September 26: Railbike River and Mountain Route

When our railbike instructor used the word “throttle” in our pre-trip safety briefing, my heart did a little happy dance. Although our 11-mile journey along the Hood River through forests and orchards to Pine Grove and back did not end up involving what I would call high speeds, the ride was thrilling nonetheless, especially when the pull of gravity helped to nudge us over the electric pedal assisted motor’s limit.

Leaving the Mount Hood Railway Station around noon, my friend Gary Crawford and I leaned back in our padded recumbent bucket seats and took in the rippling river view as we traveled on the historic steel truss railroad bridge over the Hood River Canyon and into forested foothills of ponderosa pines and Douglas firs.

After stopping at a rare railway switchback to have our railbikes rotated 180 degrees, we continued up an elevation gain of 600 feet through apple and pear orchards towards Pine Grove. With the glistening white peaks of Mount Adams behind us and Mount Hood in front, I reveled in the feel of the sun on my back and the wind in my face.

Turning around again at the Fruit Company Depot, we proceeded back the way we had come but this time with the tracks dropping in elevation.

With my left hand on the throttle and my right poised on the hand operated hydraulic brakes, I chortled with glee while maintaining the required 50-foot distance behind the bike in front of us and sneaking up in speeds to 20 miles an hour, just a tad over the 12 mile an hour motor limit.

After rotating the bikes at the switchback again, we passed two different Osprey nests towering in the trees above before coasting back to the Mount Hood Railway Station. What a great day!