Buck Creek Trail is open

Ted D

I will be in the area and available to give you a personally guided tour if you are interested. But it has to be early.  How about a 9 AM meeting at the trailhead?

Travel time from downtown Portland is about 1 1/2 hours.  Or 2 hours if you stop for gas and coffee.  Thus you would have to leave Portland by 7 am.

Directions: From Portland take I-84 to Hood River. Take exit 64 & cross Hood River bridge to Washington. Turn left onto Hwy 14, drive a few miles, Turn right on the road just before the bridge (Hwy 141 Trout Lake), follow road to the end, turn left as it merges with Hwy 141. Drive about 2 miles, turn left at the sign for Northwestern Lake. Follow road & cross over the bridge.  Meeting place is at the main Buck Creek info board located at the fourway intersection with Buck Creek Road, Lakeview Road, and Nestor Peak Road.  You can't miss it.

Ride is Intermediate to Gonzo depending on the speed of the group and level of fitness.

Let me know if you are interested by emailing me at tdodd2000@comcast.net

I am going to St. Louis for work this weekend but maybe soon.

Jordan 

Ted D

Jordan, I will make a point of doing an "offical" group ride in the near future. 

For those reading and who are interested. I will be at the main BC trailhead at 9 am geared up and ready to ride. Join me for 11-12 mile ride (1 1/2 to 2 hrs).

An added bonus for the supper charged riders is that you can ride Buck Creek in the morning and then ride Syncline with the group that Ryan is leading.

I might check this ride out if there are no RSVP's to ride Syncline.  I too was very interested in the Buck Creek trail after your presentations last year at PUMP meetings.

Several PUMP members rode Buck Creek today. Thanks Ted for guiding us.

 Here is a map of the trail network.

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_buck_ck_all.pdf

Ted D

Trail report - The Nestor Peak still has snow.  But with a “little hike a bike” over the remaining snow drifts at the top, I was able to ride it last Thursday.  The first section of the downhill from Nestor (1/4 mile) is a little brushy (w/ vine maples) but manageable.  If you have some time, you might take some loppers.  Over the past three weeks, I have been clearing the trail but have not totally finished it.<br>

As I was saying, the first section of the downhill from Nestor is a little brushy.  Once you cross four smaller size trees that are across the trail (i.e. a land mark for you), put your loppers away.  The trail is clear all the way down through Trail Head One and on down to (and around) the Lower Buck Creek Loop.  The tread is in great shape and the downhill is stellar.<br> 

Suggested ride – From the main Buck Creek information sign near Northwestern Lake, 6 mile road ride up to Nestor Peak (stay on the main road until you see the sign for Nestor Peak).  From Nestor Peak take the single track down until you reach a logging road and go right. Follow the road for 1/4 mile and take the trail on the RH side, climb for a short distance cross the main road and continue on the trail. The trail will take you around the a hill top and down a fun decent which will dump you out on the main road in front of the entrance to Trail Head One / campsite.  Go through straight  through the campsite and reconnect with the trail.  Follow the trail into Buck Creek tributary (stay left at all intersections).  When you reach the bottom, turn left and ride up the trail along Buck Creek.  After several climbs and descents you will reach a metal bridge.  Cross the bridge and turn right on the road and proceed a short distance until you see a 4x4 road on the left.  Ride up the road ¼ mile and take the trail on the RH side (note – you will pass a trail on the left).  Once you are on the trail again, it will cruse along the side of the hill and then turn into a fast descent down into the valley. Once at the bottom, ride across the road & concrete bridge and ride back up to the trail on the other side.  Left turn at the trail intersection.  Take the left on the first trail and exit back onto the road.  Turn right and take the road back to the starting point.   Total ride 16+ miles. <br>

Trail Map:    http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_buck_ck_all.pdf 

Directions: From Portland take I-84 to Hood River. Take exit 64 & cross Hood River bridge to Washington. Turn left onto Hwy 14, drive a few miles, Turn right on the road just before the bridge (Hwy 141 Trout Lake), follow road to the end, turn left as it merges with Hwy 141. Drive about 2 miles, turn left at the sign for Northwestern Lake. Follow road & cross over the bridge.  Meeting place is at the main Buck Creek info board located at the fourway intersection with Buck Creek Road, Lakeview Road, and Nestor Peak Road.  You can't miss it.

The ride on Saturday was awesome.  Buck Creek is definitely on my list for repeat rides this year.  The climb was well worth the down!