Ashland to Etna bike ride

July 6-8, 2007

The plan was to ride the route of the 2007 OBR, but in four days, as a credit-card tour. I started in Ashland, as it looked like there were motels in Etna and Happy Camp.

Drove to Ashland Friday afternoon and got a motel room at the east end of town near I-5 and Hwy 66. Rode out to Old 99 that evening to check out the route—it had been 12 years since I'd done any riding in this area.

Started the ride Saturday morning a bit before 5:30. Can see Pilot Butte from Hwy 66. There’s a cute bridge about half way up the grade where Old 99 crosses itself and the RR. Looks like they might be rebuilding the Callahans Lodge.

PCT joins Old 99 for about ½ mile to cross under I-5 near the pass. Was very windy just over the pass. Road on south side isn’t in good condition—several short gravel sections. There’s a real cattle guard just before the I-5 on ramp. Hit the freeway flying in the 40s. Much of the 6.5 miles on I-5 is coasting in the 30s and 40s. Road is smooth, and bike felt real solid at those speeds.

Was to Yreka by 10. One last glimpse of Pilot Rock just outside of Yreka (on the Montague Rd.) Had lunch, topped off water bottles, and headed south to Gazelle. Nice road from Gazelle to Callahan, but way too hot in the early afternoon. Altimeter-watch was showing temps up to 110F. Had to make frequent stops under trees to cool off. Another nice, high-speed descent to Callahan. Not much in Callahan, but fortuanately a store where I could juice up at.

Motel at Etna was full. Rode on to Fort Jones—no decent lodging there either. Ate dinner at a restaurant there, then headed back to Yreka via Hwy 3. Sill in the 90s. There’s non-potable water available on both sides of pass—made for a nice, cooling off stop.

Left Yreka 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Bypassed Montague by taking the Yreka-Ager Rd., cutting about two miles off return trip. Back to Ashland at 9 a.m.

Ought to go back some Spring or Fall to do the other 2/3rds of the ride.

Emigrant Lake