A week-long bicycle tour that celebrates the common tree and raises money for tree research is rolling into Oregon next year.
It marks only the fourth time that the Tour des Trees bicycle tour has visited the Pacific Northwest. The inaugural ride rolled from Seattle to Oakland in 1992, then started in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1997 and Seattle again in 2002.
The Stihl Tour des Trees (Aug. 5-11, 2012) encompasses a 585-mile loop that includes Pacific Coast rain forests and the central high deserts. When they aren't bicycling, tree lovers will be planting trees or offering tree-education programs to kids.
Tree planting
While the warning “On your left!” is a common refrain on many bike tours, you're likely to hear “The roots, the roots, the roots are on fire!” from Tour des Trees participants.
That's what they chant after they plant a tree along the route. In 2011 the 65 cyclists planted about 45 trees on their 485-mile ride from Virginia Beach to Washington DC.
Last year, the bicyclists also raised more than $475,000 for the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund based in Naperville, Illinois. Over the years, the ride has raised $5 million for the charity, accounting for about three-fourths of its annual budget.
Participants must each raise a minimum of $3,500 in donations; Stihl and other corporate sponsors cover the cost of the tour.
2012 route
Raising money, planting trees, meeting with school kids and some challenging bicycling (two centuries) is in store for the 2012 cyclists (see the map).
Day 1: Banks to Seaside, 95 miles;
Day 2: Seaside to Grand Ronde, 105 miles;
Day 3: Grand Ronde to Wilsonville, 85 miles;
Day 4: Wilsonville to Government Camp, 105 miles;
Day 5: Government Camp to The Dalles, 80 miles;
Day 6: The Dalles to Portland, 90 miles;
Day 7: Ride for Research in Portland, 30 miles.
The finish in Portland on Aug. 11 coincides with the International Society of Arborculture's annual conference and the International Tree Climbing Championship.
You can read more about the Tour des Trees at Philanthropy.com (Planting Fund Raises Seeds) or head to the Tour des Trees website to find out how to register for the Oregon bike tour. Registration opens Jan. 3.
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