We hit Bend last year the hottest week of the summer but we rode anyway. We rode the Sparks/Lava trail, and good thing there was a lake after 20+ miles of heat and dust. I also took my beginner nephew on the Cultus Lake loop, that was fun I would've liked to have lapped it a few times.

We had a lot of fun there, and I would go there again, but I question the designation of "world class mountain biking". All vacation destinations say that I think!!! But it's so rarely true.

Haven't done any of the other St Helens' trails yet.

We just got Topo CD's for the NW... I've been looking at topo maps on my computer for regional ideas.

Irulan