The highway that winds east out of Roseburg along the North Umpqua River wasn't there 70 - 80 years ago; but the trails were. When Jessie Wright and her husband settled up there in the early 1900's they got to their place horseback, packing rifles to kill any carnivorous critters they might come across. We now have a trail that winds from Swift Water park (awesome fishing spot), upriver to Lemolo Lake, just across the way from Diamond Lake. At times the trail is close to the river, but as much of the time it climbs away from it. Riding through the beginning of the Swift Water section feels like something out of Jurassic Park; huge ferns and enormous, moss covered trees, not clearly seen through the fog lifting off the river. The trail is rolling and fast for a mile or two, then you begin to climb away from the river and up Bob's Butt (Butte, actually). As you climb, the vegetation changes to pines and manzinita and opens up a bit. There are some little climbs in there that I have not yet succeeded in riding up - steep, loose shit that's way more fun to ride down. When you reach the top, you gaze for miles up river, the hills rolling into a smokey blue haze. At that point, you will be about 4 miles into a 17-mile section. (Most of the sections are about 5 miles long, meaning that there are bridges to get you back across the river to the highway.)

From the vista point atop Bob's Butt the trail is nearly indefinable until you drop off into some tight switchbacks on clayey soil. At this point, the country takes on another cloak, imparting the sense of being in yet another land. The trial then opens up into a fast double track that ends in more sweet single track within a couple miles, and you're in deep forest far from the highway and river.

I took my friend Wilmer up there and by the time we were this far into the trail, he was like a mad man, whooping and hollering with joy. There are many more hills to climb and creeks to cross until the end of the trial. At the end of this section is the beginning of another one, called Wright Creek (named after the afore mentioned pioneers). Wilmer and I chose to cross the river and ride the highway back to our car, a fast wind-at-your-back jaunt of about 12 miles. In the afternoons and evenings the wind is usually heading down-river, making it a really comfortable spinout after the trail ride.

A few miles down river from Swift Water where the ride began, is a little market containing a fine selection of micro-brew beers. Twenty or thirty minutes later, you have arrived in the fine metropolis of Roseburg, and an Abby's pizza place where you can feed, and consume more beer. This can be the perfect end to a glorious ride, or you can go to even further heights of glory by stopping in at the Umpqua Brew pub, home to dirty mountain bikers.

It is my dream that we of the Southern Oregon Mountain Biking Association might venture north and do a group ride of this nature. We could skip the beer drinking part and return to Ashland after our ride, or drink beer and remain in Roseburg for the night; maybe we could sleep in my moms' barn or something. Then, the next day we could head west of town and ride the Callahans! Let's make it happen next spring!!

Theresa Johnson, entertainment director, SOMBA