Ride: Molalla Foothills 200
Organizer: Michael Wolfe
Date: March 31, 2012
Start Time: 7:00 am
Registration Time: 6:15 am - 6:45 am
Finish By: 8:30 pm
Entry Fee: $15
Start Location: Cutsforth's Thriftway, Canby OR

Description:
This ride starts in Canby, OR, at Cutsforth's Thriftway. It's easy to get to the ride start from OR 99E or I-5. Riders will warm up with a jaunt south from town across the plains to Molalla, and then head up the Molalla River across Dickey Prairie to the shadow of Table Rock. Riders will enjoy the hospitality of a manned controle at the turn-around, and then it's a fast trip back down to the bottom of the recreation corridor. From there, you will climb up over Guernsey Road to Scotts Mills, and across Elliott Prairie to Silverton (with a quick side-trip to the Gallon House covered bridge.)

Silverton will be a good opportunity to grab a bite, and maybe a hot drink, before starting on the climb up Silver Ridge. The course follows the ridgeline that marks the eastern boundary of the Silver Creek basin to the south park entrance. The roads should be quiet and the scenery beautiful. Enjoy the fast slalom through the trees when you enter the park, get your card signed at the lodge, and maybe have another hot chocolate. Enjoy the lush forest and spectacular waterfalls before climbing out of the park to the north. Silver Falls Drive rolls along a bit, but just when it really starts to point downhill, you'll make a hard right turn onto Powers Creek Loop to take the quieter, more scenic bypass around Silverton along Abiqua Creek.

After cross OR 213, you'll emerge once again onto the prairie. Riders will quickly find themselves on Meridian road (well known by local cyclists), which will take them most of the way back north. Past the airpark, Zimmerman and Bolland will bring riders to Lone Elder, and then it's one last quick dip down to the Molalla River, and back into town for a well-deserved burger and pint at a local establishment.

You may wish to review the cue sheet.

All riders should be familiar with and abide by rider expectations.

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