Salsa Ochoco Overlander 2022
Bikepacking a smorgasboard of gravel, paved, and forest roads, catered meals, beer, views for days (4 days to be exact), live music, yoga, great coffee, and even better company.
That my friends, is The Salsa Ochoco Overlander in a nutshell
With wildfires blazing in Oregon and unsafe air qualities, the days leading up to the 5th Annual Bikepacking event were filled with nervous anticipation about whether the ride would happen. Fortunately, the air cleared up and 50 riders gathered at Good Bike Co. early Friday morning for steaming hot breakfast burritos, coffee from Back Porch Coffee Roasters and tasty espresso drinks served up by Autobahn Coffee before the grand departure. There was a particular buzz in the air consisting of 7:00 am bike-nerdery and the excitement of reuniting with friends made at Overlanders-passed.
A 200 mile loop from the bike shop in Prineville
This year’s route meandered up the Crooked River Scenic Bikeway and into the Ochoco National Forest on Day 1. Riders enjoyed a 63 mile journey on mixed terrain with +5,250 ft/-3,000 ft of elevation through gorgeous ranch lands, open plains, deep green trees, a midday aid station, and finally on to camp at Antelope Reservoir where riders were warmly welcomed by event staff and pointed toward ice-cold refreshments. After pitching tents and getting settled in, riders relaxed around camp and swapped stories from the day while munching on snacks and tipping back Boneyard Beer and Elixir (Non-Alcoholic CBD beverage), bubbly water or hot tea. The sunset glowed warm over camp as the last few riders trickled in and Alia Fern from Bhakti Earth Yoga serenaded the group with her acoustic guitar and sweet voice. A hot dinner feast of enchiladas, abundant salad, and delicious dessert topped off the day. Folks sat around the fire, enjoyed the bright Milky Way overhead, and eventually retreated to rest up for the next day’s adventure.
The smell of espresso floated through the air
Chad from Autobahn threw down drip coffee and lattes for those who fancy the froth. Hot breakfast was abundant, with leftovers from dinner and scrambled eggs, bagels, fruit, and plenty of smiling faces. Some riders took advantage of the morning Yoga and stretch session while others shared bike adventure stories and packed up camp. The route continued on with Day 2 taking riders about 50 miles with +3,400 ft/-4,000 ft of elevation through vast prairies and rich desert colors on varied gravel roads – some of which could be described as “soupy” washboard – then onto buttery-fresh black top to finish out the day. Riders pulled into Deep Creek Campground for the second evening of great food, gorgeous forest landscape, camaraderie, beer, live music and laughter around the campfire.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Riders awoke from their tents and were once again welcomed to the day with hot coffee and a hearty breakfast from the happy faces of volunteers and event staff. Alia led morning Yoga, tents were packed away and bikes loaded up with gear for Day 3 featuring a “Choose Your Own Adventure” option. Continuing along, this section of the route offered a choice between a shorter 26 mile ride and longer 49 mile and +4,170 elevation version, both sending riders up and over Mount Pisgah, topping out at near 7,000 ft with an optional out-and-back to the lookout tower. The lookout offers up superb views, well worth the challenging terrain to get there. A bit foggy mid-way up the mountain, riders basked in the glory at the top of Mt. Pisgah. A few even took a pull off some Ochoco Overlander 2022 Strong Whiskey – a special surprise of individual bottles was hidden on each rider’s bike the night before. A rowdy descent ensued with rocky roads making big, silly smiles on the faces of those with mountain biking roots. The route peeled off onto a dirt-surface forest road, complete with berms and roots, a treat for those that like get a little wild on their loaded bikes. Turning back onto smooth pavement, the final stretch to camp at Walton Lake was a gorgeous and relaxed way to finish the day. Most riders got to camp with plenty of time to wander around the lake, get some fishing in, snack and drink and take in all the tales from the day from fellow riders. Chicken Parmesan over penne pasta with colorful salad, breadsticks, and vegetarian/vegan options for those with food restrictions was served before folks gathered around the fire, listening to another set of live tunes from Alia. The stars shone bright and a crisp Fall feeling was in the air as riders exchanged gear preferences and stories about life and bike rides.
Day 4
We headed out from Walton Lake and took riders 48 miles skirting the Mill Creek Wilderness through the Ochoco National Forest back into Prineville and finishing at Good Bike Co. with about +2,725 ft/-5,000 ft of elevation. More amazing scenery and gravel riding was consumed, including an aid station at a most jaw-droppingly gorgeous viewpoint. As riders made their way back into Prineville, many caught up with others and rode the traditional Ochoco Overlander Peloton into town, rolling into Good Bike Co. with ear-to-ear grins and dirty bikes. A fiesta commenced at the bike shop, with a full-on taco bar from the great folks at The Sandwich Factory, more beverages from Boneyard Beer and Elixir, and most importantly – riders shared what a great time they had, remembered funny moments, talked about how good a shower and their own beds would feel later, and celebrated the accomplishment of riding 200 miles and 15,500 ft of elevation gain over 4 days.
Old friends, new friends, and personal growth
The 2022 Ochoco Overlander was a whole lot more than a gorgeous adventure bike ride with good food. It was an opportunity for old and new friends to come together, challenge themselves and even experience a bit of personal growth. With many riders returning for a second, third or even fourth go at the Overlander, friendships are forged that extend well beyond the weekend. It’s a way for old riding buddies to meet up for an adventure, it’s a conduit for making riding pals or simply challenging yourself with the comfort that there will be hot food and smiling faces waiting for you at the end of each day. The Salsa Ochoco Overlander is a must-do event for those looking to ride an amazing route in a remote area with a little support, a lot of great food, some live music, delicious coffee, and the best kind of company.
Register for the Upcoming Ochoco Overlander
Stay in the know. Get your name on the Overlander Waitlist.
Check out The Path Less Pedaled Video from Russ and Laura highlighting the bikes of the 2022 Ochoco Overlander. Follow along with Good Bike Co. on social media and keep an eye on the 2023 Ochoco Overlander page for details and registration.
The bikes of the Ochoco Overlander
A special thank you
To the volunteers, event staff, and riders - this is a unique event that takes a huge amount of logistics, planning, and careful execution and we truly appreciate everyone that came together to make the 2022 ride a success.
Big thanks to our sponsors:
Salsa Cycles, Boneyard Beer, Backporch Coffee Roasters, Swift Industries, Autobahn Coffee, The Path Less Pedaled, Katie Sox Photography