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Visit the official
NMSS
Oregon Chapter
bike MS website at:
Visit the
Team Wanta team page
at the NMSS Oregon Chapter website
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Route Summary
One of the great benefits of the MS 150 ride is that the course changes each
year enabling riders to experience a different part of the state.
The course was a figure-eight again in 2001which was a big success
in 2000. The ride start, overnight and finish was in Stayton at Regis High
School.
Along the route at regularly placed rest stops, friendly volunteers
supplied riders with beverages, snacks, and lunch. Sag wagons were also
available to ferry weary riders. Back in
Stayton,
organizers provided hot showers (yeah!), massages, meals, and
entertainment to top off the ride.
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Day
1 Northern Loop
Day 1 is a northern course starting at an easy pace as we cruise
through the small towns of Marion and Turner. From there we head north
riding through Willamette Valley farmlands. This stretch of the ride
offers numerous incredible views, and pleasant rolling hills.
We lunch at the Evergreen Wayside and rest for our big afternoon.
After
lunch, we continue north to the Gallon House covered bridge (one of 5 on this
ride), and from there turn south heading toward
Silver Falls State Park, the highlight of day 1.
The 2001 MS150 takes its name, "The Ride of Ten
Falls," from the trail connecting the ten waterfalls of Silver Falls State
Park. The ride to the the park has breathtaking
views of the Willamette Valley and is somewhat challenging. The good news is that the
dense forest provides shade as
we climb up into the park.
Once at the park, there are several day use
parking areas accessing the Trail of Ten Falls. The North Falls parking lot
is a great place to stop and quickly see North Falls (2/10 mile) and Upper North
Falls (3/10 mile). Further down the road is a parking lot that looks down on
Winter Falls - our rest stop. This spot has a great view, but does not offer access to the hiking
trail.
The ride was specifically designed to
have Silver Falls the last rest stop of the day to allow riders to linger and
enjoy the park. Also, from Silver Falls it is all downhill
back to Stayton.
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Day 2 Southern
Loop
Day 2 is a southern loop and offers an optional Century (100 miles). The
day
starts with a slow climb up and over Fern Ridge and then drops down into Golden Valley
riding through two covered bridges. The second bridge, Larwood Bridge, is quiet spectacular. From Larwood
we continue south, heading toward Sweet
Home.
For those interested in the Century
option, you continue past Sweet Home,
ride to Foster Dam, and up and around Foster Lake. The lake is peaceful and
the road around the north side is very quiet and provides some great views of
the lake. There will also be a rest stop at Lewis Creek Park where it is
possible to re-fuel and jump in the lake to cool off. The Foster Lake option
offers several amenities as you challenge yourself to an extra 25 miles. (Are
you up for the challenge?)
The two routes merges back together in the small town
of Waterloo. On the outskirts of town is Waterloo Park, where the Santiam
River creates a spectacular waterfall. Lunch is served in Area 2 across the
street from the waterfall; so if you want to really enjoy the river, take your
lunch across the street. You will be able to sit on the banks of the
Santiam
river an enjoy lunch to the roar of the river.
After lunch we ride back along
the Santiam River. Then we cut off the main road to visit two more covered
bridges. From there it is a few miles back to Stayton and the finish line. |
Route Maps
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