Hundreds expected to hit the trail from the North Fork School
NORTH FORK – The 20th annual Grizzly Century bike ride to promote the Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway wheels into town Saturday, Oct. 6, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Grizzly ride promotes appreciation of the Scenic Byway, and benefits improvements and restoration on roads, highways and other projects in the mountain area. Many organizations in North Fork will be cooperatively celebrating 20 years of the Fall Festival with events throughout the community. The main staging area for the ride is North Fork School, 33087 Road 228. Three routes are available to riders (see map below):
–The Griz ride is more than 100 miles, with a 10,000-foot elevation gain. It passes Mile High Vista, Jackass Rock and Arch Rock before crossing the red fir forests of Cold Springs Summit. The Griz then drops rapidly down to Bass Lake and returns to North Fork.
–The Metric Century is 100 kilometers, or 63 miles, with a 5,000-foot gain, from North Fork to Mile High Vista and back. The Metric Century offers tremendous views of conifer forests and rock formations.
–Loop the Lake is a 24-mile ride with 1,000 ft. elevation gain around Bass Lake and the Pines Resort, before returning to the staging area along Road 274.
Rain or shine, the ride goes on. Registration includes a pancake breakfast offered by the North Fork Lion’s Club. Later, Mile High Vista serves as a lunch stop, while a barbecue dinner cooks up for after the ride.
In between, registrants receive treats of fruit, homemade cookies, cinnamon rolls and drinks along the way. Showers will be available and special 20th anniversary jerseys are on sale to celebrate the landmark event.
The North Fork History Group (NFHG) will be presenting “20 Years of Grizzly Century Art: 1993 – 2012” in the Town Hall, while the Bass Lake Ranger District Employees Association cooks its renowned barbecue dinner for the bicyclists and the townsfolk.
The NFHG, in cooperation with the King Vintage Museum of Oakhurst, will display historic clothing as well as paraphernalia from the 20 years of the Grizzly Century bike runs. Also, the North Fork Women’s Club will host a Fall Festival Crafts Fair & Yard Sale in the parking lot at the Town Hall.
Organizers stress that the course closes promptly at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $50 per person for the Grizzly and $35 for Loop the Lake, and is limited to 600 riders.
For more information, including video of the route, or to register online, visit the Grizzly Century website.
Grizzly Century Sponsors –
Ponderosa Telephone * Yosemite Bank * Lyn-Mar Pond Guest Ranch * Sierra Ambulance * North Fork Volunteer Fire Department * REI * Yosemite Bicycle & Sport * Miller’s Landing * Mammoth Company Brewing * Tri-Sport Bicycles of Fresno * Sumner Peck Ranch * Rubber Soul Bicycles
