Oregon Trail history bicycle ride, Saturday, July 18, 2026.

[Emilio]

Hi folks,  many of you already know this. It's been posted on the Mountain High club's website and Facebook page.  But there are people in this Forum (Google Group)_ who do not regularly check out either of the above.  So I am posting it here, just in case.

The Oregon Pioneers traveled over 2,000 miles from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon, starting from around 1841.  Many lost their lives rafting down the wild Columbia River from The Dalles downstream.  So, in 1845-1846 Samuel Barlow with the help of many others, managed to blaze a trail around the south side of Mt. Hood.  

This trail is called "Barlow Road", even though it was never a real road, but more of a forest trail, just wide enough for the covered wagons. 

This Saturday, July 18, 2026, we will retrace some of their steps, from Barlow Pass to Zig Zag, by bicycle.  We'll end it with lunch at the Zig Zag Inn.  Some shuttling will be needed, so we will all start the day by assembling at the Zig Zag Inn around 8:30 am, with the goal of leaving there by 9 am at the latest.   Zig Zag Inn is on highway 26, right where Lolo Pass Road begins.

 

We'll visit several historic sites, hear some excerpts form the Pioneer's diaries, hear the ghost of Perry Vickers, and more.  Along the way, we shall experience all the 3 roads that circle the south side of Mt. Hood -- Barlow Road, the Old Mt. Hood Loop Highway, and modern day Highway 26.

Interestingly, later that same evening, the Mt. Hood Cultural Center  & Museum in Government Camp is organizing a presentation about the history of the Old Mt. Hood  Loop Highway.   This is totally independent from our bike riding event, but it complements it quite nicely.  So, optionally, after we edn our event with liunch at Zig Zag Inn, you cvan hang arounmd Mt. Hood for a while, maybe visit Little Zig Zag River Falls, or maybe snooze in the car for a while, and then attend the Museum event.  Doors at the Museum open at 6:30 pm, and the presentation starts at 7:00 pm.  It will end by about 8 pm or shortly after.

Our bicycle ride is a guided tour, totally free and just for fun.   The presentation at the Museum is part of the Social History Happy Hour (SHHH). Admission is $5.   And you can purchase a drink at the entrance, either beer or wine, or a soft drink.  Then sit down, relax, enjoy the presentation and learn something new.

For the bike ride, almost any bicycle will do, except that the road/racing bikes with the super thin tires are not recommended.  Our riding surface will be a mix of asphalt, gravel and a forest trail.   I (Emilio) did tis whole route on a commuter bike for over 10 years.  Only in the past 3 years, I've been riding on an electric bike with moderately fat tires (2.4 inches wide).  Generally speaking, the fatter the tires, the smoother the ride, but commuter or gravel bike tires are just fine too. 

The weather will be sunny and war,  It will be hot in the city, with temps up to 85ºF.  But, on our route around Government Camp, it will gradually warm up through the 60s and 70s up to a maximum temperature of 74ºF. And more than half of our route will be in the shade of trees. 

 Come join us.  See all the details on our website: https://www.mthigh.org/#Barlow-Road-ride .  Let me know if you want to come.  Emilio Trampuz, Emili...@earthlink.net