I’m laying in bed in a plush hotel room in the Italian Alps watching you and Paul suffer. That just makes me so Happy! I’m going to watch it again just to watch you guys suffer more! 😅 Great job almost doing the whole OTT and making an Awesome video of your adventure. Seriously though I’m going to watch it again to see you suffer more! ❤🍻
Chris, you have the narration and rhythm for a great read. I would love to read your impressions about your adventures in a book one day. I love your content, and stories like this are why. Great videography, story, characters, and location once again.
I truly appreciate that! I actually spend a stupid amount of time on the voice over and rhythm to get it the way I want. Unfortunately, i'm not much of a writer... it's probably something I should practice. Thanks for watching and the kind words!
Thanks for riding this trail. It helps. I got to clear some of the Coxs trail. I hope to find more trail maintenance friends, especially on the Fremont Teir. Hope to see you out there riding soon!
@@pnwbikepacking The Fremont tier work party was this May. It was really good. We stayed at the ski lodge, used our sawyer certs, and spent a good amount of time clearing about 30 miles of trail. Each person can do about 1-3 miles in a given weekend for blowdown and brush clearing. There's so much opportunity. Hope to meet you soon!
Fantastic ride, film and narration. As a native Oregonian riding MTB’s since early days of REI Navarro branded (private labeled Specialized) triple, bio-paced chainring bikes, I’m a bit surprised as to how much of the OTT i’ve, patchwork ridden over those decades. Much more exploring is needed. Thank for the deal about the entire OTT., especially the Southern end.
I love this video. I did the OTT in 2018 and it was definitely a peak experience. You captured the feelings really well, and made me wanna go back and ride it again. Honestly you should count your blessings for not having to do Bunchgrass. It was terrible and overgrown when I did it and I cannot imagine what it's like now.
Hey Sasha, thanks for the comment. When I make these videos I really try to convey the feeling and experience of doing the ride, so its really validating to hear that I accomplished that from someone who has done the route! I definitely had mixed feelings on Bunchgrass... like I said in the video, I was relieved but also disappointed. I talked to Justin and Kyle who both did it, and they said it was absolutely heinous. I think it would have literally taken me like 14-15 hours to get through that section, but... there is a sick part of me that likes that kind of voluntary suffering. Congrats on finishing the route! Maybe ill see you out there again one year 🙂.
Thank you so much, really appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, there has been several trips inbetween they are just far less interesting than these longer epics! I am hoping I can share a few shorter trips from this year.
Thank you for this awesome film about your experience on the OTT. I almost joined the grand depart this year, but after seeing the 100 plus degree weather in the forecast I decided to be nicer to my body and did the Tahoe twirl with a friend instead. After reading the reports from other riders, and now this film, I'm kinda glad I made that decision and kinda regretting it at the same time. This route looks very hard, and very rewarding, and potentially very frustrating with all of the unknowns like fire that can change things so quickly. Maybe I'll see you at the grand depart next year, but I'm definitely not going to take this route lightly.
What an amazing adventure, you brought back so many memories for me since I’ve visited so many of those lakes all across Oregon. Sad for the fires but in time the beauty will return. Thanks for taking all of us along.
I love it when I can create something that triggers fond memories for people. That windy lakes area is so amazing... I find that sometimes a fire scar can enhance the beauty of an area! It can create a stark contrast in the landscape. Thank you for watching!
If we turned all the trails into fire breaks and all the fire breaks into trails, we'd have more trails, maintained, and great wildfire management access. :-)
Another great video Chris. The dedication to get this volume of video and the nightly recaps is amazing. Cheers to your dip in the Columbia River after all those miles.
Enjoyed this video. The fires have been a major bummer. We had to cancel our Painted Hills scenic bikeway trip on the tandems due to them. Some great trails. I rode Waldo Lake two summers ago with the dog scooter. Awesome time. Next time you’re in or around Bend, shoot me an email man. I’ll get dinner and beers.
Hey David, thanks for watching! Hope you've been able to get out more since we ran into you! Ahh such a bummer about having to cancel your Painted Hills trip! Yeah if it makes sense next time I am down in Bend ill hit you up!
Thank you! Yeah I picked up the outbound system just for this trip! I was thinking I might end up doing some night riding... It turns out I ended up using it very little, but im excited to put the lights to more use in future trips!
Wow, another excellent video and adventure. The route looks beautiful and brutal, and looks much harder than the GDMBR. Nice to see Garrett @MoveWithMurph in this episode.
Hey Ron! Thank you for watching! Yeah, it was great to do some riding with Garrett. I know he is working on his OTT video now, it will be really fun to see the different perspective!
Another amazing video. That trail has always seemed a little too tough for me so thanks for sharing this and confirming my opinion! Looks like you guys had a good adventure even if you couldn't do the whole trail. Bummer about the fires but glad you and everybody were safe!
Thanks Corrine... I have a feeling if I could do it, you could do it way faster hahah! Are you feeling ready for the Arkansas High Country Race? I want to remember to follow your dot on that race, it look SO hard!
@@pnwbikepacking I suck at technical mountain biking so I think not for the OTT! And I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be for ARHC which means I'm not at all ready! I'm at that point where I'm wondering why I keep signing up for these things. But I am looking forward to riding and seeing some new places which is the real reason I do these races.
Man, you nailed it Chris, the storytelling and camera work are superb too! I worried you carried too much weight in camera gear, and I'm sure that sucked. But your images, video and stills, really win. I used to ride/race in Central Oregon and Mt. Hood. Would have loved to do the 700 back when I was able! Thanks for showing me.
Thank you Mike! I worry I schlep too much stuff for my fitness every time, but this ride was an even bigger concern! I love that. you used to race out here, its pretty amazing. Happy to show you the trail ❤️
Just met you in the Gifford Pinchot at the water source after the bear sighting. I’ve bike packed sections of the trail from Oakridge to Mt hood, surveyors ridge, 15-mile, Old Barlow Pass, trails from hood north of Timothy Lake to Estacada, High Lakes region. We actually also ran into the high cascades 100 race one year too. It’s great country. Perhaps it’s time to string together a longer section from the Columbia south to ??? Great video.
Hey Jacob!!! Thanks for watching! Wow, sounds like you've done a lot of great sections! Thats funny that you ran into that High Cascades Race too, super stressful. Hope to run into you again sometime!
I’ve been doing this in sections. Fremont has been the most memorable to me, despite its challenges. Hope the riding out of Cave Lake was doable. It was not at all when I did it.
Great work! I would hard pressed to choose a favorite tier, they are all really awesome. Undoubtedly, Fremont tier is the most challenging though. We actually didn't start at Cave Lake due to the trail conditions. I'll cross my fingers that 2025 or 2026 conditions will be better!
I was sooo stoked to see this video show up on youtube. I've been really interested in this route. Thanks so much for doing this! What tier was the most rideable? It looked like the Hood Tier was it? BTW - congrats for making it to Hood RIver. What an insane accomplishment.
Hi Linda, happy to be able to share my experience and hope it gives you some useful insight into what you'd be signing up for! FYI, I don't think I was able to properly convey how difficult the first 4 days are... it's just such slow going. Also, had I done Bunchgrass, day 5 would have surely been the hardest day! I'd rank the tiers like this in terms of rideability: (1) Hood Tier (Most Ridable) - There were a few blowdowns heading to Timothy Lake, some short hike a bike sections on Gunsight. (Ridable for someone who is fit). I don't remember any long hike a bike sections. This tier is very ridable! (2) Deschutes Tier - A few hike a bike sections on Edison trail and sand mountain. Sand mountain takes some pushing, but its not that bad or long. This tier is very ridable! (3) Willamette Tier - Had I done bunchgrass, obviously there would have been a huge hike a bike section. There was some pushing. Some brief periods of pushing on the Middle Fork of the Santiam... there are just some steep punchy bits, but they are short. This tier is very ridable! (Minus bunchgrass) (4) Fremont (Least ridable) - Several long hike a bike sections. Some is due to steepness / terrain, some is due to overgrowth (Like Cox burn area). This tier has very ridable descents haha. The big hills like Crane, Hagar, and Yamsy will have you pushing. Hope this helps!
A very enjoyable video. I've ridden a little of the Fremont trail so I appreciate the enormous effort of what you rode! I did cringe a tiny bit at your pronunciation of "Chewaucan" (pronounced "she-wa-can") and "Chemult" (pronounced "shuh-mahlt") but I grew up in southern Oregon, so I'll give you a break on that. 😅
Ooof, I am cringing as I am reading the correct pronunciation. Even after Chip corrected me at the Chewaucan, I still got it wrong! Well, when I get back to this route, if I end up making a video, ill make sure not to butcher the names haha. Appreciate the kind words and cutting me aa break 😉
Thank you for watching! Tour Divide is on my list, but there are other routes that interest me more... like The Colorado Trail and Caldera 500. I had planned the Tour Divide with my buddy Rob a few years ago... but some unexpected life stuff came up and I had to bail. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ro_yRR6K2Kk.html) So maybe ... 2026 / 2027?
Thank you for watching! For this trip I am using a Sigma 24-70 2.8 Art II lens. I was pretty conflicted on whether I should take the Sigma (Which is new to me... and heavier) over my Sony 24-105 f4 (Lighter and has optical stabilization...better reach). In the end, the extra stop with the Sigma won. Generally, I like the Sigma pretty well, the lock switch to prevent lens sag is in a frustrating spot for me and the zoom ring works in the opposite direction I am used to. I'm not much of a pixel peeper, but I am happy with the images it produces. I hope Sony does a refresh on the 24-105 sometime, I really like that lens!
For this trip I am using a Sigma 24-70 2.8 Art II lens. I was pretty conflicted on whether I should take the Sigma (Which is new to me... and heavier) over my Sony 24-105 f4 (Lighter and has optical stabilization...better reach). In the end, the extra stop with the Sigma won. Generally, I like the Sigma pretty well, the lock switch to prevent lens sag is in a frustrating spot for me and the zoom ring works in the opposite direction I am used to. I'm not much of a pixel peeper, but I am happy with the images it produces. I hope Sony does a refresh on the 24-105 sometime, I really like that lens!
@@pnwbikepacking Thank you for the reply! I also use the Sony 24-105 and I love it as a lens…though I dislike the size and weight as I take my camera on adventures, so I can’t imagine that the Sigma will be one I’d want to be lugging around. I guess that’s just the price one pays for using a full-frame sensor and a quality zoom.
Yeah the 24-105 feels like a compact lens compared to the 20-70 haha. I have a 17-28 from Tamron which is pretty light and compact but I rarely take it because I’ll miss the reach! I’ve even thought about switching to apsc like an fx30 with a sigma 18-50…. It’s all just a series of compromises no matter which way you go!
Thank you for watching! Yeah I miss Rob too haha. Right now, he is literally off vacationing in the Dolomites! But while I was doing this ride, he was around, more focused on training to put it long days walking (For his Italy trip). Also with the amount of technical single track on this route and the heat in the southern tier, this isn't really Robs kind of route. When he gets back, I hope we can get a few more overnighters in and get some short videos up!
Oof yeah I keep thinking about a bike/gear check... it's a solid maybe that i'll do one! haha. It would be fun to do a bike check while Parker is drunk and heckling me the entire time.
What sweet adventure. Been to many of these spots camping but not on the bike hope to get on at least part of the trail at some point but yeah every year is a gamble with the fires glad peoples made it in and out safe 🤘🏻
Bummer about all the reroutes -- especially the Pyramids. Just rode the epic loop near the solstice this year for the first time, 30 miles of continuous old growth. hoepfully the fire's been contained before it got too large.
Yeah, it will be interesting to see what happens with that section of trail. I think there was literally 3 miles of that trail that were burned. Glad you got to ride it before the fire!
Uhh? 🤷🏼♂️ Revised recommendation, I just experienced my first ride on a new purchase, a 2025 Trek Farley winter edition fat tire model. Let me say WOW! 😱 My 2 Trek 1120's are now going to start collecting rust webs I fear. Get your self a fat tire bike test ride, and you may have a new saying as I do. Once you go fat There is no more skinny. 🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼
Hahaha, and here I was thinking 2.6 rekons were fat! I have yet to try out a fatbike, but I think it would be pretty fun in the right conditions! Just what I need... another bike!
Curious what you're using for a GPS/light mount setup. I recently got the Outbound setup and I'm trying to figure out how to get it a little higher over my front roll. Thanks! Rad video! I grew up in Southern Oregon and have been eyeing this route for a while. Some day!
Hey! Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video. Hah, I feel your pain! Figuring out how to mount the Outbound setup effectively kicked my ass...As I am sure your finding... you need a way to get the light to sit up a little bit higher and ideally pushed out a bit more, otherwise the flood from the light is blocked by your handlebar bag. So here is what I found worked well enough. Note if I was able to ditch my front mount bag this set up would have worked even better. ( I added some links below...) So for mounting my GPS, I have a mount that attaches to my steerer tube. (Its like a K-edge Fixed Stem Mount) This positions my GPS right on the top of my stem. I have a cheap $11 version though. To mount the light, I used a K-Edge Go Big Pro handlebar mount paired with the Outbound Action Camera Quick release. This pushed the light out further, plus I could angle the mount up a bit to get the light higher... I also had to figure out how to do this while mounting my tripod on the front.. so I kept the K-Edge mount a bit loose so I could easily adjust it. I'd basically tilt the light up when I needed to get out my tripod. At 43:20 you can kind of see how it is mounted... Hope this helps you! www.amazon.com/dp/B07VDLFRFN/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B07VDLFRFN&pd_rd_w=BMXO3&content-id=amzn1.sym.f2f1cf8f-cab4-44dc-82ba-0ca811fb90cc&pf_rd_p=f2f1cf8f-cab4-44dc-82ba-0ca811fb90cc&pf_rd_r=C89SFP4R4E49WDYMTGX5&pd_rd_wg=71mLb&pd_rd_r=c17674bb-0bc2-4ca8-9d96-bd6103711c3e&s=sporting-goods&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1 www.amazon.com/K-Edge-640737-01-Center-Mount-31-8mm/dp/B018MWXLY4/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=1PDBZ6HZ7EAS2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NJtEu2AGx-GPDJ8Wxl5XecHPFF1B8vzRQ8W7LO4xzevotTD_oU5edDx9mDuUK0f6SMvETjDTHYOgb9SLzjEOwlsqYx5hbF4VyeBjF-x9CHEmwFnmFVvq5rivzuM5Du9kowG9zn8kfJovGrvhvrJEoMTmdAi4_PypgPNqmGRUtJQxUBSqc30fHri3fe1yTNpWRXKp9tgV8fZ_VjvzurTN_t7UOMknle45QwiZtsMc260.VQjuVFO_LeSSiXgydqEhTx6-G4xIdz-bVAawWfSLFs8&dib_tag=se&keywords=k+edge+go+pro+mount&qid=1726545059&sprefix=k+edge+go+pro+mou%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1 www.outboundlighting.com/collections/batteries-adapters-accessories/products/quick-release-action-camera-mount
Well?🤷🏼♂️. Is it not time for a new more suited bike packing peddle type cycle? Think 29" x 3" tire size as a minimum starting point, perhaps Jones bikes down there Southern Oregone could assist. 🤷🏼♂️ Nice video, and your background music selection has much improved. 🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼
Hey James, thank you for watching. So, I had to look up exactly what a Nighthawk was. At dusk we stood at the shoreline and watched like 50 birds swarming around eating insects and fish jumping. We didn't really know which kind of bird(s) we were looking at though. It was pretty cool.
Hey Ed, yeah you’re right, Garrett does have his own channel. youtube.com/@movewithmurph . I added a card in the video and link in the description so it’s easier for folks to find. I know he is working on his edit of the Oregon timber trail! I can’t wait to see the trail through his lens!
Right now, he is literally off vacationing in the Dolomites! But while I was doing this ride, he was around, more focused on training to put it long days walking (For his Italy trip). Also with the amount of technical single track on this route and the heat in the southern tier, this isn't really Robs kind of route. When he gets back, I hope we can get a few more overnighters in and get some short videos up!
Hi Great video! I am just getting into bikepacking. I bought some bags for the bike and gathering essential items for an adventure soon. Chris, please tell me what bike you and your friends are riding? Also, when your in the middle of a mountain, where clean water is not available, what do you use to filter the water?
Hey! I have a revel cycles el jefe, and my buddy Paul was on a niner … not sure the model. We both had 120mm of front suspension on this trip. For the type of riding I like to do a hardtail mountain bike with 120mm front suspension is the way to go. It can pretty much do anything! I literally always carry a filter with me. Right now I have a befree filter but also use a platypus QuickDraw. As a backup I carry a few aquamira tablets. Hope this helps!
Really enjoy the videos. Can you tell me which rolltop backpack you are using and do you find the camera gets in the way of riding? I really want to take my camera but always worried about dust causing damage and getting inside. Thanks!
Hi Eric, glad you enjoyed the video! ** Regarding the Pack ** The pack I am using on this trip is the Superior Wilderness Designs 45 Liter Long Haul. It's really designed for backpacking... but does the job here, but it isn't the perfect backpack for this (Still looking for that!) ** Getting in the Way ** The camera and backpack DEFINITELY get in the way of riding... I use a capture clip to attach the camera to my shoulder strap which keeps the camera accessible. (If I don't mount it this way, it is too much of a pain to get the camera out!) When I am on bumpy singletrack, the camera bounces around a bit on my shoulder (you can see it on sections in the video) which can be annoying. Also the camera kit I use isn't exactly lightweight, so I can feel the weight on my left shoulder. It gets tiresome and isn't super comfortable on long days... Having said all that, I have used this set up for years now on long trips, and the trade offs are worth it to me (I get quick access to the camera, I get to bring an awesome camera where I am the only limiting factor, not the kit). ** Regarding dust / fragility of camera ** I suppose how concerned you should be depends on the camera you have. I was really worried about dust/breaking the camera when I first started carrying my camera this way. It has turned out to (mostly) be a non issue. If your camera is weather sealed, it should be able to take quite a bit of abuse. Ironically, after carrying my camera this way for four years and taking it on some rough terrain (Like the Arizona Trail) not until this OTT trip have I started to have issues. The scroll wheel on the back of the camera stopped working part way through the trip. ** Getting over damaging your gear ** I thought about it this way... I spent thousands of dollars on camera gear... It would be stupid to baby it and not use it because I was afraid of it getting damaged. The whole reason I bought the camera was to use for this very purpose! So instead of worrying about the gear breaking, focus your energy on using the gear to help fulfill the vision you have in your mind. If it breaks.. it breaks and ill cross that bridge when I get there, but at least you used it! Hope this helps.
@@pnwbikepacking Man, thanks so much for the respose and detail. I usually use an action cam to film my rides but I stepped up to a Sony a6700 this year to up my game. This plus the sigma lense brok the bank this year and I would be crushed if something happened to it. But, like you said, don't fear damage and just use it. Anyway, I'm thinking of a new handel bar bag such as the just released Swift Ind Capstone bag that opens away from the rider and using foam to build out a camera bag of sorts. Also, one last thing, I really liked it when you used to post the camera settings when you showed the photos in the videos. It helped me with my own potography and seeting I use. I know this chat is all about photography , but love the channel and work you put into it. I'm in CA and ride up in Prineville and west of the mountians in OR offten. Hope to see you on the trails!
Exactly! Then when I got to parkdale I dumped the broken rack in the trash. If I didn’t throw it in the pack, I probably had enough straps to rig things to my bars… backpack was faster though.
@@pnwbikepacking Thank you! I've never miss one of your videos! 🤟🏼😝 Truly inspiring and a source of learning for my own channel! Greetings from Spain! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
