6 Days Bikepacking The Length of Oregon

Whitney is the Marketing Manager for wool& and was eager to test the product through a six-day bikepacking trip, traversing the state of Oregon while wearing the same wool t-shirt. Whitney and her husband Phil are experienced cyclists, having completed multi-day backpacking trips before. However, the Oregon Outback trip was made extra special with the addition of a relatively new bikepacker, Whitney's younger brother, Conor.

• Whitney wore the wool& Cara Fitted Tee

• Conor wore the Wool&Prince Short Sleeve Henley

• Phil wore the Crew Neck Tee with the Waffle Henley in the mornings and evenings.
  

The Oregon Outback is an established bikepacking route on mostly gravel roads, stretching from Klamath Falls in the southern end of the state to the Columbia River in the north, which separates the state of Oregon from Washington. We rode 373 miles in total and climbed nearly 15k feet over our 6-day journey. We passed through one town, restocked snacks at a few convenience stores, had one night of classic bar food, slept in a ghost town, but mostly enjoyed an abundance of desolate gravel roads where chipmunks and snakes were the only other signs of life.

When packing for a bikepacking trip, space for clothing is the last consideration. With bag space limited to what can fit along every inch of your bike frame, off the seat and on the handlebars, there is very little leftover space once bike repair kits, tents, sleeping bags, cooking tools and loads of snacks are packed. An extra change of clothes is lowest in the priority list which is why high performance items are a must. The natural properties of wool were an obvious fit for our journey through hot valleys, exposed high desert peaks, cool dense forests, and through stream crossings. Wool is breathable, temperature regulating, quick drying, has UV protection and is of course odor-resistant, but let’s face it, that last point was the least of our worries at the end of a long day.  

Neither Phil nor I needed to hand wash our shirts the entire trip. Conor, on the other hand, bent his bike derailleur hanger which disabled his top climbing gears, forcing him to grind up a couple serious climbs in the heat. He rinsed his shirt’s salty sweat spots out in the Crooked River, let it dry in the sun at our campsite, and was ready to wear it again by the time the sun disappeared from the canyon. 

There was no need for an alarm clock when instead the near-solstice sun and chirping birds had us up before 6 each morning. We took our time throughout the long days of riding, stopping for pictures and snacks, allowing the “wow factor” to fully sink in at every big sweeping view of the rugged Oregon landscape. By the time the fourth day rolled around, aches and pains went away, camp chores settled into a seamless routine, and our bodies felt completely adjusted to the new way of life. Beyond the physical, I felt a mental clarity as well, enjoying no distractions, phones in airplane mode, the one simple agenda of forward motion, and peaceful conversations between the three of us. 

Ask any of us what our favorite part was and we’ll all agree on the fifth day. The day began by riding out of the trees of the Ochoco National Forest where we camped the night prior. We descended on dirt until the thick evergreens turned to desert and rode through another 15 miles of private ranchland. We were forewarned of deep stream crossings due to early snowmelt, so we rode in Teva sandals until all five streams were crossed, carrying our bikes through knee-deep, fast-running streams. Mid-morning we reached the infamous “Honor Fridge” in Ashwood, stocked for the cyclists completing this very route. Ice cream bars at 11am? You bet. Cokes and chips and rice krispy treats? Yep, we consumed it all. We knew we had a huge gravel climb just after and were mentally preparing to settle into a slow and steady pace up above the valley. Towards the top of the climb I turned my head to see where Phil was, and was awestruck upon seeing a giant mountain peak instead. We were all elated at the top, endorphins from a tough climb coupled with multiple mountains now in view, and the dreamiest dirt road outstretched along the high desert plateau we were now riding along. Wildflowers bouncing in the wind, and not another soul in sight. We were beaming.

Our final day of riding was bittersweet. Gratitude and excitement over completing an epic journey together across our home state conflicted with our mutual feelings of not wanting it to end. We stalled big time— breathing in the top of every punchy climb, standing over our bikes in the middle of nowhere to chat and eat snacks. As a lifelong Portlander, I never tire of staring at Mt. Hood, and lucky for me, this was our view the entire day. Scenery soon started becoming familiar and we were taking guesses at which set of hills belonged to the state of Washington. The Deschutes River came into sight first and we caught glimpses of its canyon, knowing we were camping our final night right where it meets the Columbia. After a series of fun, punchy climbs we were now in great shape for the final day’s ride, which ended in a sweeping long descent with 360 views of the river, the gorge, surrounding mountain peaks, and hundreds of windmills. My gravel descending skills had vastly improved over the trip and I fully sent it until the gravel became pavement. With huge smiles on our faces, we deemed this section the victory lap. Is there anything as sweet as laughter that comes not from comedy, but purely from joy?

If you’re reading this journal, it’s very likely you have an appreciation for simplifying life, minimizing daily decisions, and getting the most out of the elements of life that matter. These are the reasons why I love bikepacking. The only agenda each day is to get from point A to point B, and to fuel up along the way. With the usual onslaught of daily decisions left behind, my mind is free to wander to new depths and truly soak up the beauty of the surroundings. Returning from experiences such as these allow me analyze where I can simplify my own day-to-day to better allow for reflection, creativity, and connection. 

Completing this trip with my husband and brother will forever be a life highlight. It’s not lost on me how special and unique it is that I was able to share this grand adventure with these two loves of my life, all of us closer than ever as a result. Our shared passion for adventure, wilderness, the simple life, and of course bikes, is more than I could ever ask for.