR. We followed Rickreall Creek up past the reservoir and got into some climbing, 22% on fresh gravel is tough.
Near the top the map and gps showed a little tie road going over to Black Rock but it didn’t exist in reality so we took a long detour around a ridge and then did a big climb through clear cuts. Eventually we made it into the Valley of the Giants, which was very beautiful, and made camp.
The next day was a lot of climbing through clearcuts in the sun. We had another road that didn’t exist and our re-routes led to a lot of walking up steep grades. After many group navigation meetings we settled on a new route to the north and reached the Drift Creek watershed which led us right down to Lincoln City. We were all pretty toasted by this point and after some excellent fish and chips decided to book a hotel room and head back on the road the next day.
It was hard but a really great trip with old friends. Here a few lessons to myself for next time:
1. The coast range is rugged. It doesn’t look like much on a map but that is some wild country, with a million unmarked logging roads, dead ends and no people. Carrying some kind of satellite messenger thing in the future might not be a bad idea.
2. Carry more water. I had 62oz on the bike and a filter but water access was not as easy as I thought it would be. At one point we were almost out and my buddy shouted “Horsetails!”. He knew they grow by water and we found a little spring burbling out, that tasted so good.
3. Tires. I ran a Gravelking 43mm to try to keep up with my faster friends but I wish I had gone with a Mezcal 2.1 for the washboards and descents, especially as there was a lot of debris on the less travelled roads.
I did a trip earlier his year on the C2C, and it had some grueling climbs, the grade is no joke, but very beautiful country.
Don’t want dead ends? Heat maps are your friend.
I offered a conversation in your last post as I’ve got some experience in this area of the coast range. Could have saved you some headaches. Good luck on your next outing.
I enjoyed your pics and reading your trip report. Sounds like some serious type 2 fun mixed with good friends, which is what it’s all about I guess.
Which map service did you use? Here in Northern Europe openstreetmap is usually pretty good, but I have been handed a couple of detours as well through the years.
Is that a former mud slide in picture 6? What’s going on there? Beautiful pictures tho