Clean clothes and provisioned out I drove up the Methow River to Gold Creek rd which started out 2 lane paved then 1 1/2 lanes paved then wide single lane gravel climbing up to Crater Lake TH at 4,4xx’. Steep in places and tight and twisty in most others. I believe that my transmission is what is causing the rumble noise and that the transmission slips or was the jerky ride caused by the traction wheel rolling over the bumps and loose gravel?. The temp gauge almost made overheat. I slithered over the stutter bumps. I scored the same camp site I have used during previous visits. The drive up and the following drive down were almost main reasons for not doing the ride. I made the drive, the next morning would reveal how I would dress: Big boy pants and get’er done or just enjoy life sitting in a chair working on my tan.

Friday I put on my bike gear, made bfast, and got stuff ready. A brief test spin in the parking lot: systems check: pedal onward and upward. I left a little after 9AM. MTBProject ride data was 21 miles and 5,000′ climbing. Big day. The first part was down in the trees until Cooney Lake on a rideable trail. I walked spots as my engine lacked the desire to surmount the challenge. Cooney lake basin is almost alpine, tree cover is mostly tamarack.

Trail continued climbing to the left of pic to gain the ridge line. Shortly above the lake it became an increasingly steep drag a bike climb. My head was down as I fought for every vertical foot gained. Backcountry Navigator is an app I use and record ride data. It spit out elevation data: descent 22%, climb 42%. This year the snow had melted away leaving just talus. Previous rides I kicked steps in the snow but I rode w/ rigid clipless shoes. Today I rode in the flats shoes which would have been too fragile to kick steps. Up on top at 8,XXX’:

Up here and until I got down below Eagle lake the trail was badly churned up by horses. The trail continued along the ridge until almost the left hand edge. From there the drop which is the ride name sake switchbacked over chewed up talus. I encountered 3 riders carrying their bikes up. I asked one guy why this way and he said variation. They were gone by the time I made the parking lot.

Down below Cooney lake I encountered 2 dirt bikers. They both stopped and were very courteous and we engaged in conversation. We encountered each other again on this side of the ridge, again pleasant.

Horse damage

It’s just that a whole lot of us are recreating on finite land, each user group created their own impact on the land.

I finally set down for a break at Boiling lake and ate my almond butter honey whole wheat sandwich at 2:15PM, thsi was my first real break since my 9AM start. The trail up to Horsehead Pass and the long downhill was badly loosened by horse hooves causing me to walk almost the entire climb.

Then looking down and out east over Eagle lake

From the pass the trail dropped from 7,xxx’ down to 4,xxx’ at the TH. There were several short climbs.

I gather ride data from my Garmin edge 800 which is GPS, a wheel driven computer and backcountry navigator. I have suspected the 800 not capturing completely the effort. The garmin recorded 17.98 miles pedaling 3 hrs 8 mins and gaining 5012′. The wheel recorded 21.6 miles for 4 hrs 30 mins. Backcountry recorded almost exact data as the wheel.It took me total time of 7 hrs 11 mins. Big day. I proved to myself that I can still complete a mass effort.

On the way down from Horsehead my dropper refused to push the saddle back up. I could manually raise it and it would stay at that height. Not good. Back at my van I removed the saddle to gain access to the air valve and threaded on the shock pump: no pressure. I pumped pressure up that the post let escape. Product failure: Won’t hold air. Not good. I removed it and reinstalled the LEV.

Thursday night I scanned the skies looking for meteor showers. I saw 3 short streaks. I wanted to sleep more than I wanted to trip on a potential light show.

Today I dallied leaving to listen to Wait Wait. Before I drove away a rider came up to me. He said he has down this ride maybe 20 times. He owns the bike shop in Winthrop where he worked on my brake several years prior.

Today I have  a gathering with friend Randy and Lisa in Spokane. Wide open spaces. I’m city camping parked in their driveway.

So I am here in Spokane for a short visit.

I like this part of the country: the high tamarack alpine. I want to make a backpacking trip. To me this mountainous area is my favorite.

Right now I am sitting in air conditioned library in Chelan, WA. The Staircase is just down the way. Tonight is peak Perseid shower.

Some catch up.

I liked Devils Gulch I rode it a second time on Tuesday after a little rain fell. I thought it would be hero dirt. However, on the road climb the dust had loosened to mud which was slower than the dust. Still a good ride. On the ST the dust was washed away leaving the rocks visible and secure. I did ride it faster on the downhill. Sure have a great bike. And I still like Devils Gulch trail which is not a purpose built trail which adds excitement and challenge. 3,200′ in 11 miles drop. Can’t beat that with a flat tire.

I stayed at the TH which is in the gulch and protected from early sun meaning morning temps were cold enough for heat and a sweater. No crowds.

Yesterday I rode Red hill/ Sand creek again, another bruiser of 3,XXX’ in short distance.

I have lost my plans to be anywhere. I left Wenatchee yesterday heading up the Columbia. Figured Chelan then heading to Spokane. I am putting my big boy pants on to ride the demanding Staircase on Friday. Sat I drive to Spokane.

Last night I drove up the Entiat River looking for a place to sleep. 28 miles upstream I arrived at the closed Fox creek FS XG. I drove just a little further and found a small turnout above the river for the night. Today I drove back downstream then stopped at the FS RS to gather data. The XG is closed because of last year’s massive fire which killed vegetation that would hold water back, Fear is downfall blocking the river creating an impoundment then bursting on any campgrounds. Lessons learned apparently from XG flooded in AR years ago. I chatted w/ an information person about past fires. I was on a big’un back in 1970.

Got my dropper post to working again: tighten the pinch bolt just enough to hold the post. Speed is still launching nuts into the sky.

Should prolly return to Safeway to buy a sixer. Hot and dry.

Gotta go.

Go Mariners.

E Pluras Unium. From many one. Get rid of In God we trust. On US currency.

Flat pedals and proper shoes: to date I have ridden 18 rides totaling 333 miles. Mark, I agree with you about pedal strikes because the pedals are wider than clipless. It is what it is, I get caught because I wasn’t prepared or couldn’t see the catcher in the brush. Brushy trails add another level of excitement and danger. I accept that risk. Otherwise the technique is to keep toes pointed up for heel down pedaling or for bracing going downhill. Somehow during the bunny hop the front foot heel is down and the trailing foot is toe down to effectively wedge the feet on the pedals. I have found the pedal stroke is more powerful as it is all about pushing down and not pulling up. I have been learning that with a bigger gear I can pedal up stuff perhaps better than I can hike a bike. That’s within reason of course. Great pedal power. The 510 shoes are definitely more secure and comfortable to walk in as the shoe flexes w/o the rigid footbed and there is no metal cleat right under the ball of the foot. More attention to detail of keeping my feet on the pedals is necessary: flat feet on flat pedal meets a bump: body gets kicked up taking feet along, coming back down if you are lucky is right on the saddle and not the top tube.

To Tomas he is hitting the pot intoxication on the head so to speak. These big road climbs need numbing. My buzz slightly distracts my thoughts of how long and steep the climb is. By the time the downhill kicks in the edge of the buzz has worn into base consciousness: am I still buzzed or is the downhill that mind boggling? A small vaporizer bowl of high THC content pot lasts longer than I can burn off on most climbs. So the downhill has both boggling and buzz. Beer is too heavy, takes up too much pack room, and its effects are prone to taking more risks. Crazy friend Shrimper would pack several cans of beer wrapped in socks in his pack. We’d stop for a break and I would hear the pop of the can being opened.

 

I updated yesterday’s post w/ pics as I am in downtown Leavenworth w/ strong signal. A short period of sprinkles fell so far.

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is right outside of town. I have an urge to spend a night out. A lottery for overnight permits occurs every AM at 7:30. This process limits the number of people camping in a very neat environmentally sensitive area. I might try for a spot tomorrow.

My digestive system might be cured. My stool sample grew out meaning there was bacteria in my tract. The antibiotics seemed to have killed the bad guys. A possible side effect of the drug is torn tendons. I have a sore calf that I hope is not part of a tear. The leg discomfort is discouraging me from hiking. I can pedal OK.

I am planning on being in Spokane starting next Tuesday for a short visit.

Life is too short to smoke cheap pot.