Outside

Woof! Sprocket here. Every Monday morning for the past two years, my mom has typed up a column for the Source. You know, she does a pretty good job of bringing home the Milkbones, so I thought I'd help out this week. I'm an Australian shepherd, so my grammar and syntax are in the 99sprocket dog, th percentile, and I have a very important issue to write about: playing in the forest.
My most favorite thing in the world to do is run in the forest, especially with my friends, like Bodhi or Rio. Again, I'm an Australian shepherd, so I can run circles around them. I like to go every day, or else I get pretty grumpy.

Do you have a theme song? Mine is by singer/songwriter Jana Stanfield. The chorus goes like this:
I'm not lost, I am exploring.
Life is an adventure worth enjoying.
Though I may not know where I'm going,
I am not lost, I am exploring.
The way I figure it, I've never been lost, because here I am. Though I may have been slightly misplaced at times. The ability to find one's way in the wilderness is not only useful; it's a survival tool.

Know Your Boundaries
The urge to explore is irresistible to some people, but COTA recommends caution when encroaching upon this moving boundary. Crossing large snow drifts and negotiating downed trees can force you far off the trail where it is easy to lose your bearings. Even with modern conveniences such as Spot GPS, help can be hours away. It is always a good idea to tell someone when you intend to be back, never travel alone and carry plenty of water, extra food, clothing, a first-aid kit and repair supplies. It is a great feeling to challenge yourself, but it is irresponsible to rely on only a cell phone or GPS (as helpful as those are) in the absence of common backcountry sense. Being safe out there also means having more fun, so please be safe and know your limits.

As the weather warms and the snow melts at higher elevations, trail users get more terrain to share. With almost 100 cars at Phil's trailhead at any given moment over Memorial Day weekend, spreading out the trail use is sorely needed. Let your tires and soles explore a little. The Farewell Trail connecting to Mrazek Trail is mostly snow-free but, as of this writing, still has a few trees across the trail. The same goes for trails in the Swampy Lakes Snow Park/Swede Ridge area. Skyliner trail is clear of snow and fallen trees and Horse Butte Trail (east of town) is in prime condition as well.

If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims, of course.
Backcountry skiers and mountain bikers have been pilgrimaging to Bend lately for our coveted spring conditions. Like an anthill covered with ants, South Sister has been a magnet for backcountry skiers since the Cascade Lakes Highway opened on May 25. About 370 bike racers stormed along the Peterson Ridge Trail for the inaugural Sisters Stampede on May 30. Eight hundred trail runners will be stampeding into town this weekend for the sold-out Dirty Half. But sometimes it's a good idea to mix it up and go the other way, so I headed east with a friend last weekend to find respite from the rain, balloons and beards.

Editor's note: This is the first installment of a new trails column that is being produced for The Source by the Central Oregon Trail Alliance. Look for COTA's weekly reports in The Source to keep you updated on the latest news from around Central Oregon's always bustling trails, including, closures and events. Ride on. – EF.

Welcome to the first installment of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance's (COTA) Weekly Trail Report. I hope to provide you, dear trail lover, with up-to-the-minute information on trail conditions, COTA work events and progress and trail etiquette tips and timely issues facing trail access. If you have some pertinent trail info you think needs to be shared, please send me an email: chairman @ cotamtb.com

Alas, PPP is over, but I thought I'd wrap up this year's race with a few stories.
LEW AND ROGER
On Friday morning before PPP, I was standing in line at the race check-in and Lew Hollander was right in front of me.

My alarm goes off. It's 6:30 a.m. I feed the dog, down a bottle of Frappucino, eat a can of Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli and three electrolyte capsules, and pull on my race outfit. All my gear is in the van. My trusty support person, Greg, is standing ready on his doorstep as I drive up. The sun is shining. It's a perfect day for PPP.
The buzz at the mountain is electric. I rack my bike, take a couple of practice runs on the downhill course and then head out for a little warmup on my Nordic skis. POP! I look down at my right boot. The lace loops have just busted. I go back to the van, make a hasty repair with safety pins and duct tape and dash onto the lift to get to the start. The wave of women is all chitty chatty and one woman is shooting video with a “titty cam.”