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Winter has struck and it’s time to hit the slopes or hike the peaks of some epic mountain. Alpine Fest is coming this Nov. 17-22, presented by Grivel & hosted by the Mazamas, it promises to be a info-packed weekend celebrating all forms of Alpine recreation.

Activities scheduled are as follows:

The Summit: An Evening with Alex Honnold & Jim Whittaker. The BIGGEST night of the festival! Nov. 21 at the Oregon Convention Center. You’ll enjoy great food, a huge silent auction with amazing gear from the sponsors, vendor fair, awards, and more. (food is included in the ticket price; beer & wine available for purchase).

Portland Ice Comp: 10th Annual dry-tooling competition at the newly-renovated Portland Rock Gym.

Clinics: 3-hour, hands-on sessions with a pro-athlete. Clinics are limited to 8, 10, or 12 people (depending on location, subject) to maximize your instructional time with the athlete.

Seminars: 1, 2 or 3-hour classroom style learning with a pro-athlete.

Speaker Series: An evening event, slideshow style presentation from a pro-athlete.

Celebration of Trails: A morning of trail running fun in Forest Park for all ability levels.

The Mazamas is a nonprofit mountaineering education organization in Portland, Oregon. Offering over 1000 climbs and hikes annually, classes and activities are open to both members and nonmembers.

As summer rolls around, many people in Portland look for ways to enjoy themselves outdoors. Some take to hiking, others to swimming. We like to recommend cycling as a great way to get some exercise and burn off some energy, especially when it gets so nice outdoors.

Here are five reasons why you should consider taking up cycling during this summer and enjoy the beautiful summer weather we get to enjoy for the next few months:

Cycling is good for your muscles: If you’ve been on a bike for more than a few minutes, you should be familiar with a burning sensation in your legs. This is, of course, a good thing. Cycling is great for improving the muscles in your thighs, calves, and rear.

Cycling can help with joint conditions: Because cycling is considered a low-impact form of exercise, it can be especially beneficial for those who can’t take part in other higher impact exercises (jogging for example).

Cycling increases lifespan: Cycling has been linked to improving cardiovascular health, and drastically decreases your risk of heart disease. According to the British Medical Association,cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. Discovery Magazine even writes cycling can improve your immune system, and has even shown evidence of fighting cancer. Even when adjusted for risk of injury, cycling has associate with increasing “life-years.”

Cycling improves the waistline: On an average ride, a cyclist will burn approximately 300 calories per hour. An average person will burn approximately 11 pounds of unhealthy fat per year, while building muscle mass and increasing metabolic rate.

Cycling improves mental health: While the physical health benefits are usually very apparent, few consider the mental benefits behind riding a bike. Bicycling has been proven to reduce stress and increase hand-eye coordination among those who choose to cycle a mere 30 minutes a day. The Journal of Occupational Health published an article showing cycling significantly improved mental health among those who choose to commute daily to work.

Some of these benefits may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember you can only take advantage of them if you choose to climb on the bike. The most important thing to remember is that this is an enjoyable experience! Get out and explore some of the fantastic bike trails Portland has to offer!

Hit the Heights at Alpine Fest

Summer Cycling: Enjoying the Outdoors on Two Wheels