The Oregon BDR Experience : Episode 2 (ORBDR Section 6)

The Oregon BDR Experience Episode 2: ORBDR Section 6 In this Episode, we leave Clear Lake and head further south. We cross the Pacific Crest Trail on our way to Timothy Lake. From there we hit a mish mash of trails that can be confusing and we must pay close attention to our GPS tracks. The route has impeccable beauty, but can be rocky and strewn with downed trees, big branches, and embedded rock. One of the highlights is summit lake. We eventually enter a huge burn area and take a well worth detour to Olallie Lake. Majestic views of Mt Jefferson, another large PacNW volcano, can be had just south of the lake. Given the right conditions, sunsets and the snow-covered peak of Jefferson reflecting on the lake are worthwhile treats to hang around and camp here. We decided to press on, opting to avoid the southern end of Olallie lake, where it is rough and can be a navigational challenge. On our way south, we crossed the Pacific Crest Trail for the second time this day and eventually made it to the town of Detroit. In 2021 Detroit was basically burned to the ground. We camped at a nearby state park and gave patronage to the local “outdoor” restaurant offering great food, BBQ burgers, fish ‘n chips and beer. OBDR Route Description The Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (ORBDR) is a 750-mile, multi-day off-pavement ride designed for adventure and dual-sport motorcycles. The route traverses a vast climate area. The ORBDR is probably the most diverse BDR route to date in this regard. The RideBDR website suggests that folks start in the southern desert near the Nevada/Oregon border and traverse north with gradual ingress towards pine mountain forests. We did the opposite, as we started our trip north of Seattle on adventure motorcycles and explored ancient pine forests of Washington State and enjoying some of the southern portions of the WABDR. We officially started the ORBDR at Hood River and worked our way through the northern Oregon cascade mountains witnessing all the major volcanos of the state, after which, we found ourselves in the remote high deserts of the southeastern portion of Oregon. Lava rock, “moondust”, sand and mountain rock were forces to be reckoned when riding a motorcycle through here. The sagebrush, lava tubes and glaciated volcanoes are sights to behold and experience along the way. These natural wonders provide a prime rugged outdoor adventure experience. Be prepared, however, as the Oregon BDR is not to be taken lightly. It is one of the hardest routes they have mapped out to date. Beginners are urged to cut their teeth elsewhere. Explorers should be prepared to be self-sufficient, camp, prepare for rain, extreme desert heat along with the many physical challenges provided by the terrain all without the comfort of cell phone service or motels. Distances along the route are measured by hours to travel rather than miles. We did not move fast. Instead, we took a cautious and methodical approach, touching on all the highlights of the wilderness and skipping a few of the more technical challenges to maximize our Experience. To avoid the extreme heat, we planned out trip in September to avoid the summer crowds and summer heat. We were fortunate as the highest temperatures experienced were no more than the low 80’s (deg Fahrenheit) I hope you thoroughly enjoy this episode of our travels. It is presented to show the joys, wonders and hardship of this route from a non-sponsored, not-for-profit perspective. Please “LIKE”, “SUBSCRIBE” and comment if you enjoyed this. It will encourage me to do more of these types of productions in the future. As always, Thanks for Riding with me, ~GrizzLee Read more of my Moto travels here: https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/gr...