Oregon Bicycle Ride 1999

In August 1999 Linda and I joined Oregon Bicycle Ride 1999, a supported bicycle camping tour traveling a loop in Northeast Oregon out of Pendleton. This was our third consecutive year on the Oregon Bicycle Ride, after Oregon Bicycle Ride 1997 and Oregon Bicycle Ride 1998.

The OBR was becoming an annual event for us. We especially looked forward to touring around the Wallowa Mountains of Northeastern Oregon. As always, the tour was organized by Bicycle Rides Northwest, a company based in Bend, Oregon.

Itinerary

Day	Start	Stop	Mileage	Elevation Gain
August 8	Pendleton	Elgin	64	5200
August 9	Elgin	Joseph	54	3050
August 10	Joseph	Halfway	72	5420
August 11	Halfway	Baker City	55	3370
August 12	Baker City	Crane Flat	53	4100
(alternate)	Baker City	Crane Flat	(56)	(5800)
August 13	Crane Flat	Ukiah	65	3000
(alternate)	Crane Flat	Ukiah	(43)	(1800)
August 14	Ukiah	Pendleton	50	1300
Totals			413	25440

 

Diary

7 August (Saturday)

Linda and I drive to the Pendleton Convention Center where the Oregon Bicycle Ride 1999 packet pickup and first campsite are located.

We meet several friends, including Alan, who is joining the OBR for the first time. His wife Colleen is driving their pickup and pulling his parent’s trailer for upscale accommodations.

We reestablish our camp routine and plan an early start for tomorrow’s climbs.

8 August (Sunday)

The route starts on a bike path along the Umatilla River, then leaves Pendleton to the northeast along Highway 11. We turn onto Banister Road and descend into Weston. From Weston we start our climb along Hay Creek and join Highway 204, which we follow to the east.

We climb over several summits and false summits and through scenic Tollgate. Finally we reach our last summit of the day near the Spouts Springs ski hill. From here we enjoy a fun and scenic descent along Little Phillips Creek and Phillips Creek to Elgin.

We had a big day of climbing, but feel strong and enjoy relaxing near camp at the Elgin City Park

9 August (Monday)

Today’s ride is very scenic. We begin by climbing out of Elgin east on Highway 82 to the Minam Summit. Then we enjoy a fast and cool descent in the morning shadows to the Minam River where it joins the Wallowa River. We cross the Minam River Bridge and follow the Wallowa River upstream west to the town of Wallowa.

Today’s rest and food stop is located near the Wallowa High School. After a break we continue west on Highway 82, but mostly on side roads through Lostine, then skirt Enterprise on our way to Joseph.

Camp is at the Joseph High School overlooking the town with a fine view of the Wallowas to the south.

That afternoon several of us pile into the back of Alan’s pickup. We ride south out of Joseph past Wallowa Lake to the Mount Howard Tramway. We ride the gondola up Mount Howard. From the top of the gondola we take a short hike and enjoy excellent views into the Wallowa Mountains.

We return to camp for dinner and watch paragliders glide into Joseph from the top of Mount Howard.

10 August (Tuesday)

This is promised to be a spectacular day for views and the most strenuous ride of the tour. We leave Joseph to the east on Highway 350, then turn onto USFS Road 39. This road follows Little Sheep Creek upstream to the south and is part of the Wallowa Mountain Loop which we will follow most of the day to reach the town of Halfway.

We climb through heavy timber and reach our first summit after about ten miles, then descend along Salt Creek to enter Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. From there we climb to another summit and arrive at our first rest stop.

We have a fast and curvy descent to Gumboot Creek and the Imnaha River. I almost hit rock debris on the road, and learn later that another bicyclist goes down here.

We follow the Imnaha river upstream a short distance, then climb along Dry Creek towards our last summit, taking a short side trip to Hell’s Canyon Overlook on the way. The view is well worth the short detour.

From the last summit we have a another fast and curvy descent along Lonesome Creek, then follow North Pine Creek to Highway 86, which we follow the last ten miles to the town of Halfway.

Camp space is tight at the Fairgrounds but we enjoy visiting the downtown. Our friend Ken learns he must regretfully leave the tour due to a family illness at home.

11 August (Wednesday)

The morning is damp and we treat ourselves to lattes at a coffee shop before leaving Halfway for Baker City. It is particularly wet as we drop into Richland and many people wait there for the showers to pass before continuing.

The weather remains wet on and off throughout the ride, but is negligible compared to the drenching conditions we had experienced on our turn in Hawaii in March. Camp at Baker City High School is dry and spacious.

12 August (Thursday)

Today we decide to take the shorter option to Crane Flat by way of Sumpter and Granite, rather than the more strenuous option by way of the Anthony Lakes Ski Area.

Our option has plenty of climbing and is very scenic, itself. We leave Baker City along Highway 7 with view of pastures and horses to a scenic rest stop by Phillips Reservoir where we spot osprey.

We leave Highway 7 and ride along old gold mining dredge tailings to the mining town of Sumpter. Sumpter appears to be an interesting place to spend more time and we plan to return some day for a longer stay.

The route now climbs through heavy timber with scenic views of the Blue Mountains to Blue Springs Summit. From there we have a winding descent to Bull Run Creek and the dredge tailings leading to the town of Granite.

Here we climb north to our camp at Crane Flats. This is a meadowed area and our highest campsite. The riders who chose the more difficult option gradually arrive later. Thunderstorms threaten, but do not affect us.

13 August (Friday)

Today starts cold. We take the longer option to Ukiah and follow USFS Road 51 north towards Starkey. It begins with a short climb, then a fast, shady, and colder descent along Chicken Creek. We continue along the Grande Ronde River to Starkey and a rest stop.

The weather looks wet to the west where we are headed now. We turn west on Highway 244 and climb 1600 feet over a pass. We descend into a cold, drenching rain. Some riders turn off to Lehman Hot Springs where they find a generous manager who dries their bicycle clothes while they enjoy the hot springs.

We decide not to stop at Lehman Hot Springs, but instead continue on to drier conditions at our camp at Ukiah’s Topper Ball Field. We dry out and make sure our tent is secure. There are a few showers at camp, but the weather dries out in the evening.

14 August (Saturday)

The weather is very pleasant this morning as we leave Ukiah north along Highway 395. We have a short climb to our only summit, then start a pleasant, long descent through Pilot Rock to Pendleton.

It is a short day, and we enjoy music and comedy entertainment over lunch at the Convention Center before leaving for home.