37 months later and it’s Echo Ridge

Tonight I am sitting above Manson, WA on the east side of Lake Chelan. I am here seeking new trails to ride. Yesterday i finished w/ Winthrop & the Methow. I need to be on the east side of Sherman Pass Fri PM for weekend rides w/ Randy & CO. I came up empty for ride info on Chelan but I reasoned that the local shop would have ride ideas. I know of nothing between Winthrop and Fri’s camp so I thought Chelan might be happening. Got into town then smart phone located the one bike shop in town. Their wholehearted suggestion is the Echo ridge trail system. On the other side of the lake are Pot Peak and Devil’s backbone that I have ridden in the past but deemed them too far back there to ride by myself.

So, I shopped @ Chelan Safeway and headed out. Lake Chelan is like a fijord in that it is a river bed in a narrow canyon that nature plugged the downstream end. Incredibly clear and cold and deep. Temp in 80s sweating but the sun bathing people were doing just that, not even a twinkie wetted. Must be cold. Stehekin is some 50 miles uplake via lady of the Lake people ferry that stops @ flag stops. I have taken the boat up to Prince Creek for 3 day backpacks hiking to Stehekin for boat return. Angels’ Staircase looks down Prince creek but I could not see where it emptied into the lake.

Echo Valley is a downhill ski area which lift top is below the XC trails that I will ride tomorrow. Bike trails are ST down the XC trail wide enough for a groomer. Earlier this evening @ the TH a guy pulls in w/ a bike on the roof rack. He recognizes my van and story and wonders aloud if I knew where I was. I am here for the experience and time killing. Maybe it will be a safe ride.

Sun night I stayed @ a snowpark up Lost River from Mazama for the Mon ride. Hot night, didn’t sleep well. Mon I met Bill and 5 other riders @ the Mazama General store which has great baked stuff and more. I ate a maple roll b4 pedalling off. Kept it down but it was not a wise decision. The riders, to me, are road riders that ride mtn bikes as our route was double track to logging road up and down. Drank a canned Moose Drool beer, didn’t notice an aluminum can taste. I bid adieu.

Drove to Winthrop to MVSTA office seeking a shower. Talked w/ Paula who works there. She is a water color painter and the walls displayed 3 of her paintings. Pretty. Took shower. Afterwards I learned about the fall mtn bike festival plans.

Drove back up to upper TH of Buck mtn where I stayed previously as I needed to escape the heat. I ate a grocery store Dungeness crab. Aging losses the sweetness of just cooked. I have had better.

So, today I drove to here. Tomorrow I ride here and move on to …. ?

The guy I met @ the TH is a recreation specialist for the USFS on the local ranger district. Interesting discussion and I missed the primo sunset. He officially is working to expand mtn biking as there is no local effort championing their own cause. He rode Oakridge and Kate’s cut in I helped build. Most everybody I have talked to after the trail was completed said they rode it. Kristen & the Canadiens rode Alpine during peak:

Nothing like that here in the dry.

Eric @ PUSH called about my shock I learned from voice mail I received after they closed. Mtn time zone.