Oakridge

All life’s adventures are what you make out of what came your way. It’s individual, it connects to who we are, where we came from.

Oakridge again arriving dinner time Thurs after stopping at property to girdle several p pines that the house and well will need their space. I previously called the La Pine fire department to order a street number sign, it was waiting for me at the office today. It came with a fence stake which I had no way of driving, instead I lashed it to the fence post. Another step in settling.

So, Oakridge. Change happens roll with it, it is what it is, adapt or move on. Over the years I have taken up short term residence here becoming an outlier to the mtn bike scene and formerly Brewer’s Union. I know some people. My exposure to Oakridge is narrow only the Willamette Merchantile, the local bike shop, Ray’s grocery, and the Pub. Oakridge is a played out resource extraction town when the raw material was depleted, this case it was wood products. The town was booming during its glory days as seen by the long time vacant store fronts. Bowling alley, movie theater, even a McDonalds. People hanging on, some commuting to Eugene 50 miles away on twisty highway 58. I know what I experience. The town is in a wide spot of the N fork of the Willamette built right up against USFS land, tucked is not strong enough to describe the heavily treed green short steep mountainsides. Miles from nowhere. Community formed around the 2 lumber mills. The mills long gone. Increased methods of productivity have shaped the number of workers have been very strong factors why there are fewer employees and the owners of the logging companies having much capital tied up in their machinery which displaced workers need to log to service their debt. So, now there is way less logging going on the FS land, aging houses. It is what it is. World of difference between here and bustling prosperous Bend. Not a step back in time but turning the turntable down to 33 1/3. Food selection is sparce and not very varied and few healthy choices. I know little of Oakridge, I once considered living here but land was more than I was willing to spend.

Yesterday I drove from central Oregon in the high desert running around 4,000’, Climax Ponderosa Pine till lodgepole took over up towards Willamette pass over the Cascade mtn range. Lodgepole are adapted to less water that like the P pine can not tolerate. Lodgepole forests are like doghair. The highway crests the pass at 5128’ and begins descent to Oakridge at 1,200’. Right at the downhill side of the pass the tree cover changes to water needing trees of doug fir, a bit lower down the real heavy green starts in the deciduous big leaf maple. Place is shake dark with the only color being green.

While in Bend I googled Brewer’s Union, the pub in Oakridge to learn their covid status. I read that it had been sold and was still continuing to be the pub but with a new name. Second time I have frequented a social gathering. Masks are worn while inside. Chairs and tables have been sited for social distance. Ate chicken salad wrap and the plate full of French fries.

I am here to ride. I booked shuttle seat on cog wild 8:30 stage at the red bridge in West Fir. Arrived in time to attend to getting ready to go ride. Parking lot was surprisingly full. Filled solar shower and hung on rear right quarter. Car parked beside me and rider emerged, it was Scott, the former Cascade Cream Puff race promoter. I was here for 2 of his races where I helped out quite a lot. We recognized each other by name immediately. Another local Bruce joined. Both of them were riding ebikes which are allowed because Alpine is open to dirt bikes that I have yet to encounter on this trail. Ebikes are motorized.

My ride plan was ATCA, Alpine, Tire, Cloverpatch, Alpine. I have ridden this loop every previous year. Today I took inventory of motor skills and my engine on the way to the first decision point. I struggled on the climbs, I had little umph that did not bode well for the additional big climbs on Cloverpatch tie. I could take Tire and Cloverpatch descent which ends on logging road that I could ride back to van hence avoiding that 53 min climb but ride along the rail road tracks. I chose to ride the entire Alpine to be the most enjoyable choice. The trail is aging from use: deeper ruts, carved skid line at turns and roots are growing. Rooty. The trail was soft from recent rain events. Again, deep shade. Chilly, my speeds were sufficiently fast enough to cause my eyes to water behind normal sized riding glasses. My eyes would tear up and blur my vision. 12.6 miles climbing 955’ to descend 4035’ taking almost non stop coasting or pedaling 1 hr 39 mins. My average speed was slower than what I have been riding in Bend in spite of the massive downhill. Reflective of how slow I was.

Amazing spectacle was massive beargrass bloom up on Sourgrass mtn. Solid white. Happens every 5 to 7 years. This is the first time I was awed by the sight.

Just big trees and lots of them. Up high there are bigger trees that were not cut back when, down lower the regrowth trees are smaller as the forest was cut again. Much of Alpine trail is bench cut on steep mountainside. Exposure that is obscured by tree cove but to slow down and gape will indicate a fall outslope and it would be several days before you would be found.

Sat AM: stopped at Lion bakery to visit with Jackie, the owner, a local character. While in the parking lot randy who used to own MBO pulled up along side. We visited for a while. he offered free Alpine shuttle to me in recognition of previous trail work here. Will give ATCA another go tomorrow. Today i will pedal Larrison rock above town to learn if body will pedal up the 6.39 miles of pavement gaining 1972′ for 3.5 miles of downhill singletrack. The rock was a previous location of a fire lookout.