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mappy

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey guys,

Just found this forum....you guys have a pretty sweet thing going here.
I'm an intermediate-ish xc rider and will be in Sunriver with the wife next weekend and was thinking of riding the Charlton/Lemish lake trail. Does anyone have any info on whether this trail is open? Or someone I can contact to find out? I checked the Forest Service website, but their info doesn't seem to be up to date.

If someone can recommend a good Bike shop in Sunriver or Bend I would appreciate it.

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
mappy said:
Hey guys,

Just found this forum....you guys have a pretty sweet thing going here.
I'm an intermediate-ish xc rider and will be in Sunriver with the wife next weekend and was thinking of riding the Charlton/Lemish lake trail. Does anyone have any info on whether this trail is open? Or someone I can contact to find out? I checked the Forest Service website, but their info doesn't seem to be up to date.

If someone can recommend a good Bike shop in Sunriver or Bend I would appreciate it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Charlton/Lemmish is probably still under snow. Even if it is not the mosquitos would be more than I want to deal with.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Thanks for the heads up. It looks like I have tons of trails to choose from a little closer to bend.....too bad I'm only here for the weekend! I'm just starting to get back into mtn. biking, but it looks like I'm gonna have to spend some more time over here to enjoy the trails.
 
#5 ·
Here is the official word from the most recent forest service email I received today:
Limited trail clearing has begun in the Charlton Lake area.

We have our shuttle on Saturday for $10 from Cascade Lakes Brewery in Bend up to Swampy Sno-Park. With a map from a local bike shop or befriending someone on the trail, you can do a great 2-4 hour bike ride back to Bend. We leave at 3pm.

Also doing a loop from Skyliner Sno-Park is a great one right now - ride up to Swede Shelter, up to Swampy Shelter and then take South Fork down.

I would recommend Hutch's Bike Shop or Pine Mountain Sports.

Have a great time riding!!
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Thanks for the info.
Another question - if I get my wife to drop me off at Bachelor, how is the trail back to Bend. I was looking at the Metolius-Windigo to Mrazek route. Would you recommend that for a ride over coming back down through Phils trails?

Thanks for the LBS recommendations....maybe I'll see ya on the trail this weekend.
 
#10 ·
Have her drop you off at Swampy Sno-Park on the way up to Bachelor. There is still snow on the trail from where you are talking about. Although that does not get you over to Mrazek, you can ride over to South Fork, which is great these days and then cut over from there, not taking North Fork since the trail is closed to a down bridge.
We rode from Swampy on Sunday down Sector 16 and then took Storm King to COD all the way to the Entrada Lodge and then rode back to town which was great.
A few days prior we rode over to Swede Shelter, back to Swampy Shelter, down South Fork over to Skyliner Trail and then down Whoops to Phil's Canyon, so there are many fun options! Anyone else have an idea?
 
#11 ·
Another option...

The other option, of course, is to go from Swampy Sno-Park up to Swampy Shelter, down South Fork, over to Tumalo Falls, Up Farewell, then hook up with Mrazek and ride Mrazek all the way through to Shevlin Park and then head into town however you want.

I did this ride yesterday with a buddy and it is a great ride from Swampy Sno-Park. If you get a lift (thanks, wives!) to Swampy, other than a short climb to Swampy Shelter and the climb up Farewell, it is a fantastic flowy downhill blast. I'd have to say that for what is open right this moment in Bend, I'd consider this the premier route back to Bend from Swampy.

BUT, Farewell is a difficult climb - IMHO, the hardest sustained climb close to Bend. Going up North Fork would be significantly easier but that is closed. As for Farewell, it really is in the first 1.5 miles that all of the difficult (loose and/or steep) climbing happens. So, if you aren't up for that portion but want to do the rest of the ride, you could always consider it a hike-a-bike. It isn't all that technical or difficult in the entire world of mountain biking, per se, but does require good cardio.

Of course, your mileage may vary.
 
#12 ·
great ride arno, way to get creative with routes this time of year :thumbsup:

about Farewell - i've always thought North Fork was worse on my single speed to be honest. for climbing up it's pretty quick and painless. the first few switchbacks are loose and difficult, but after that it's not so bad.

for mappy - since you haven't ridden in Bend before it might be good to just do the Swampy - Sector - Upper/Lower Whoops - Bens classic. give you a taste of the standard whitetrash downhill here.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Thanks for the great suggestions. A lot of what I end up doing will depend on the time I have available, and whether my sea-level lungs can handle the 5000 foot elevation......I usually have the "eyes bigger than my stomach" type syndrome - the long ride sounds great, but as its my first ride in the area, a shorter one to figure stuff out sounds smarter. We'll see.....

ps. It is Bend, so I feel I have a moral obligation to end my ride at the brewery....tough to go wrong.
 
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