[OHPV-list] Banks-Vernonia Trail

[Kirke Johnson]

We have done the complete trail several times. It is fine on a mt bike
and on the BikeE with fat tires. I have NOT done it on the GRR and do
not intend to - especially loaded for touring. There are several STEEP
though short pitches to walk the bike down or up at missing trestles,
and a couple of places tend to have large rocks/muddy patches in
season.

I would not worry about flats particularly with good tires - just
maintaining control and directional stability on gravel and loose
rocks.

We (probably at least three of us) are touring down to the RR from my
home, leaving on Thursday morning. Will go via Timber and spend the
first night at Big Eddy CG on the Nehalem River between Vernonia and
Mist. We expect to pick up Dennis and Dick at Big Eddy for the Friday
ride on over the mountain. Anyone else is most welcome to join up with
our group as well as Mike's.

We will be returning north up the Washington coast and back to
Portland through Longview after the RR.

On 8/10/06, Mike Porter <portermb at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> Folks,
> Taking a survey for the Porter-Van Gundy Tour that's biking to the Recumbent
> Retreat next week.
>
> Have any of you biked the entire Banks-Vernonia trail?  By that I mean all
> the unpaved sections.  How would a loaded Gold Rush do on the unpaved
> sections?  I'm thinking very slow going in places and maybe a greater
> likelihood of getting flats?  I surmise this from looking at the photos on
> the website.
>
> I've done the last 7 miles into Vernonia as many of you have and that's
> fine.  Gets a biker off the highway and away from the log trucks. From
> looking at the map of the entire trail, once a cyclist commits to the trail
> at Banks there is limited access to get back on Hwy 47 going to Vernonia if
> the going gets too rough.
>
> Rational, erudite, entertaining and biased responses are welcome.  No crank
> calls please.  See y'all in Ft. Stevens.
>
> By the way, anyone else want to start with us on Wednesday?  We're leaving
> from my house in SW Beaverton/Aloha.
>
> Also, I'll be riding back from Ft. Stevens on Sunday, heading south to
> BarView Jetty Campground, then east up the Nestucca at Beaver to Dovre
> Campground, then through Yamhill to home, arriving on Tuesday.   Civil,
> cooperative, and congenial company welcome.  Only those who ride in the Team
> Dink spirit need apply.
>
>
> Best Regards,
> Mike Porter

-- 
--
Kirke Johnson kirkej at gmail.com
http://www.bikejournal.com/profiles.asp?rname=kirkej
'06 Prius Super White #7  & '03 Super White