Spring is here! Oakridge is as green as one can imagine this time of year. The tulips are blooming, the apples are blooming, birds are all about, and the grass is a growin'. Typically this time of year here is a mix of beautiful sunshine, and nurturing rain showers. This year has been no exception!

After our unusually dry and warm winter the elements seem to have settled into a more normal routine. Two days ago is was warm and dry, trails were clear after many hours of volunteer trailwork, and those who had the day off were likely outside. Then came a BIG WIND. Woosh it picked up everything in it's way, including part of our roof! Branches fell, leaves blew, and we ran for cover. Not long afterwards here came the Oregon rain.

If you're not from here you might imagine a big lightning storm, and black clouds the size of the Cascades, but it's not like that. In Oakridge, Oregon when the rain comes it's usually very quiet outside, not even a breeze. There will already be a layer of low hanging grey clouds floating in and out of the green hills around down, and maybe some mist hanging on the Willamette. Then when you're not even paying attention, pit, phmph, pap, dit, dot, dap, some little innocent drops hit the ground.

It's like the tide coming in then. Incrimentally, almost imperceptibly, the water comes. A few drops turn to many drops, to lots of drops. Before you know it's a downpour. Still it's calm though, hardly a breeze around. Then after a while, maybe a few minutes, maybe a few days, the water retreats just as innocently as it came.

Little by little it lets up, and before you know it there are no more drops coming from the sky. The birds usually notice first and they call out, "come out, come out, the rain is gone it's time to fly.."

And you know what? Those little guys and gals are right! It's time to go! Whether by bike, or boat, or foot, or wing, the Oregon springtime is a great time to get outside.

Check out our new "Trail Conditions" page on our website to see up to date conditons if you're thinking of taking a flight our way. There you'll find current information for most of the Oakridge mountain bike trails updated frequently.