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"If you've never ridden Phil's Trail (or any of the kabillion or so offshoots),
you're missing the best mountain biking Central Oregon has to offer. It has
bomber singletrack,
technical rocky sections and snakey flats.
And the High Desert, ponderosa pine, manzanita and basalt scenery isn't bad
either.
But don't tell anyone."
--Jim Witty
IF YOU GO
GETTING THERE: To reach the Phil's Trail trailhead, drive or ride about 2.5
miles west on Galveston (which turns into Skyliners) from the traffic circle at
Galveston and 14th in Bend, until you reach a paved road on the left that's
marked with a biker icon sign. A half-mile down, the road intersects with the
old Brooks-Scanlon Logging Road. Park in the parking lot at the junction where
the elaborate system of singletrack begins.
ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: Anywhere from a 1-mile cruise to a 20-mile-plus
epic.
DIFFICULTY: Easy to arduous.
ACCESS: Bikes.
PERMITS: A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead.
subscribe for many more stories like this
Read more . . . The long answer is I have been impressed at the way our own mountain bicycling club, COTA, (Central Oregon Trails
Alliance) does things here in Bend. Their trails west of Bend are superb. Get a
map of Mountain Bike trails and ride or walk some yourself. These single track
trails are a joy, and the bikers are polite and "glad to see ya".
Until I can write more here, check the links below and see for yourself.
Phil's Trail has put Central Oregon on the Mountain biking map
The Sport of Traditional Alpine Mountaineering
OK, what is TraditionalMountaineering doing reporting on Mountain Bicycling?
Well, the short answer is lots of traditional mountaineers get to the mountains
on bicycles! German alpinists rode their bikes loaded with their gear, to Switzerland
in the 1930s, to assault the
North Face of the Eiger.
More recently, Goran Kropp rode a bicycle from Sweden to
Mount Everest, climbed Everest solo and rode his bicycle back to Sweden!
COTA: Mountain bicyclists share the trials!
COTA reports on mountain bike trails
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) helps COTA
build trails west of Bend Oregon
Mountain bike trail maintenance by COTA in Bend Oregon
Geocaching along the mountain bike trail to Smith Rock
"Traditional Alpine Mountaineering is basically an aerobic sport.
Climbing, jogging, running, hiking the hills, backpacking, mountain biking, back
country skiing, snowshoeing, telemark skiing, adventure racing and similar
sports all act together to improve aerobic capacity, strength, balance and
athleticism. Some of my companions were born with these gifts; I had to work
hard at improving my abilities and to climb well. What workouts are you enjoying?"
