Today i backpacked the 3.5 miles in to subject lake. It is july 12, still prime mosquito feeding frenzy. My purpose was to learn if i could still carry a pack. Short distance. This is the 3rd year to visit here, and camping at same spot above the lake. Tonight i am hunketed down inside my tent protected by inpenetrable mosquito netting. Procreation instinct seeking mamalian blood to produce another generation of blood seekers. So it goes. I unzipped a door and crawled outside to tetrieve something to support my shit in status. Many found their way in, i killed what i could, others once she was satiate she is a bloody kill.

As i neared the lake basin mosquito numbers increased. I wore shorts and a t shirt. Open available blood for the drilling. At camp site i struggled to pull off my boots before pulling on my rain pants to go with wearing my parka. Probosis won’t penetrate the coatings. My face and hands were open sucking. I scrambled down to the lake shore to filter water. One smack on my left hand reduced the population by 4. My body does not produce welts or bumps.

I have never ever experienced the sheer number of these. White noise is from their wings.

Years ago white backpacking the Pintler Anaconda divide i hiked thru swarms that darkened the sky up to maybe 15 feet. Snow melt lake basin. I found a spot on a rise outside the basin the the mosquitoes did not follow. I used a floorless tent with mo netting yet slept well. One night in Glacier NP. I slept wearing a parka because of the mosquitoes and it was too hot to be covered by my sleeping bag. I smashed numerour mos between the pages of the book i was reading.

Anyway, no cooked dinner tonight unless they chill out after dark. Prolly won’t make bfast, just cover up, strike camp, and pack as I can, then beat feet out.

The buzzing sounds from mosquitoes. Will sleep with food ad i am in for the night.

2 bar 4g reception here in the 3 sisters wilderness.

 

 

Among other things it makes these Oakridge trees grow very tall and it grows dense coverage in the regrowth cuts. Except in the old growth or old cuts that didn’t cut the smaller unwanted trees. In old growth the tree canopy is thick enough to absorb all the sunlight thus shading the forest floor to shade out almost everything except for ferns.

My right hip has been telling me it ain’t happy. Riding concerned me as I thought my pedal stroke was responsible and prolly is. I have mixed in ride / rest days to allow muscles to calm down yet still be able to ride here in Oakridge.

Yesterday I was told bear grass was going off. I was told that if I hiked up Bunchgrass trail from where Heckletooth takes off I would hike into a meadow resplendent with blooming white flowers. I headed out. I missed a turn which kept me climbing and climbing well past what I remember. Didn’t know where I was going but I was making great time on a non stutter bumped 1 lane resource extraction road. I stopped finally and did a 8 point turn to reverse direction. I turned on the correct rd drove some more till I arrived at trail crossing. I parked taking up as little space as I could steal from a narrow spot. I hiked up Bunchgrass in deep forest cover: lots of tall straight trees. I kept going anticipating a meadow opening around each trail bend. I just saw more trees. I left the trail following old roads towards Squaw peak but the regrowth finally blocked my path. Git a 6 mile hike but no bear grass. Narrow full bench cut hand built trail on steep steep mountainside. van started then I drove back down aways to an old gravel pit for the night.

Today my plan was to cog wild shuttle up to Alpine. I did my bfast thing then made ready to get under way to be at the Merch by 9:15 to book passage and prepare for a ride. Van was max packed at maybe 11 riders and bikes. wonderful narrow challenging single track dropping thru thick forest cover. Using 46T granny and slowing my pedaling allowed me to climb everything except for a step up root problem that continues to vex me. The first rider was so far ahead I never noticed dust in the air. At Tire mtn intersection I had a choice to make: choose Tire would increase the length and amount of climbing or continue on Alpine and let gravity protect my hip. I chose the more pleasant ride. Still, 1 hr 31 mins pedaling non stop for 12.7 miles dropping 4360′ mixing in 1102′ climbing. Again, the rapidly changing patches of sunshine and shade hinder effective reading of what’s ahead. Still the bike held a steady line and the Formula Cura brakes kept my speed in check. Max speed was 19.97mph.

Pics? Not a tourist today, just a bomber.

I hung the filled solar shower on the front hood to catch solar gain at an oblique angle. I hung at the red Bridge park spending time visiting but didn’t stay long enough for hot water. wash cloth wipe off sufficed.

Olivia just completed her massage education. I sought her advise. Point release to make affected muscles longer thus eliminating the pain. Making headway.

Leave tomorrow back to Bend.

Youngsters are taking over the mountain biking population and being part of their own change. Gone is the sausage riding kit as are narrow tires etc. No longer is it just enough to pedal, I let lesser amount of air under my tires than the feature would permit. I have participated in the evolution of the sport, however I notice fewer riders close to my age and a preponderance of youth.

Off to Brewers Union.

Local distillery, Deep Woods, creates a corn liquor, Canadian Moon. I visited their main street location last weekend. I sipped a sample triggering me to buy their smaller 1 pint size. The content level drops quickly. Today I stepped up to a fifth from the local liquor store.

On the 4th I drove down to La Pine and my property and did not ride, I rested. At my property I slid off the cable across the entrance then drove in. Quick check  revealed no visitors during my absence, no winter down, and just a few knapweed plants. I pulled up the invasive plants. Previously I noted many of the smaller lodgepoles had pine-pine gall rust infestation. I sawed many of them down with my Sven saw and piled them for future burning. I conceptualized the house sitting location. Quiet and dark night. The road in front goes 4 properties then turns 90 degrees north to run along the forest boundary to a dead end. This road config eliminates thru traffic. The forest is public land open to many abuses including being a shooting range.

Left Thurs AM after restringing the cable then doing Thurs laundry at La Pine. Drove over Willamette Pass at 51xx’ down to Oakridge at 12xx’. I parked at the park outside of town then geared up and rode Larison rock right above town. The rdie can be shuttled as 2 rigs drove up the steep paved road climb as I put effort down on 46T granny gear. 5.76 miles climbing 2089′ took 1 hr 19 min nonstop pedaling. The reward was 3 miles down on legacy hiking trail under deep tree cover, lasted 16 mins to drop 1955′.

Back in the park I noticed 2 mtn bikers with bike packs attached. I walked over and joined them and struck up conversation. They are from Scotland and are here bike packing among other miles the newly created Timber trail. They were waiting out the heat of the day before making big climb up onto Bunchgrass trail.

I hit Brewers Union, Oregon’s only Real Ale Pub and Brewery per their web site for a beer and dinner. The pub attracts many visiting mountain bikers plus locals. Another place where I have local cred. Maybe 8 mountain bikers with loaded bikes arrived, they are from England riding the Timber trail. Several of the bikes were full suspension to which packs were attached. I saw them again this AM at Lion Mountain Bakery enjoying a zero day.

Visited at the Merchantile catching up with old acquaintances.

Today is a rest day for me as my shoulder is really starting to bother me. I am parked in Ray’s grocery store with internet. The only stop light in town produces brake squeals and smells as drivers bring their rig to heel. Ray’s is like an IGA, a small town grocery store. If you prefer slightly exotic food stuffs you must drive to Eugene 35 miles further west.

Dunno.

Woody invited me to his trail pitch on Tuesday back in Bend meaning I will head back that morning.

So far no mosquitoes. I stayed last night at the bottom of Dead mtn trail which in the past netting was put up to avoid the laying of eggs of the next brood.

Wet side is the land west of a mountain range, here it is the Cascades. The tree grow tall and densely populated. See the Larison rock pic above.