By Jamie Stewart
If you want to feel ten years old again, ride a mountain bike in the Methow Valley in North Central Washington. After a weekend of trail riding, it’s easy to see how one gets hooked. Well-maintained trails, exceptional bikes and service, create a strong desire to explore what more there is to offer in this wilderness area. Rugged trails climb through woods, across streams, beside lakes, rivers and hillsides that open up with expansive views of high mountain peaks and green carpeted valleys. The initial impact will bring back memories of learning to ride your first bike with “you’re too old to be doing this” moments of exhilaration and fear. It was just fun!!
My cycling partner Steph and I rented a pair of mountain bikes from Joe Brown at Methow Cycle and Sport. These off-road bikes have come a long way since the bike I had when I was ten. My first bike was a hand me down from one of my older brothers. Spray painted black, it had one gear, slick tires, a banana seat and high rise handle bars. To stop the bike I’d stomped back on the pedal so the rear tire would lock up and squeal. It was cool. To make it sound like a motorcycle, I pinned baseball cards to the frame with wood clothes pins. The cards pinned against the spokes made a grating sound, a cross between a Harley and a weed eater as I tore through the neighborhood, irritating as many adults as possible.
Today’s bikes have front and rear shocks, dual disk brakes and twenty-seven gears of glory. In the hands of an experienced rider they can climb a cliff faster than a mountain goat being chased by a bobcat. It’ll descend a boulder laden rock slide in relative comfort and control. All we needed to do was point our metal steeds in the right direction and hold on. It was light years in development from my first bike, a technical joy and a good ride, waiting to take us along on our merry way.
There are numerous trails to ride and explore in the Methow area. On our first day we rode the Sun Mountain trail system: well-maintained with variable grades of difficulty and clearly marked on the Sun Mountain trail map. These are primarily shorter trails and loops easily done in an hour or less. Connect them together for a full day of riding. Parts of these trails reminded me of a Disneyland ride—the turns, the drops, cascading over wood bridges and through tunnels of trees. Every turn brings up something new and fun. After a strenuous ride, it’s easy to stop off at the Sun Mountain Lodge for a cool refreshment or meal to complete the day.
On our second day we drove twenty minutes North of Winthrop into the Rendezvous to ride the Buck Mountain loop. At 14 miles long, with 2,200 ft in vertical gain over the length of the ride, it’s a very rewarding, if challenging, trek for novice riders. It starts out with a gradual ascent over a tree lined dirt and gravel road. This road ends at a trailhead where it begins another ascent up a single track trail. This single track meanders through pine tree groves, across steep traverses, ravines and eventually takes off down a narrow path cut through a hillside of sage. The ride offers a number of breathtaking views toward Winthrop. The advice to take this trail in a clockwise direction is well heeded.
Steph and I look forward to coming back soon and exploring more of the mountain biking offered in the Methow. We both recommend this adventure to all who want to feel ten years old again and experience the joy of a good ride.
