Forest fires

Presently I am sitting in Hood River. Sitting.

Fires, big ones sending smoke downwind. All along this summer my travel plans were almost day to day as fires and air quality potential and reality would determine where to go. Cedar Creek fire up on the Cascade Crest on the western shore of Waldo lake is the big one and getting bigger and no corralling it is figured or perhaps possible until fall rains if and when the precip falls. Cedar Creek has forced the evacuation of Oakridge, closed Cascade Lakes highway, rt 58 over Willamette pass: it’s burning east and north. Dry with wind events. Per the official incident site it shows almost the entire perimeter of the fire is uncontained.

Thurs I left Bend after laundry driving towards MT Hood then up to rd 44 trails. I encountered 2 work projects on that rd: aqueduct pipeline digging and burying and a logging operation affecting Surveyors ridge trail. Last year I found an anchor spot which is past the aqueduct and before the logging. I dropped anchor there. On Sat’s ride I saw that a previous favored spot was prolly a logging landing. I scored.

Rd 44 trails are old school hand built trails in virgin forest mostly in watersheds which keeps the trees standing except for Surveyors. There were 2 rides there I wanted to do: High Prairie and Bottle Prairie. Prairie is relative description of small natural clearings in dense forest.

High Prairie was the big climb up Cook’s Meadow, all full on woods hand built single track. MT Hood was visible:

Cooks is Lower and Upper with Lower being the serious hump 3.6 miles climbing 1237′, Upper is lesser at 3.2 miles climbing just 829′. Big time hump, I used cry baby gear (46T) on several climbs. Pay back is descent of Lookout trail which is heavily used and worn wide. I encountered 2 riders pedaling up. I finished on Super Connector that I helped build years ago, more later. Chilly enough to wear lightest wool jersey. 16.7 miles climbing 2598′ pedaling for 2 hrs 42 mins, average heart rate was 117 beats, up from resting 47 pumps. Chilly night needed heater.

Sat was work to get fun downhill on Bottle Prairie. I rode up the Connector and would return on same trail. Today I encountered no one. 17 miles climbing 2556′ pedaling for 2 hers 38 mins with heart rate 117. Rides were almost identical. Smoke haze but no smell.

The “dirt” here is pumice flour as it lacked the size to carry it further from erupted Hood. Talc. Glad to ride by myself. On Sat I was first track, I saw clawed foot prints in the dirt, figured to be badger but I never saw a badger dug holes like at Bend.

I learned of a county campground, Tucker, just outside of Hood River that for $25 I could sleep legally outside of town. I drove down to it, selected a spot and paid my $ then drove to Dirty Finger bike shop at its new location. I walked into shop deserted except for Mitchell the owner. Cool, we spent quality time, he sharing rides across the river up towards Mt ST Helens where I figured to go today. While there former FS trails person Jimmy rolled in. We met years ago building that Connector trail, Great, I made a measurable impression on him. He was responsible for much of RD 44 trails. Good visit. Mitchell is hanging on battered by bike parts supply chain and new bike issues. He sold bike number 7 and 8 for the year as those were ones he could get. He lacks parts for replacement or custom build.

I treated myself to a belated birthday dinner and a margarita then returned to campground. Warm night. This morning scratch blueberry pancakes, my Sunday breakfast. I drove into town to provision myself for up north riding. I drink filtered water where the 2 grocery stores water machines were out of service. I bought 2 bottles of water. I wanted new stickers and a book to be found at funky 2nd hand book store and new books. New stickers and book.

While driving the engine quit, I dead sticked on to a side street, put the transmission into park and turned the key, engine started. However, the check engine control warning light lit. SHIT. I have to wait till tomorrow morning to call Bend shop for help. I will stay here again tonight as the van is saying it needs to be taken care of.

Smoke: I planned on driving towards ST Helens for rides then heading east on US 12 which is now closed due to a fire in the Goat Rocks. The drive to the ride is 3 hours from here then prolly less than an hour north to highway 12. I don’t want to return to HR to head east. Spokane’s air is unhealthy. I can be anywhere I want to be but conditions are affecting my choices.

Bend pics:

Trail was built when we were riding like 22″ bars. See the gouge marks, see the clearance at red grip.

Up at Swampy the yellow jacks were plentiful. Sink bucket eliminated many

Fuel load virgin forest on Skyliners captures what fire fighters are dealing with:

Logging occurs, logs skidded to land to be limbed and bucked then left over is piled to be burned.

Resulting in

Result

Hood River is home to Post Canyon trail system which is a bike park. I have no desire to ride there.

Just hanging hoping the van will get me to and from the campground about 7 miles away.