Mid May 2011.  Last year’s race is more than a few months behind us, and the summer riding season is almost here.  This winter brought extremely high water to the Oakridge area, and we lost one of our favorite bridges-the footbridge out on Salmon Creek.  With this key connection for last years course washed downstream the course had to be changed.

This year riders will be racing from the start in Uptown Oakridge out Salmon Creek, past Salmon Creek falls, and on up road 2408 to the infamous Heckletooth section of the Eugene to Crest trail.  I’ve been out surveying the course (read going on great rides) and I think that this new course is every bit as awesome as last year’s, just a bit different.  Instead of the muscle popping climb up to the flowy Flat Creek trail, followed by the challenging Salmon Creek north and south sides, then on to “The Wall”, the course this year will instead feature a fast and flowy start following the grade of Salmon Creek.  The 2408 climb up to Heckletooth is a more sustained climb than anything in last years race, although the grade is no where near the steep pitch of The Wall.  Once on Heckletooth you’ll have a much longer section of singletrack on the ETC (Eugene to Crest Trail), and have to opportunity to ride in the first race ever to be held on this extremely challenging and technical trail.

The snow has been melting around Oakridge, and Heckletooth is officially completely clear of snow.  Justine and I rode it yesterday on an overcast day.  Typical of spring we started in the rain, rode Salmon Creek in the sun, it clouded up on the climb and really started to rain hard as we were topping out.  Worried about getting cold in the downhill we put on all we had and prepared for a cold descent, but were spared from this cold punishment by a radiant sun popping through the afternoon clouds as we crested Heckletooth itself and began the steep switchbacked descent through the cloud forest.

As I rode down Heckletooth I was both excited to be there in the mist, riding at the edge of my ability, stoked for the race to roll those same lines for the first time.  This is sure to be one of the most challenging, beautiful courses of any mountain bike race.  It favors riders who can climb, and descend, ride the road and ride the front wheel.

Welcome to 2011, the Heckletooth Challenge.

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