2003 DIRTY FACE

 

 


 

 

The 2003 Dirty Face Dualsport Event (Washington State)

This year in Oregon there were no dualsport events in June, so whats a rider to do ? .....

Well a little birdie told me that there was a darn good event taking place up in Washington State called the Dirty Face. I look over to my wife and say "hey hun, fancy going to Lake Wenatchee in Washington for a weekend of family camping ?"

"Sure, she replies, I hear it's beautiful up there"

Hmmm, do I tell her I want to take my bike for a little riding around the forest, or do I spill the beans and tell her we will be camping next to another 150 dualsporters.

I ponder my response.

A minute or two go by, and I annouce just like it was breaking news, "Oh and by the way theres a dualsport event taking place there too!"

Silence falls across the room ... I look at my eldest son (6 years old) for some kind of moral fatherly to son support, nothing. I then look at my youngest son (4 years old) and he blurts out "mommy we can take our bikes as well" .... Owww saved by the little one.







 

 

 

Well the day before the event arrives, and we pack as if we are leaving home for a year. Everything is secure and we are just about to leave for Washington State, when I remember we are missing something. I run back into the house grab both our dogs and their leashes, and attempt to squeeze them into the cab of the truck, after a little whinning, we're all in and on the road.
 

 

Good golly miss molly .... after 8hours on the road, hearing very little else but "Are we there yet" ... "Are we there yet" , and a couple of yelps from the dogs.

We pull into the north camp and set about our chores of putting up the tent, cooking dinner and gathering our bearing.

Night falls and we are all out wickless candles.

 

 


 

 

The morning of the ride is here, and I do a quick check of my bike, before going over to the rallying point.

As I ride into the compound, I see a mass of bikes already there. People are fighting with their wind blown roll charts trying to get them in the holders, other are doing the sound check, and some are sitting down to the pan cake breakfast. I go about signing up and paying my dues.

 

 


 

 

Not long after arriving, I hook up with Greg, John, Hakan and Wenatchee Chris. I'd never met any of these great people before, but with in a few minutes we were chatting and riding together as if we had grown up that way. (Thanks guy's, you really made me feel welcome, and the companionship just added to a great day of riding) .. Mushy Stuff Over :-)

 

 


 

 

The course started out fairly tame (as do they all), loads of fun speed gravel roads taking us deeper into the Wenactchee Forest.

 

 

 


 

 

As the ride went along, we started to gain altitude. The views were pretty stunning and a field of dreams for anyone that enjoys taking photos. From the up hill climbs we are led to a look out point, for even more views.

Kinda hard to see from the photo above, but this was a freeky deeky spot on the course. As we stopped for a break and a kodak moment, everytime the wind blew, a rain of ice shards would fall from the trees, really !!! .... I've never seen that happen before. Everyone was looking at each other wondering who in the world was throwing stuff :)
 

 

The forest of falling ICE.


 


 

 

From the look out point we go down hill to the start of the tank bars, I really enjoyed this stuff, it was a mix of two track and single track, and the approx 4 foot high banks of dirt just added to the fun and excitment. I got high lined a couple of times, but after a quick push off with my feet it was back to moving along and enjoying the ride.

 

 


 

 

I couldn't work out why this guy stopped on a dime. Then I looked at where I was standing .... Thanks for not running me over buddy :-)

 

 

Kelley, waiting for Ryan to arrive.
 

 

After the tank bars / water bars/ big mounds of dirt, we go down hill towards the lunch stop.

The police had set up with a speed trap there. As I come around the corner, I thought the right hand turn was the correct way to go, so I was slowing down just in time. I did see some riders over by the truck, not sure if anyone was ticketed, but the local department let us know that they were around and watching us, they were at the start point too (sound checking).

 

 

Chris, chatting to a couple at the lunch stop. The female was riding a Super Sherpa, she was a pretty darn good rider, I followed her most of the way up to Chumstick Mt ..... Ok I was trying to over take her, but if I use the word "followed" it sounds like I'm just where i wanna be :)

 

 

 

What ya doing Hakan ?
:-)
 

 

 

On top of Chumstick Mt
 

 

After the views from the top of the mountain, we go to the most nerve racking section of the ride.
There had been a rock slide on a piece of two track, closing down the one of the lanes.

OK, single track, thats no big deal I hear you say.
But WAIT !!!!

When the single track has a sign that says 42 mountain goats and three Hymalayan yaks have NOT returned from this trail ... You start to wonder :)

 

 


 

 

Well the guy's in our group got past the landslide with no mishaps, and soon we were back to faster terrain.

 

 


 

 

From here we do some more tank bars, always declining in elevation. back down to gravel roads before coming back to the start.

WOW, the 2003 Dirty Face Dualsport Event was ace.

Holding all of the elements a good event should have.

Roll on 2004 and another chance to ride in the Wenatchee Forest.