Since Water and Lava is Dirty Freehub’s most popular gravel bike route, we figured it was time to dig a little deeper — literally.The route is a living geology lesson on two wheels. 🌋🚴‍♂️ So let’s slow it down, zoom out, and explore what’s really going on beneath the tires.

Join us for an in-depth virtual geography tour with our one and only Rock Doctor, Dr. Kim Ely — geologist, educator, longtime Dirty Freehub contributor, and expert storyteller of Central Oregon’s volcanic past. Kim has a gift for connecting big geologic ideas to the places we ride, turning “cool scenery” into a deeper understanding of why this landscape looks the way it does. During this webinar, Kim will walk us through the evolution of the Water and Lava landscape, including:

• How the area formed over time and the ages of the lava flows that shaped it
• How lava blocked and redirected the Deschutes River, changing its course
• The story behind Lava Butte and the larger Newberry Volcanic Complex
• Why the iconic red cinder roads exist — and what makes cinder cones stable (or not), including the critical steepness of their slopes
• The different types of volcanic products you see along the route: lava, cinders, and more
• Those coarse crystals in “the rock” — how they formed, what they tell us, and just how much that rock actually weighs 🪨
• The role of old logging rail tracks in the region’s history
• Why rocks fall off cliffs (and into routes…)
• How river flow is controlled at Wickiup Reservoir, including irrigation withdrawals and their downstream impacts /li>
• What makes a waterfall a waterfall, and why Benham Falls looks the way it does/li>
• How fire and recent burns have shaped today’s landscape/li>
• Why tree species here are dictated by water availability and microclimate — not elevation/li>
• And yes… the influence of beavers, otters, and other river-loving residents along the route

If you’ve ridden Water and Lava, you’ll come away seeing familiar landmarks in an entirely new way. If you haven’t ridden it yet, consider this the ultimate preview of what makes the route so special.

📅 When: January 27
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
💻 Where: Online (registration required)

Bring your geological questions and your curiosity.
👉 Sign up to receive login details and join the conversation at: NEED TO INSERT REGISTRATION LINK