Tuesday before dark a thunderstorm dumped serious rainfall and added a bit of hail for good measure. I was parked at Swampy where I saw sheets of water flow across the pavement. The storm also dropped the temp into the upper 50s. Tis the fire season sending smoke into the air, ride decision is based on air quality.
Wed after the rainfall dampened / soaked the pumice dirt bonding particles firming up berms and eliminating dust. Unfortunately the air quality was harmful to deeply breathe such as I do to enjoy the hero dirt. In the afternoon I hiked a loop from Swampy observing the effect of the runoff. I found amazing how shallow the slope angle could carry the amount of “dirt”. Because no organic is in the “dirt” nothing holds the grains together.. Almost flat slope carried runoff. Also, disconcerting was the amount of carving the runoff trenched the steeper trails, most noticeable was the steep catch between Swampy and Ridge. This trail was not sustainably constructed from get go with few places for water to get off the trail, as a result the water continued downhill picking up more water as it ran which increased the trench. Even places where Summer of Swampy work to put in drains showed failure. I removed slapper roots, one I pulled with my right arm that caused a pop in my shoulder, not good as this is the damaged wing.
Thursday my new propane regulator was installed in town. This regulator is calibrated for allowing higher release pressure needed to satisfy the Propex heater. Friday morning while still in bed I switched it on and moved the heat selector way high to make it fire up. So great to hear the heater fire on first spark and the sound of combustion was solid instead of spitting at the lower pressure. The other propane fired devices, stove and refrig, seemed happy. Happiness for heater performance continues up here at Swampy where get out of bed temp is in 40s.
Of course my clothes were washed. I visited with Doug, the owner.
Thursday afternoon I parked off rd 41 where I stay scoring the spot before the green Suburban arrived. I rode Catch and Release to start of Storm King pedaling up to Green Gate, crossed the highway then descended on COD to Ticket to Ride to Welcome Center then picked up start of Catch and Release back to van. Nice firm dirt, rainfall seemed spotty as there was little runoff damage. 10.5 miles climbing 912′ pedaling for 1 hr 24 mins. Average heart rate was 114 beats per min.
And of heart rate. The exercise physiologist established my max bpm at 157 which is 2 beats / min more than the standard of 220 minus age times 85%. He said the 220 method was based on dogs.
Friday I drove back up to Swampy in hopeful anticipation of better air quality which did happen in late afternoon. I planned on a shorter ride here essentially eliminating Swede-SST loop. I wanted to ride these trails after the rain. I greeted a woman at the trailhead before I pedaled away. I stopped at the intersection of Ridge and the Swampy tie mentioned above to observe the water transport of the dirt. She caught me there. We struck up a conversation that opened the door to riding tips that I bestowed on her. Being younger she was so much stronger than me so I moved aside for her climbing. I did catch up to here when the trail leveled off then lead her on the downhills. She internalized many of the tips. One that is really enlightening to me, that I shared with her, is angling my feet on the pedals. Weight transfer happens with where the toes are angled by flexing the ankle. Toes pointed down transfers weight to the front wheel which increases the front tire bite for turning traction. Conversely toes up loads the rear tire lightening the steering traction. Bid her adieu. Wonderful positive person.
The yellow jackets appear to be early fall aggressive seeking meat instead of their normal vegetarian diet. I threw out a piece of shrimp about the size of the tip of my little finger landing several feet from my open side door. Motion caught my eye. Several yellow jackets were attempting to land on the meat which was being attended to by 2 black ants. When the yellow jackets attempted to land on the meat an ant would attack driving it away. Seemed the ants were the more dangerous of the two seekers of food. Interesting nature when looking down.
Flagline opened on Tuesday. I waited until yesterday to ride it. I drove back down to Welcome Center where rd 41 takes off to pay $5 for a bus shuttle up to Dutchman TH for the start of my ride. Empty afternoon bus, just 3 other riders, 2 with me continued to Dutchman. Flagline Access to Middle Flagline that becomes lower Flagline, not seasonally closed, which I have been riding, Turned left on Swampy for short distance to start of desirable South Fork. Afternoon sun angle changes the morning shadows. 15 minutes of suspension loving descent. At bottom turn down creek on Tumalo Creek trail. Amazing no hikers. High speed was .08mph below 25mph. I was flying coasting. That speed is scary for me. The tread and open sight line are excellent, it’s just so fast. The bike is fully capable, it’s teeny fear factor. My confidence is measured by no touching a brake lever. Stopped at lodge for water refill before paying the fun dues by climbing out on Skyliner to major trail intersection of Skyliner, Upper Whoops/ Lower Whoops, Phils, and Pine Drops. Today I rode Storm King down thru the weekday closure to COD down to Ticket to Ride to the Welcome Center. What a ride, 24.2 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 55 mins, I climbed 1401′ and descended 3652′. Average beats was 120. Garmin calculated 42 hour recovery to which I am respecting by not riding today. Garmin recorded max breaths per minute at 42, average was 34. Low dropped to 20.
Flagline: the trail is closed till Aug 15 for elk habitat protection. Riders know it is there but honor the closure. Perhaps the attraction is it’s closed until opened. The price of entry is demanding as climbing happens before the high point starting the descent. Old school trail layout makes for steep climbing both on the Access trail and early part of Flagline which I pedaled all except for making a tight right hand climbing turn that has stumped me during previous rides, my engine lacks the final 3 pedal strokes to complete. Presently trail Sector 16 is closed for logging, when opened it makes for an almost all downhill back to town. To complete the Flagline route trhe closure gives two choices: descend South Fork then climb out on Skyliner or link old haul roads to bottom of Lower Whoops. I believe the Sector 16 closure deters riders.
Data accuracy per the FS. The forest publishes a trail condition notice as well as posting closure signs. Sector 16 has been closed 7 days a week instead of being open on weekends, signs have been placed at necessary trail access points as is at Swampy. today i looked at the FS site which shows the trail si open. However, here at Swampy their sign is still hung. Bendtrails site shows the trail open. Confusion is it or isn’t it.
So, my rides have been / are shortening. I wrestle with is it because I don’t want to work that hard or is it because I’d rather take it easy. I prolly am able to do that ride. This year I have avoided ATCA and Olallie/O’Leary. I still push myself as was yesterday’s ride. One last strenuous ride exists here in Mrazek Ridge currently only open on weekends. I am psyching myself for riding it this coming weekend.
Next week my van undergoes some parts replacement and oil change before I leave. Last oil change was in ST George on 12/13/22, 7,974 miles ago. That’s 8 months ago. Van mileage is 295,373. Years ago I drove a VW Golf GT to 298,xx miles 13 years old. I have never owned a rig this long, 16 almost 17 years old, and later this year more miles. I keep after the van’s health and anticipate more miles and years of use.
At Swampy I’m anchored under a maybe 16″ dia lodgepole pine. Short time ago the sound of something like hammered onto the van. WTF? Filed memory away. Then a second same sound. I quickly opened the slider door then looked around for possible human cause. No one around. A third bang. Outside on the ground was a pine cone. Memory recall: I have watched squirrels locomoting about. Squirrels spend time in trees. Conclusion: a squirrel was chewing a pine cone loose from tree above letting it drop onto roof of the van, hence the noise. As time went on I saw a squirrel hustling about seeking the cones it dropped. No idea if all were harvested. I watched one acrobatically cut loose a cone from small lodgepole maybe 18′ away then down climbed to ground then scampered away.
12:16PM AQI in Bend is 199, Unhealthy. Bachelor near Swampy 157, Unhealthy. AQI is different per location with Bachelor being better.