Wagner's Chuck's Chips

Went exploring a new trail last night. The trail is Chucks Chips and it is out in Wagner trail system out side of Talent. HOLLY CRAP!!! This is a preemo trail system, and I was very impressed.

Frank and I parked at the bottom of the trail and rode up the Forest Service road to the trail head for Chuck's Chips. This was both of ours first time riding this trail, so we didn't really know what to expect. I find exploration riding really fun because I don't know what is around the next corner. However, on this ride a lot of what came around the next corner was intimidating and technical with narrow paths, big jumps, log bridge crossings, BIG jumps, steep descents, bermed and banked turns, and creek crossings.


Even though it was our first time on this trail we didn't hold anything back. Bombing every drop, jump, and all the steeps. But with every punch we threw at old Chuckyboy he returned the favor with a good jab or left cross, and oh man did he pack a punch. I think I might pee blood for a week. I went down as hard as I ever have mountain biking, and Frank took a couple faceplants along the way. Although, I guess we got the last laugh as we successfully made it out alive.



All-n-all, the trails out in the Wagner area are by far some of the best mountain biking I have ever done anywhere hands down. However, a couple thoughts of wisdom. This trail system is more remote then most of the trails in the Ashland area, so I would recommend not going alone. There is a lot of Logging going on in the area; which, makes the trail system even more risky. Please be safe but ride hard!

Mt Ashland Gravity Ride

As a competitive cyclist, avid mountain biker, backcountry skier, and climber I am all about the up as well as the much deserved adrenaline-overload-down. Now, the easier and faster I can complete the up the sooner I can get to the down. One of the best descriptions of this mentality I have ever heard was stated by our Black Diamond rep. Kurly described it as, "Usain Bolt up and Usain Bolt down!" Which, is why ounces get counted on all my equipment. I say all this to establish the fact that I feel you have to earn the downhill.

Frank taking his sweet time!


Mike trying to stay warm waiting for Frank

Well, all that being said, recently I was talked into doing my first every gravity ride with two of my coworkers. Normally this concept goes against everything I stand for and believe in. But, it sounded like something fun to do after a long day of work.

A trail view

We shuttled our bikes up to the top of Mount Ashland via Franks car. Within a couple minutes of enduring the cool refreshing gale of wind we were on our mountain bikes rolling down the path. We were meet with very little snow on the path for the time of year. From the very top of the mountain you ride down a forest service road until you come to an intersection. The intersection is a little confusing on your first ride, so make sure you stop and check the trail map that is posted there if you have any unsure feelings about where to go.

Mike (left) and Frank (right) tearing it up!

We descended, descended, and kept descending! It was awesome. Once we got down to the second intersection (Four Corners) we got off the forest service road and took the single track the rest of the way down. Our ride time was a little slow, but we were still done by dark. It was an awesome way to end the day.



Despite the fact that the concept of a gravity ride goes against my conscience, I will definitely be doing it again.

Hagg Lake

Hagg Lake is located south of Forest Grove Oregon. For those of you who do not know where Forest Grove is. Forest Grove is located approximately 20 miles west of Portland. Hagg Lake, in my humble opinion, offers the best single track mountain biking in the greater Portland area.



The trail is well maintained and the bulk of it is heavily shaded. The shade traps in the wonderful moisture that the Willamette valley has and keeps the trail nice and muddy. The climbs on the trail were moderate and there were only a couple of really technical steep descents.



Frank and I rode the trail for the first time and had a blast. There were a couple different spots where we had our bikes sunk up to the hubs in muddy-swampy-crude.



It was a fun change from the trail conditions and profiles we are use to riding in the Ashland water shed. My only complaint about the trail is it could use more features e.g. jumps, but there was a really fun log ride!







Ride time: 1:51.52
Distance: 13.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1985 feet
Elevation Loss: 1988 feet
Fun Meter: HIGH!

Applegate Lake

Frank and I have been on a search for local areas that offer true single track cross country mountain biking. So, last Sunday we went and mountain biked around Applegate lake. It was the first time I had been out there this spring, and it was Frank's deflowering trip.



We parked at French Gulch trail head. To get there you have to drive across the dam, and it is the first parking lot on your right. We started out by riding across the dam and picking the trail up on the north west corner of the lake.



The very first section of the trail is called "Da-Ku-Be-Te-De." I feel that it is the hardest part of the entire ride. The trail surface is large loose rock and the drop off to the lake is steep which makes this sections of the trail sketchy. But we cruised through it no problem despite the fact that I had forgotten to unlock my shocks.



There were some freshly fallin tree's and logs covering the trail, but they were easy to hope over. We made good time and we were back out on the road before we new it. The lake was really busy, but we encountered very few people actually on the trail. Most were just fishing off of the banks.



Once we were on the south east side of the lake we really started to pick up the pace because we were nervous about not having enough day light. But, we flew along and were back at the car before dark.



We started at 6:30 pm. The ride took us 1:50 but our ride time was less then 1:40, so we were back to the car before dark. The route we took was 17.5 miles and had 1950 feet of elevation gain. It was a good trip and a fun ride. My only disappointment was that Frank didn't crash!