Northwest Recreation

You pull your bike out one day, climb on and start riding, only to find out at the first hill that your brakes are squeaky.  That’s not a whole lot of fun when you are trying to mountain bike out in nature and your bike is ruining the moment.  I remember a few months ago, I went down 1500 of vertical trail with squeaky brakes.  Although the trail was awesome, the loud noise coming from my front brakes wasn’t fun to listen to and detracted from the whole experience.

Usually the front brake is infamous brake to start squeaking.  Although it usually doesn’t affect your braking system or power significantly, it can make an otherwise enjoyable ride a headache—literally.  The easiest way to fix a squeaky brake is to check your rim and pads for an excess of debris and buildup.  Although not always visible, it’s often the main culprit in the mystery of the squeaky brake.  To fix it, use rubbing alcohol on your rim to take off all the buildup, then use extremely fine sandpaper and rub your pads to remove the buildup on them, too.

Most likely, your problem will be solved, but if not, you need to start checking for more mechanical problems (focused on later).

As the winter season approaches, snowboarders are starting to think about getting out on the slopes.
As one such individual myself, I know I am!  Besides the prospects of new gear, maintenance and service needs to be performed on boards and equipment, and repair considerations should be taken into account to avoid long waits.  Here are some basic things to keep in mind:

1. Waxing:  If you want your board waxed and the edges sharpened, do it early so you don’t have to wait into the winter season to get your board back.
2. Clothing:  Inspect your clothing and take note of any gear that is ripped and torn or needs repair and/or replacement.
3. Goggles and helmet:  If you wear a helmet (highly advisable, but it’s your choice and your risk) and goggles, check to make sure they are not cracked or loose.  Repairs and replacements may need to be made if you have defective goggles or a cracked helmet.
4. Gear racks:  If you have a gear rack for your car, remember to inspect it for soundness to ensure safe usage.

That’s a basic list, but it’s all things you should definitely consider when gearing up and preparing for the winter season.  Get ready to hit those slopes and do some major powder shredding!

For those who have not skied before–you’re missing out.  As a snowboarder and skier, I enjoy the benefits both sports have to offer, each with their own unique traits, but there are a few things unique to skiing.

For starters, you have two devices attached to your feet, not one.  That’s somewhat daunting for those who have never tried it before, but it is actually very similar to rollerblading or in-line skating.  The balance and steering remain slightly different, but just the same, the feeling is close between the two sports.  The feeling of flying forward is almost inherent at certain speeds, and the skill it takes to master skiing well keeps many going.  Although many find boarding to be more fun, the mastery of skiing enjoys more rewards than boarding does.  Not many skiers can take on double black diamond runs and ski them well.  Hence, the terrain and low levels of crowds on more challenging runs make the results well worth the task of learning the sport.

Without making a huge generalization, skiing also offers most people plenty of adrenaline and challenge.  For most, it takes several years to master the sport well.  If you are looking for a fun sport with plenty of challenge, skiing is something you should try!

Route:  Start at the Falls Creek day use area and trail head and go north towards Capitol Peak.  Turn around at Capitol Peak and go back down to the Falls Creek trail head.

Difficulty:  Most difficult.
Elevation gain: 2000 feet up, 2000 feet loss on the way back.
Terrain:  Hard pack single track.
Length: 12-14 miles there and back.

Notes:  This trail will take you through forests and clear-cut meadows, giving you spectacular views of the Capitol Forest area.  Definitely a bike ride for a clear day.  It is extremely strenuous, at 2000 feet of elevation gain, but the ride down will be worth it.  Fully bermed corners, moderately technical terrain, and a terrain park halfway down makes this ride a definite skill builder.  If you like diversity, this trail is for you!

Directions to get there and more info found below:
Trail Map
Green Line Trail #6 Info

“So ya think you wanna mountain bike, huh?”  As the old “so ya think…” phrase goes, thinking about doing something and actually doing it are two very separate ideas.  Now that we’ve explored mountain biking and the fun you can have, let’s take a look at what you’ll actually need to get into mountain biking as a sport:

• Mountain Bike:  Definitely an essential to the sport!  You can plan on spending anywhere from $200 (cheap bike for gravel roads and light trail riding) to $7,000 (extreme downhill machine) on a bike.  Depending on what you want to do, you’ll want to match a bike with your budget.  You can spend $1000 and get a good bike that will take on almost anything you can throw at it.  I personally recommend either Trek or Specialized.
• Helmet:  Don’t go with the myth that it’ll never happen to you.  I’ve been taken off my bike by a tree when my head smashed into it after 4 foot jump.  Always play it safe!  A good helmet can range from $30-$250 easy.  Again, it depends what your needs are.  For light to moderate trail riding, I recommend a full-face helmet.
• Tools and Accessories:  Bare minimum, get a patch kit, pump, and bike multitool.  If you are racing, you’ll have it all toned down to you and your bike.  If you spend a day just trail riding, you’ll want a backpack full of stuff.  I personally carry an Outdoor Sports Glacier Pack II with a Cyclone Hydration Bladder, a first-aid kit, patch kit, two spare tubes, a pump, and survival pack.

To get into serious mountain biking, I would budget $1000-$1500 to acquire all the things you need.  After you’ve obtained the things you need, you’re ready to start the real fun!  Now that we’ve covered two introductions to mountain biking, stay tuned for trails, tips, and gear reviews!

For snowboarding enthusiasts, wake boarding offers the next best thing when snow is lacking.  The details to the sport are somewhat different, as far as balance and technique goes, but the principals are still the same.  Get the board on your feet and do some serious water cutting action and insane jumps for some action that will be sure to get your adrenaline going.  Although it’s a bit late in the season, it would be beneficial to cover wake boarding to keep it in the back of the minds of those interested in the sport.  Here are some of the things to keep in mind when considering wake boarding:

• Needed items will include a boat, wake board, tow rope, life jacket, and accessories.
• The average speed for good wake boarding will be between 15 to 25 mph, depending on skill and preference.
• Wake boarding may be done in a wet suit to increase the season and times to wake board.

For now, interested parties should address the likelihood of obtaining and/or gaining access to a boat, and then try to get equipment to make a run before winter sets in.  After that, spring will be a good time to get the board out again.  More topics on wake boarding, including places to wake board in the northwest, will be covered shortly.

For those living in the Pacific Northwest, you may have noticed that the nights have been colder.  Just this last week, I had a 38 degree night recorded on my thermometer.  My prediction as an amateur says it will be a harder, colder winter.  Of course, I can’t verify this, but the last few nights and their cold spells have put me to thinking about winter and the sports that coincide.  Here are some sports to consider getting into as the winter season approaches.  I will be covering many of these topics in future months:

• Snowboarding:  For the die-hard snowboarding addict, the coined phrase is “Board to live,” not “Live to board.”  As a college student and snowboarder and skier, I can understand first hand why this adrenaline pumping sport is an addiction for many—including myself.  I suggest this sport for anyone who is ready for a quick learning curve and high adrenaline adventures, but enjoys plenty of options to explore with terrain and aerial skills.
• Skiing:  Ah, the good ol’ days of wooden skis and tethering straps.  Those days are gone, but skiing still stays alive.  After 5 years of the sport, I would suggest it for those who are finite on details, looking to perfect form and finesse on skis. For speed demons, racing is a way to fulfill your adrenaline desires as your take on the best groomed runs and mogul-filled hills for major heart pounding action.
• Snowshoeing:  A sport for those who enjoy hiking and the outdoors, but aren’t quite ready to take on a more action-based sport like skiing or snowboarding.  Definitely a way to stay in shape throughout the year when you can’t hike.
• Sno-Park:  These areas offer a host of winter sports.  Most of the time, cross country skiing, tubing, and sometimes snowmobiling are all part of the fun.  You can expect out-of-the-norm activities in these areas along with more traditional winter sports.

As summer winds down and fall comes and goes, it is definitely important to remember that there are a lot winter sports that you can look into as you consider your recreational opportunities.  As winter approaches, stay tuned for more information about these sports and what you can do to have fun with winter recreation!

For those who have experienced biking before, they know it can be a source of great enjoyment, arduous trails, pain, adrenaline, and a mix of many other emotions and feelings.  For those who have truly experienced all that mountain biking has to offer, they know that mountain biking is more than just a sport—it’s a connection with the outdoors and yourself.

Biking is an amazing tool to use to gain insight into yourself, and the world around you.  The fears that are overcome and the respect gained for nature is a worthy goal for all who seek to find enjoyment in biking.  As a mountain biker for 10 years, I found out early what life was like on the side of a mountain on the best mountain biking terrain the northwest has to offer.

I implore those who are looking at biking as a new sport, be it thrill seeking or leisure, to continue reading this series to find out more about this amazing sport and what it has to offer.

Welcome to Northwest Recreation!  This blog is a sister blog to Northwest Hiking.  Recreation, in its many forms, can be a great source of enjoyment for those who choose to get out and get active.  This blog is dedicated to the many activities which individuals can participate in.  There are several things that will be covered and several subsections which will be listed as well:

• Mountain Biking: Biking tips, gear reviews, and trails to go mountain biking on.
• Snowboarding:  Get out and shred some powder.  This is the winter only category from November to June each year.
• Boating: If you enjoy boats, this category will be for you.  Lakes, tips, and seasonal information will all be listed here.
• Plus much much more!  Keep checking back for more categories and sections.

I anticipate this to be the latest and greatest in recreational information for the northwest region of the U.S.  Come back again as content is added!