Ride: The Big Lebowski
Organizer: John Kramer 509-493-2474 and Susan France 503-628-7324
Date: September 30, 2006
Start Time: 5:00am
Fee: $40.00
Note: Oregon Randonneurs membership is required for this event. You can download a membership form and bring it with you.
Register Now!
Start Location: Shop-n-Kart parking lot next to Motel 6, West 6th Street, The Dalles
Directions: The motel is easy to find. From Portland go east on I84. Take exit 82 and turn left (east) onto US 30 (becomes W 6th St). The Motel 6 is about 1.5 miles east of exit 82. There is a Denny's Restaurant open 24 hours located a short distance from the motel, also on West 6th St.

Route Conditions:
Sunrise/Sunset: 7:03/18:48
Twilight Start/End: 6:34/19:18
Moonrise/Moonset: 15:41/23:41
Lunar Stage: First Quarter
Elevation Gain: 22,000 feet (measured)

Description
The ride starts at the Dalles Marina boat basin and follows WA 14 east on the north side of the Columbia River. The route crosses the Columbia into Oregon on I-82 and follows the Umatilla River Road south though Hermiston to OR 207 and south through Lexington to Hepner. The ride enters Wild Calf Canyon south of Hepner and continues south climbing into the Umatilla National Forest. The route descends into the Haystack Valley and turns west onto OR 19 and follows the John Day River Valley to the overnight control at Spray. The ride continues on OR 19 following the John Day river then turns north climbing 2000 feet to Fossil. At Fossil, the route turns southwest and follows OR 218 crossing the John Day River at Clarno and continuing to Antelope. At Antelope the route follows the Antelope Valley southwest to US 97. US 97 turns north and branches to US 197 and Maupin. At Maupin, the route follows the Deschutes River to Sherars Bridge and returns to US 197 on OR 216 through Chicken Spring Canyon. The route leaves US 197 again four miles north of Dufer and follows Eight Mile Creek south to the Dalles.

There are seven major climbs on this route totaling over 52 miles distance, accounting for half of the total 22,000 foot elevation gain for the ride.

Climb 1
Starts at mile 156 on OR 207 south of Hepner 5.3 miles with average slope 3%

Climb 2
Starts at mile 168 on OR 207 south of Hepner 8.75 miles with average slope 3%

Climb 3
Starts at mile 224 on OR 19 southeast of Fossil 8.75 miles with average slope 3%

Climb 4
Starts at mile 242 on OR 218 south west of Fossil 4.8 miles with average slope 4%

Climb 5
Starts at mile 261.08 on OR 218 and the John Day River 8.4 miles with average slope: 6%

Climb 6
Starts at mile 288.8 on US 97 5.9 miles with average slope: 4%

Climb 7
Starts at mile 335.2 on US 197

Map
Available here.

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