MOUNTAIN BIKE UP MT HOOD

[kit97210]

Hello is it possible to mountain bike up Mt. hood or at least a good deal of it. Thinking of trying spiked tires to simulate a kind of crampon. Riging the gears so there are some really high ones.

What about biking down. Probably starting at Crater Rock downward.

What about a bike climb sort of thing? I saw a picture in Grauer's book of someone who I think carried a bike to the summit and rode it up there in the 50's.

[kit97210]

I'd probably start slowly. Going a few times over a few weeks to Palmer. Then trying some sections to Crater Rock.

[layton]

i'd love to see this

[ptavv]

if you can ride a bike up the pearly gates you deserve to be sponsored

[kit97210]

I wonder if I'm just dreaming.

So 18 degrees to Silcox then 23 degrees or so to Palmer? On dirt this would be tough and this is snow. I really can't see doing it unless on a groomed surface and with spikes in tires. But they (hood people) would probably never allow this.

Thinking more, I don't see doing it up higher above Palmer.

[ken4ord]

Riding up will probably impossible or be tough as hell, and it would probably become a hike-a-bike ride. The ride down would fun though. To rig you tires, Take sheet metal screws and screw them from the inside out through the knobs, just make sure you have plenty of clearance or you will chew your frame up. You can line your tire with a slick tire with the bead removed or just use a lot of duct tape, but definitely line them or you will definitely be walking your bike. I have done a couple of races on snow at ski resorts, and it is hard riding, it is more sliding than anything, but a lot of fun.

[Rodney_Sofich]

It is against the law to have a bike in a wilderness ie..above Palmer. But you may want to check with T-Line if they allow bikes within their permitted boundries.

[John_Scurlock]

According to my old 'Climber's Guide to Oregon', by Nicholas Dodge (1968), a bycycle has been ridden along Hood's summit. It doesn't say how the bicycle got there though. (It also mentions that once, climbers camped in a tent on the summit awoke to find a copy of the Oregonian and a quart of milk outside, and that Hood has been climbed by someone in high heels.)

[EWolfe]

The answer is yes. I was warehouseman for Timberline lodge for a while, and in the fall you can do one of the most killer mountain bike rides around from the lodge to Rhododendron:

 

10,000 vertical feet over 11 miles!!!

 

I never rode UP, but the ride down goes from sno-cat track (Lodge to Gov't Camp), then the old highway, then singletrack to Rhodie. PM me for exact details.

 

I used to have to use Scott Mathauser pads, bucause the descent would burn up even kool-stops (this was before disc brakes).

 

One guy took out a group of Brownies coming around a corner on the singletrack, and almost got the trail shut down for bikers.

 

Above the lodge you are on your own.

[Couloir]

...from the lodge to Rhododendron: 10,000 vertical feet over 11 miles!!!

This sounds awesome, but my math doesn't get me to 10,000 vert. Am I missing something?

Edited May 19, 2006 by Couloir

[MtnHigh]

The next time I climb Hood I'm going to do it on roller skates, wear a dress and some jewelry. That way I'm assured first ascentionist status in that category.

[corvallisclimb]

please post in the biking up mt hood thread