Sunday, September 28th. Our first attempt at making Gates to Big Lake.

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Because we could not carry enough gas on the bikes we decided to haul part way and switch to the bikes at a point where gas would not be a problem.

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We figured to make it close to NF road 11 that runs between OR-22 and Quartzville before unloading.

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Unfortunately most of the routes we mapped were on roads that no longer exist or are so overgrown and washed out as to make passing, even by dirt bike, impossible.

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This particular route quickly deteriorated. Looking up from the hill that would not quit.

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According to MS S&T, Mapsource, and the current 2009 Garmin map files, this road connects eventually to NF road 11/Quartzville Rd.

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You cannot tell from the pictures but what's left of the road is disappearing rapidly and there is no end to the down hill in site.

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I went down the hill about a quarter mile and turned around for fear of getting stuck where I could not get out.

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After several tries I rode Jeremy's bike out also.

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Completely tuckered we both stopped to catch our breath and cool off.

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Later, this horizontal tree skinned Jeremy, in slow motion, right off his XR.

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This road, which used to be paved all the way to Quartzville road is so washed out at the top that it is blocked off with barriers and road closed signs.

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These photos were taken between the barriers on the closed section. This route, we concluded, was probably passable once around the closed section and may be an option for some.

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After checking this out we loaded up and continued west toward the Simpson mainline which was gated and closed. We headed the only option available besides back the way we'd come.

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We did not complete the ride but a longer way around is available. Next up, trying to connect from Detroit Dam. Fairly certain this is do-able. We will also attempt to ride NF-11 backward toward Gates, perhaps the bad downhill connects from the other side.

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Our original, unproven, untested route to Big Lake from Gates.

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Our various attempts to connect with the original route.

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