PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Dirt Society has presented Clallam County officials with a $400 check for spearheading the Adventure Route of the Olympic Discovery Trail.
The 19.6-mile off-road variation to the paved ODT was featured prominently in the inaugural Bike-toberfest Oct. 22.
Scott Tucker, Olympic Dirt Society co-founder, said the event drew 83 mountain bikers for a rain-sodden poker run.
“The weather was torrential,” Tucker told county commissioners Tuesday.
“Even with the rain, credit to the crew that built it. The trail — everybody was raving about it.
“Anywhere else we ride, when it’s raining that hard, it’s a muddy slog and just not fun,” he said.
The Adventure Route between the Elwha River valley and the Lake Crescent basin was built by Clallam County inmate works crews, or chain gangs, and community volunteers over the past few years.
“What they’ve done out there is really amazing,” Tucker said.
“I want to emphasize that the trail is such an awesome asset.
“I’m very thankful for not only being able to ride it, but to be able to hold events on there.”
Olympic Dirt Society already has a successful series of downhill races at Dry Hill.
Bike-toberfest moved from the Adventure Route to Dry Hill on Oct. 23, where downhill races have been held for five years.
Money for trail
Tucker presented an oversized check — a portion of the proceeds from Bike-toberfest — to the county Public Works Department to be used on the trail.
He said 65 of the participants had never been to the North Olympic Peninsula before the event, later adding that cross-county rides have more growth potential from a participation standpoint than downhill.
Bike-toberfest was centered at the Elwha Dam RV park, where riders were shuttled to the starting point on Piedmont Road on a Dungeness Line bus and an Adventures Through Kayaking van.
After the poker run, the riders had a German-themed dinner, ales from Barhop Brewery, music and a bonfire.
“It was a very successful event,” Tucker said.
Tucker thanked the state Department of Natural Resources, Green Crow and the county for allowing the Olympic Dirt Society to hold events on their land and easement.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger said he is pleased that entrepreneurs are using the Adventure Route, which he described as “world class.”
“I’ve separated myself from my mountain bike on the adventure trail several times,” Tharinger said.
Tucker thanked the sponsors that provided prizes for the poker run, and other who made the event possible.
“Green Crow, DNR, the county, Adventures Through Kayaking, Dungeness Lines and Mike’s Bikes were all really instrumental in putting this on,” Tucker said.
The Olympic Dirt Society plans to hold the Bike-toberfest every year, and possibly add a similar event in the spring.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
