The 9th Annual Art of Survival Century Bicycle Ride isn’t just about pedaling a road or mountain bike through beautiful stretches of county side. It’s also an opportunity to learn about a region that includes Southern Oregon’s Klamath Basin and Northern California’s Tulelake Basin and Butte Valley area.

What is unique about this event—which is a ride, not a race—is that at each rest stop offers educational components and/or ranger or historian led talks highlighting the cultural history, geography, environmental issues and geology of the area.  Along with providing fluids and nutritious snacks at the rest stops, riders will have opportunities to learn about the areas they’re passing through.

This year enjoy a breath taking ride through American History. 175 years ago fifteen men led by Jesse and Lindsay Applegate set out to blaze a safer, more direct route to Oregon Country.  This “Applegate Trail” or “South Road” took these trailblazers through the Klamath Basin, the homeland of the Modoc Indians since time immemorial.  From that point on life in the Basin would never be the same.  Breathe the fresh air as you ride along uncrowded roads.  Enjoy our hospitality and small town atmosphere.  Take in the beautiful vistas following in the footsteps of Southern Oregon’s and Northern California’s earliest settlers. Hear about the trials and tribulations the pioneers endured along the trail and learn how the Modoc Indians defended their homeland against these perceived invaders.

Day 1, Saturday, May 28:  Choose from four routes that begin and end at the Malin Community Park in Malin, OR – 100-mile Century, 59-mile Metric Century, 38-mile and family friendly 13-mile road routes plus a 22-mile mountain gravel grinder route in the Medicine Lake Highlands.

Day 2, Sunday, May 29, is a Gravel Grinder Mix covering distances of 74 and 54 miles and a family friendly 13-mile route.  All gravel routes begin and end at the Butte Valley Community Center in Dorris, CA. Participants will ride along the flatlands of Butte Valley, including the Butte Valley Wildlife Area, farms, ranches and for the long rides to Juanita Lake. Views of snow-capped Mount Shasta and Goosenest Mountain are plentiful.

A pre-ride reception will be held Friday, May 27 from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at the Tulelake Veteran’s Park in Tulelake, CA (weather permitting) for cyclists to pick up their ride packets, enjoy refreshments, and discover new area activities.  The committee welcomes anyone interested to attend this reception.

Post-ride meals will be offered both days and are included in the registration fees. The cost for non-riders is $15 both days.

For more information and to register visit the website at www.survivalcentury.com.