Bikepacking Overnight: McKenzie Pass 4.0 (Ladies Ride!)

A bike tour over the McKenzie Pass seems to have snuck its way into my life again (see 2014, 2015, and 2016).  After lamenting a lack of women on the road, I decided it was time to do something about it.  My friend runs the local chapter of the Outdoor Women's Alliance and so I reached out to her and offered to put on a presentation to introduce women to bike touring and bikepacking.  We had about 30 participants and a lot of stoke, so I decided to lead an overnight bike tour for those who wanted a safe way to experience a bike tour.  

After a false start due to rain and snow, we finally were able to do it.  It wasn't a complicated ride as it started and ended on Highway 242.  We biked from Sisters Middle School to the Limberlost Campground and back again, with a lovely detour to the McKenzie Bridge General Store. It was too hot for hot springs so in lieu of hitting up Belknap or Cougar, we braved the icy cold water of Lost Creek nestled right next to our site instead.  

Day 1: Windy Point, looking like a respectable group of bike touring gals.

Day 1: Badass bike touring gang...

Day 1: Bikes get the best parking spots at the summit... time to explore the Dee Wright Observatory!

Day 1: Victory!

Day 1: Legs still have enough juice in 'em for a little summit acroyoga.

Day 1: Lunchtime at Proxy Falls on the green jungle-y side of the pass.

Day 1: 95 degrees + sweaty 6 mile bike from camp + cold beer fridge = beer fridge selfie.

Day 1: The infamous Mr. Ed on his hog outside the McKenzie Bridge General Store.  Wooing the ladies as always.

Day 1: No fire ban?  Well then, surely we can carry a bundle of firewood back to the campground.

Day 1: Happy hour.  The flamingos are getting out of control.

Day 1: Our neighbor.

Day 2: Double the climb, double the fun!

Day 2: Flamingos getting a free ride up.

Day 2: Butterflies at the summit seemed to love us.

Day 2: Post-ride "we made it" portrait.

A few tips for cycle tourists:

• I've done this tour so many times that I don't know what else to add... except that for the shorter more "beginner-friendly" version of the ride we did this year, Limberlost is a gem.  It has 12 reservable sites and 2 walk-in sites.  It is not particularly suited to RVs and so there were none when we were there.  We had site 9 which was lovely and right on the creek so we could listen to the water at night.  I highly suggest reservations in the summer on the weekends as the whole place was booked out (but we did grab the last site just two weeks before the tour)