Art of Survival Century

The 8th Annual Art of Survival Century Bicycle Ride isn't just about pedaling a road or mountain bike through beautiful stretches of county side. It's also an opportunity to learn about a region that includes Southern Oregon's Klamath Basin and Northern California’s Tulelake Basin and Butte Valley area.

What is unique about this event—which is a ride, not a race—is that at each rest stop offers educational components and/or ranger or historian led talks highlighting the cultural history, geography, environmental issues and geology of the area.  Along with providing fluids and nutritious snacks at the rest stops, riders will have opportunities to learn about the areas they're passing through.

This year enjoy a breath taking ride through American History. 175 years ago fifteen men led by Jesse and Lindsay Applegate set out to blaze a safer, more direct route to Oregon Country.  This “Applegate Trail” or “South Road” took these trailblazers through the Klamath Basin, the homeland of the Modoc Indians since time immemorial.  From that point on life in the Basin would never be the same.  Breathe the fresh air as you ride along uncrowded roads.  Enjoy our hospitality and small town atmosphere.  Take in the beautiful vistas following in the footsteps of Southern Oregon’s and Northern California’s earliest settlers. Hear about the trials and tribulations the pioneers endured along the trail and learn how the Modoc Indians defended their homeland against these perceived invaders.

Day 1, Saturday, May 29:  Choose from four routes that begin and end at the Malin Community Park in Malin, OR - 100-mile Century, 62-mile Metric Century, 36-mile and family friendly 13-mile road routes plus a 22-mile mountain gravel grinder route in the Medicine Lake Highlands.

Day 2, Sunday, May 30, is a Gravel Grinder Mix covering distances of 73 and 54 miles and a family friendly 13-mile route.  All gravel routes begin and end at the Butte Valley Community Center in Dorris, CA. Participants will ride along the flatlands of Butte Valley, including the Butte Valley Wildlife Area, farms, ranches and for the long rides to Juanita Lake. Views of snow-capped Mount Shasta and Goosenest Mountain are plentiful.

Registration Fees for Saturday, May 29:  Rides are $75 for the Century and Metric Century, $55 for the 36-miler and $25 for both the mountain bike and family friendly events. The cost for Sunday, May 30 rides are $75 for the 73-mile, $55 for the 54-mile and $25 for the 13-mile ride.  However, if riders register for both days they will receive a discount. The cost for all routes will increase $10 after May 20. 

Whether riding a bicycle or not there will be plenty of activities during the weekend.  California Highway Patrol officers will again host a Bicycle Rodeo event both days for children to learn bicycle safety, so bring your children and grandchildren, their bicycles and helmets on Saturday to the Tulelake Fairgrounds at 2 p.m. or Sunday to the Butte Valley Community Center in Dorris at 2 p.m. for this fun activity.

A pre-ride reception will be held Friday, May 28 from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at the Malin Broadway Theater in Malin, OR for cyclists to pick up their ride packets, enjoy refreshments, discover new area activities and learn about the Applegate Trail history, plus tour our restored historic theater.  The committee welcomes anyone interested to attend this reception.

Post-ride meals will be offered both days and are included in the registration fees. The cost for non-riders is $15 both days. The Malin meal will feature locally grown, load-your-own baked potatoes while Dorris will offer yummy lasagna.

For more information and to register visit the website at www.survivalcentury.com.