Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) Adventures

[MotoNews]

Published in: Rides

The Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) mission statement isn’t just a focus on creating ADV routes and riding fun. The group also helps revitalize economies of rural areas through increased motorcycle tourism. The BDRs build community and create goodwill where riders travel through.



The BDR mission echoes my own lifelong infatuation with riding and using motorcycling to make the world a better place.

Motorcycles have enhanced my friendships, transformed my career for the better, and even introduced me to my wife. I was eager to see what good the Oregon BDR would bring. This is my story.

That community-building began on the first day of the trip. Tobias Wachter, the Managing Director of Edelweiss Bike Travel and hailing all the way from Austria, was the first team member I met. We didn’t realize it was the beginning of an amazing adventure-based friendship.

I expected great riding on this trip, but the relationship-building began before we even officially set out on the route.

We had a full day to explore the area near Fields, OR, in the southeast corner of the state, and we made the most of it. With our camping gear left behind at the cabin, we headed for the high ridges.

This was my first encounter with “soft” mountains—massive sandpits littered with small boulders, the occasional rock, desert vegetation, and wildlife. When my tires hit the sand, I was immediately grateful for my training via the BMW Performance Center’s U.S. Rider Academy. Without it, I’d have been sliding on the seat of my pants rather than serving up some dust to Tobias.

We continued our research of the local terrain, which led to a dry lakebed where we tested the horsepower of our machines. We shared a ton of laughs, and I ate my fair share of dust along the way. Running low on energy and gas, we returned to the Fields Station to meet the rest of the ORBDR filming expedition team.

The co-founder of the BDR, Bryce Stevens, has a sixth sense for finding exciting routes around the country. Tim James, BDR President and Good Shepherd, ensured we were safe and sound during our time together. Local ADV legend Dave Wachs acted as our human GPS as he steered our moto caravan confidently.

Ashley Myhre, Mosko Moto’s self-proclaimed Ambassador of Fun hit the trails like a wrecking ball and was hard to catch up with throughout the trip. Iain Glynn, our moto MacGyver, was able to fix most things on the side of the trail with a popsicle stick and zip ties. Nathan Fant, BDR superstar Ambassador and the route co-creator, served as scout, providing detailed surface appraisals of what we would encounter ahead. Tobias Wachter is a motorcycle touring aficionado and fellow graduate of BMW Motorrad’s rigorous International Instructor Academy.

The film crew included director Sterling Noren, who rendered us all as movie stars despite our lack of previous red-carpet experience. Cameron Sale’s steady hands piloted the drone as we motored through the trails. Ely Woody was the moto ninja/photographer, sneaking up on us like a windshield on a bug. Michael Bielecki was Sterling’s filming assistant, BDR’s Routes Manager and the second MacGyver on the team. Arguably the most important teammate was Gary Webb, support truck driver/specialist, chef, and security detail.

Oregon and Washington’s unique terrain offered new riding challenges for me. Through the BDR crew’s tireless efforts, I learned about transitioning from desert to mountain. Oregon deserts are filled with sand so fine it’s called “poof”—almost as hazardous as inhaling the powdered sugar off a donut.



Volcanic rock was another tricky new experience for me. I like to think of it as “advanced gravel” because it’s very deep, light, and loose. I’m already thinking of ways to incorporate it into the U.S. Rider Academy’s future off-road course classes.

The Pacific Northwest is filled with rare and wonderful sights—but on this trip, the rarest sight of all would probably be a clean pair of socks at motorcycle camp. We spent nights near hot springs, lakes, and expansive rivers. Campfires provided physical warmth, while comradeship filled the air with laughter and storytelling. This group was diverse, and we had an abundance of topics to discuss; thankfully, no one had heard my old stories before.

I believe loneliness causes diseases that only friendships can cure. Motorcycling has always given me an avenue to forge new relationships.

Riding gets you off the couch for outings, meals and bench-racing discussions. This trip on the Oregon BDR was no exception. The group came together easily as everyone was welcoming and eager to get to know each other. By the end of the week, Tobias and I had shared stories of family, discussed career goals, and made plans for future collaborations even though we live on opposite sides of the planet. That’s BDR community building at work!

The new BDR route shows you the Seven Wonders of Oregon. You begin with the Domingo Pass in the Pueblo Mountains, move through the valleys, Deschutes National Forest, and wind up near the Columbia River at the Washington state line. My favorite expert section, Beatys Butte, is 7,918 feet above sea level and will leave you feeling like you can see the entire world from its summit. This stop is a must if you have the energy and the skillset.

Some of the sections beg to get on the throttle. Nice gravel roads alternate with rocky stretches, but you must pick your lines wisely and maintain correct tire pressure to avoid flats. In the open areas, there’s a lack of trees; and the sun will give you a funky helmet tan during the warm season. Cattle and cowboys are along the trail, so please be sure to ride right (as in the right-hand side), ride respectfully, and yield to animals through these areas.

The route is dotted with lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Pitching our tents along the shoreline provided prime seating for picturesque sunsets with reflections over the waterscapes. Keep an eye out for foot trails which allowed us to duck behind massive cascading waterfalls so that the mist could cool us.

If you ask me what my favorite section was, my answer is: All of it!

Along the Oregon BDR route, we ate meals in small, fire-ravaged towns struggling to recover. The tiny community of Detroit burned to the ground a few years ago and is in the process of rebuilding, with gas stations made of shipping containers and restaurants operating from food trucks or oversized sheds. Remnants of homes are steady reminders of the locals’ trials and tribulations. Despite these hardships, they’re hopeful and resilient. Their determination to bounce back is as clear as the devastation.

The folks behind the scenes of the Oregon BDR blend adventure riding with support for fragile rural communities. These carefully selected and developed relationships will allow any rider who sets out on the ORBDR to receive a warm welcome when they arrive at the different waypoints.

Enjoy the route, discover new lifelong friends, and write your own story of new riding adventures on the Oregon BDR!

---

   Ricardo Rodriguez is a lead motorcycle instructor at the BMW Performance Center, U.S. Rider Academy.

 

Read more ...

View the full article