A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY exists for trail and downhill bike enthusiasts this weekend with the two-day Das Port Angeles Biketoberfest event Saturday and Sunday.
The Biketoberfest schedule consists of a poker ride and cross country trail ride Saturday and a Fall Down Shuttle Day down the trails of Dry Hill on Sunday.
For the poker ride and cross country outing, organizers will shuttle participants to the west end of the Olympic Discovery Trail’s Adventure Route.
Riders will then pedal the 19.6-mile undulating length of the Adventure Route, picking up poker cards along the way for a chance at winning a prize.
Upon arrival back at the Elwha Dam RV Park, riders can indulge in some German-inspired food and cold microbrews from Ellensburg’s Iron Horse Brewery.
The first beverage is on the Olympic Dirt Society, the organizers of Biketoberfest, and more brews are available by donation.
Camping is available on site at the Elwha Dam RV Park, so no need to travel home tipsy.
Registration for this event opens at 9 a.m. with shuttles from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Saturday’s ride is likely to tire participants out and organizers have planned ahead with the Fall Down Shuttle Day.
Shuttles will ferry riders to the top of Dry Hill where, unlike on Dry Hill race days, mountain bikers can ride down any of the trails on the hill.
Shuttles will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Walkabout Way up Dry Hill.
No food or drink services will be provided Sunday, so riders should pack their own goodies and beverages.
Dry Hill is comprised of state Department of Natural Resources land so Discovery Passes are required.
They can be purchased at a variety of
Entry is $35 for one event or $60 for both events.
Sponsors include All Around Bikes, Bike Garage, Gravity, Iron Horse Brewery, Lib Tech, Northwest Riders, Nuun and Sound Bikes & Kayaks.
Beachwalkers needed
The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, or COASST, is looking for volunteer beachwalkers to help pilot test a new marine debris program.
A training session is set Saturday at the Clallam County Courthouse Commissioners meeting room, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers will be tasked with surveying beach debris two times per month through March and sharing their findings with COASST by email or phone.
There’s no obligation to continue marine debris surveys after March.
Those interested should RSVP to coasst@uw.edu or phone 206-221-6893.
Saturday’s training will include a break and attendees can bring snacks or a lunch.
COASST is a citizen science program of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal and federal agencies, environmental organizations and community groups.
Wild steelhead contest
Trout Unlimited recently started a wild steelhead essay contest open to anglers that will net the winning author $1,000 and a spot in an upcoming edition of Trout magazine.
Essays must focus on wild steelhead and must be no more than 500 words to be considered for the top prize.
The winning essay will be read aloud at Trout Unlimited’s launch of its new Wild Steelhead Initiative in Seattle on Thursday, Nov. 20.
“We’re looking for good stories about wild steelhead and why so many of us are willing endure even the worst conditions — frigid water, rain, sleet, snow — for hours, even days at a time in hopes of catching just one of these amazing fish,” said Trout Unlimited’s Northwest region communications director Shauna Sherard.
The upcoming wild steelhead campaign will focus on improving wild steelhead numbers and the opportunity for anglers to pursue them.
I’m adding my own twist to the above, but I hope anglers will continue to follow the North Olympic Peninsula’s unwritten rule of thumb and release wild steelhead back into West End rivers.
Writers can learn more about the contest at tu.org.
Submit entries to ssherard@tu.org by Tuesday, Nov. 11 to be considered.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
