Nature put a match under the thermometer raising the mercury to upper middle 90s. I have freedom of movement, should I estivate or avoid? I checked out rd 44 trails S of Hood River up high or Waldo lake? RD 44 is further away, Waldo closer with tolerable mosquitoes? I chose Waldo.
Sat morn I made way early to drive to Waldo which is S of here and over Willamette pass, 75 miles away. South on US 97 in traffic to Burgess rd, which is S of my place, Burgess heads west into forest and almost deserted road. Turn left on Century drive, turn left on Cascade Lakes highway, right on RT 58 over the pass, right on Waldo lake rd, then park at Betty Lake TH which accesses SE corner of lake. Geared up then pedaled away.
Betty Lake trail works its way descending mostly to SE corner of Waldo Lake for first view.
The trail around the lake is a legacy hiking trail, wild, not “groomed” for mountain bike riding. Like what we used to ride back in the day. Slow, grinding speed, short sight lines, unpredictable tread. Good stuff. I rode clockwise to put the sun at my back on the west side which is right on shoreline. I encountered 3 groups of riders heading opposite. Deep tree cover. I picked this location for a break for its beauty and pause to consider talus slope ahead.
Slope has exposure, tread is loose rock chunks. Key to remaining on top of bike is to keep power on the pedals.
Trail here is almost at northern end of lake. Turn the corner and enter 1996 burn.
Over the years of this odyssey I have ridden this trail several times. In earlier years there were an abundance of snags fallen across the trail. As you see there are fewer and fewer snags still standing. Burned in 1996, 24 years ago and this is what nature’s regrowth has accomplished.
Pedaled thru burn back into typical tree cover. FS campgrounds are located on this side. I rode thru campgrounds which were packed and the beaches were populated by dense crowds of people enjoying sunshine and / or water. I thought I knew the trail to take on this side, I picked Shoreline which does what its namesake says. I checked Trailforks which wasn’t happy with my location and seemed to be itself lost. The GS map was accurate. The trail was rough and saw little traffic the further along I rode. Then fallen trees to lift me and my bike over. Finally the trail entered a beach and quit. Shit. navigational blunder. Turned around to retrace my track. Back at first XG I pedaled away from lake actually following a sign pointing to “Trail” Where it left the pavement I stopped to check my phone for location. I put on my helper glasses and discovered what I had done and what I had missed. Back on well used trail under deep conifer tree canopy. Up and down short steep sections. Finally the trail junction to Betty Lake and home but first up the longest steepest climb of the entire ride. I impressed myself in that I pedaled it to the top. 1.95 miles back to van. Ride was 24.7 miles pedaling 3 hrs 33 mins climbing 1758′, average speed was 6.94 mph. Garmin connect is still down.
Where I was parked a larger mobile home was parked and the guy was running his generator. Did not want to stay within earshot of the noise. I could have moved to furthermost spot in parking area and lessened the noise. Or, I could drive to a snowpark up near the pass. I chose the drive to the snowpark which is a short distance back off the highway. I stayed here previously. Once there I opened the door. I was greeted by intermittent highway traffic noise. Nice place but much noisier. 52 degrees at wake up. Drove back to my place.
I have been riding hard and the garmin recovery algorithm displays recovery hours which I have been ignoring. Waldo Lake ride should have been a recovery day from Friday’s ride. I decided after Waldo to accept the recovery time which made today a recovery day.
My right knee is still troubling me even as I am being treated by PT. Friday I was worked on by a sports masseur who commented on muscle health. She was able to loosen spots of which there are more than my 1 hour time would make better. Darn. Yesterday on that climb I felt 2 clicks in that knee like cracking fingers. My knee felt better and stronger, I wonder if my knee just needed to be “popped”. I will find out at tomorrow’s PT session. This knee has history in that I crushed the cortex of the femur on a Bob Marshall solo backpack trip, I walked 2 days out limping then spent 4 weeks on crutches. A few years later I felt a pop and pain in same knee resulting in an ortho nip fix. Body wears out like everything else.
Friday I started early morning on my ride at Phil’s. Trails are “old friends”. Lots of carving turns. hardly another person during 19.5 mile ride. Towards the end I stopped to allow 2 riders climbing. The lead woman spoke to her companion. I recognized the voice on the first syllable, it was Lindsey who owns Ladies Allride. She recognized me about the same distance I heard her speak. I asked what my tell was for her. She said it is my beard. Wonderful friendly but short conversation ensued.
So, back at La Pine. Forecast temps are lowering into 80s. Still no precip. Industrial fire precaution level is III, just below IV which is shut down.