Hot
on the
trail
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Spandex shorts
aren’t required to
have a good time
biking in Eugene
By Joshua Rose
Freelance Reporter
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s the weather heats up, the days
grow longer, piles of soggy leaves
L ^.disappear from Eugene's streets
and paths and cyclists take to the
streets. Mild weather, an abundance
of bicycle facilities and active and en
. vironmentally conscious residents
contribute to making Eugene a popu
lar place to ride.
* "There's an environmental mental
ity here that draws people who don't
want to drive a car," said Noah Jack,
Outdoor Program bike resource coor
dinator and environmental studies
major. "It draws serious cyclists, and
it's just a beautiful area with a lot of
beautiful country roads and not that
many cars."
Eugene offers more than 30 miles
of bike paths, 68 miles of on-street
bike lanes and 21 miles of designated
bike routes.
"Whenever we build a street, we
build it to accommodate biking and
walking," Eugene bicycle and pedes
trian coordinator Diane Bishop said.
Eugene's extensive bike program be
gan in 1970 when the City Council
formed a bike committee composed of
city staff and Eugene residents to plan
and develop bike paths, Bishop said.
Three popular rides offer cyclists
varied terrain and beautiful scenery.
The Fem Ridge Bike Path follows
Amazon Creek from 15th Avenue for
about seven miles west through the
West Eugene Wetlands. The ride is flat
and not too difficult offering a mix of
1 scenery, traveling through residential
and scenic wetlands areas. Interpreta
tive signs along the path detail birds
one might see, including great blue
herons, western meadowlarks and
belted kingfishers. Plants such as die
camas, fragrant popcorn flower and
the Nootka rose can also be spotted
during the spring or summer.
The path ends at Meadowlark
Prairie Overlook. The overlook area is
complete with sheltered benches and
port-a-potties.
"I like being out in the beautiful
wedands area," said Springfield Faith
Center youth worker Aaron Stevens,
who usually rides the Fem Ridge Bike
Path three dmes a week. "It's cool to
get away from the business of traffic
and cars."
To ride the Fem Ridge Path, simply
follow East 15th Avenue west from
campus. The path briefly connects
with 16th Avenue before following
Amazon Creek past North West
moreland Park and Garfield Park.
From there, the path continues west
for about six miles to the West Eu
gene Wedands.
Another popular but more chal
lenging ride is the Spencer Butte loop.
The 16-mile ride begins in Amazon
Park and travels south, connecting
with Fox Hollow Road. The ride is
steep in parts and is not separated
from the road by a bike path. Traffic is
usually light, however.
Riders travel in the shade of tall trees
surrounding Spencer Butte before be
ing rewarded with expansive views of
pastures and the Lorane Valley.
To ride the Spencer Butte loop, fol
low Hilyard Street south to Amazon
Park. There, bike paths continue
south before meeting with West
Amazon Drive. Follow West Amazon
Drive to Fox Hollow Road. The ride
follows Fox Hollow Road for about
six miles before traveling north along
McBeth Road. Continue on McBeth
Road for three miles and make a
right onto the Lorane Highway. The
ride follows the Lorane Highway
through scenic pastures for about six
miles before returning to Eugene and
connecting with 29th Avenue. Fol
low 29th Avenue east toward Ama
zon Park and the Spencer Butte loop
is complete.
Finally, the Ruth Bascom Riverbank
Trail, named after Eugene's former
mayor and bicycle supporter, is a great
place for a leisurely ride on a warm
spring day. The north and south bank
paths allow riders to choose their own
route as they cycle past Alton Baker
Park on the north bank and Skinner
Butte Park on the south bank.
Several bridges connect the north
and south bank paths across the
Willamette River, letting riders travel
as far as a 12-mile loop from the
Owasso Bike Bridge, the northern
most bridge, to the Knickerbocker
Bike Bridge, southeast of the Autzen
Footbridge. Getting to the paths
from the University is easy. Simply
follow Agate Street north across
Franklin Boulevard toward the
Autzen Footbridge.
For those interested in cycling
with a group, the Greater Eugene
Area Riders bicycle club, or GEARs,
offers training rides on Saturdays
during the spring. Ride schedules
Ruth Bascom
Riverbank Trail
Park on the north bank of the
Willamette River and Skinner Butte
Park on$» south bank.
The 16-mtie Spencer Butte loop
j in A
l
ride Is
the road, but traffic
and meeting places are posted
Thursdays in The Register-Guard's
sports section. The rides are free but
require a road-worthy bike and a
helmet, water and snacks.
Mountain bikers looking to hit the
trails this spring may want to check
out the University's Outdoor Pro
gram, which is offering a mountain
bike maintenance clinic May 22 at 9
a.m. Participants will ride and learn to
fix common trailside breakdowns.
Riders can pre-register at the Outdoor
Program office in Suite 37 of the
EMU. The clinic costs $7.
Joshua Rose is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
An environmentally conscious
atmosphere and the beauty of
the Cascade Mountains come
together on 86 acres of lush wilder
ness at the Breitenbush Hot Springs
Retreat and Conference Center in
western Oregon.
"You are rejuvenated and cleansed
by the waters there," said junior Ash
ley Whitty, who has been traveling to
the springs for 10 years. "It is a place
where you can truly be removed from
the everyday stresses of life, and I can't
imagine a more incredible place to get
away to."
Located off Hwy. 46 North near the
Breitenbush River, the natural rock
lined meadow pools, medicine wheel
tubs, natural steam sauna and sacred
sweat lodge are close enough for a fairly
inexpensive day trip. Prices start as low
as $8 per day, with opportunities for
hiking, kayaking, camping and biking.
Boiling Point
Clothing is optional at the
Breitenbush Hot Springs
By Jamie Nash
Freelance Reporter
A hike that begins from Breiten
bush's base camp leads to Devil's Peak
and through the ancient cedars along
the southern portion of the Breiten
bush River toward Opal Creek.
People of all ages can enjoy a Bre
itenbush retreat because of its acces
sibility and welcoming community
Breitenbush offers what it calls a Per
sonal Retreat, which includes a stay
in one of the 42 geothermally heat
ed guest cabins, three organic, vege
tarian meals and use of all facilities.
The Villa, or kitchen, is stocked with
fresh produce, breads, hot entrees
and herbal teas. Meals are an
additional $8 with a day use pass.
"It is incredible, very wholesome and
nurturing," Whitty said about the food.
For a lodge, room prices start at
$41 per night, while cabins start at
$66 per night Friday though Saturday
— reservations required. Peak rates
run May 28 through Oct. 31, when
the option of bringing a tent is avail
able, starting at $51 per night. Daily
well-being programs are included in
the fees. Programs consist of classes in
yoga and meditation and tutorials
about the hydroelectric systems that
carry heat and water to the cabins and
the electricity used by the retreat gen
erated by the Breitenbush River.
To make a reservation or to get di
rections, call (503) 854-3314, or visit
the Web site at http://www.breiten
bush.com.
Jamie Nash is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
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Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat
Come Celebrate
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* 11am -12 pm *
Shoe/Boot Fitting and
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* 12 pm - 2 pm *
Book Signing - Bill Sullivan
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including “Cabin Fever”.
* 2 pm - 3 pm *
Effective Packing Tips for
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* 3 pm - 4 pm *
Hiking Safety Clinic.
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566 Olive St.
Downtown Eugene
343-2300