Registration Now Open for 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees

Register today to cycle in America’s largest fundraiser for tree research, the STIHL Tour des Trees to benefit the Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund, scheduled to roll through Oregon Aug. 5 to Aug. 11, 2012.

Profiled in the travel section of Forbes and on CNN, the STIHL Tour des Trees offers riders a unique opportunity to see the world from their bikes while contributing to tree research and education. This year, cyclists will be challenged with a 585-mile loop through Oregon, a “life list” ride that will showcase the region’s iconic scenery and diverse eco-zones. The Pacific coast, the Columbia River Gorge, vineyards, high desert and Mt. Hood will provide spectacular backdrops for a week of tree plantings, educational programs, community engagement and fun.

Riders for the full weeklong Tour commit to raising $3,500 for the TREE Fund. The $100 registration fee covers room, board, a custom apparel kit and full mechanical and rider support for the duration of the ride. A partial-Tour registration option also is available for those wishing to join the Tour for part of the week. Registration is open until May 28 at www.stihltourdestrees.org, or until the event reaches its 100-rider capacity.

The 2012 Tour marks the 20^th Anniversary of the first Tour des Trees, in which 13 cyclists pedaled nearly 1,000 miles from Seattle to Oakland in a week to raise money for tree research. The Tour will feature a one-day Ride for Research on Aug. 11 in Portland, and conclude with a Finale Celebration at the International Society of Arboriculture’s annual International Tree Climbing Championship. Local and recreational cyclists are invited to join the Tour for the day and celebrate its legacy during this ride through one of America’s best cycling cities.

Last year’s STIHL Tour des Trees raised a record-breaking half million dollars and planted 45 new trees during its weeklong trek from Virginia Beach to Washington, D.C. To date, the Tour has raised more than $5 million to support tree research and education and funded a variety of projects including improved strategies for pest and disease control, new techniques for increasing the post-planting survival rate of street trees, and development of safer equipment and practices for tree care professionals.