Oregon Six Passes Super Randonnee 600 - Ride Details

If you are interested in riding the Oregon Six Passes SR 600, here are some important details:

Route Description: The course starts and finishes in Gresham, Oregon, blocks from the end of the MAX blue line. There are several hotels in the vicinity, making pre- and post-ride logistics reasonably easy. Riders first tackle the climb up Larch Mountain as an out-and-back. From there, the course circumnavigates Mount Hood, visiting various high points along the way (Lost Lake, Cooper Spur) before plunging down the Deschutes River and the desert of eastern Oregon. After replenishing in Maupin, riders climb back up the east face of the mountain and spend some time in the Clackamas River area of the Mount Hood national forest before visiting two ski areas. The ride finishes up with a long, fast descent, interrupted by a couple of short climbs out of the Sandy River drainage.

Here is a link to the route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10298227

Ride availability: July 1 to September 30. It's possible to ride outside of this window, but only in an unseasonable year. If you're making long-range plans (e.g., you are traveling from outside of Oregon) I would not count on the course being passable outside of that range. To sign up: Contact me, and I will provide you with a waiver. To sign up, I need a signed copy of the waiver and $10. I'll then send you a frame badge, cue sheet, and brevet card. Finishers medals are available for $15.

Proof of passage: This ride format is slightly different for most of the intermediate controls in that you verify your passage by taking a picture of your bike (with the frame badge attached) in front of a landmark. You will want to either use a cell phone or make sure your digital camera's internal date and time are set correctly. Below is a link to the pictures that I took at the various controls so that you'll be able to recognize them (it's pretty straightforward; for example, at Lost Lake, you take a picture with your bike leaning against the Lost Lake General Store sign.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49813305@N00/sets/72157634987663195/

Services on the route: This is a VERY remote ride. I strongly recommend 3 water bottles, even in cool weather. The list below is comprehensive; to even get water, you'll have to go off course if you're not at one of the locations below. Services are available at the following points:

MP 63.6 Brightwood Rd. (about a quarter mile off the course -- turn right from Barlow Trail Road onto Brightwood Road)
MP 100.3 Lost Lake Resort
MP 130.5 Parkdale (pub closes at 10 PM)
MP 138.8 Cooper Spur Resort (pub closes 9 PM weekends) 
MP 174.1 Dufur (pub closes at 10 PM)
MP 206.9 Maupin (restaurants open at 7 AM)
MP 217.8 Tygh Valley (I am told Molly B's Diner opens at 7 AM)
MP 223.3 Wamic
MP 281.5 Timothy Lake Campgrounds (water only)
MP 299.4 Top Stop Gas Station (Closes at 8 PM)
MP 331.7 Huckleberry Inn (Open 24 hours, off course on Gov't Camp Business Loop.) Other options available during normal business hours.
MP 363.5 Dodge Park (water only)

Hotel stops: You may want to make arrangements for sleep before and after the ride in Gresham, and in Maupin during (if desired.) With regards to sleep spots, at the beginning there are a couple options in Gresham. I engineered it so that the start is right at the end of the light rail line, and there is a Motel 6 right there. It's pretty skeezy looking, though. There's also the Clarion Pony Soldier Inn about 2 blocks away, and that's nicer. There are more options if you're willing to go further.

As for overnight options, you have a couple. I designed the ride so that you get to Maupin at the 330k mark or so, and having done almost 60% of the elevation. There are four or five motel options in town. I stayed at the Deschutes River Motel, and they were very friendly and helpful. Ron Himschoot had good things to say about the Oasis. Both places were very accommodating of a late arrival when we let them know in advance. I have stayed at the Imperial River Company in the past, and it's very nice, but probably more fancy than necessary. I believe there are a couple other options beyond that. Your other option is to stay in Dufur, at the Balch Hotel. Dufur is not quite 300k in, but it is still well over half the climbing. If you start on Saturday morning, and ride, say 18 hours to get to Dufur, then sleep 6 or 7, you would leave yourself a full 24 hours to finish the back half.