|   A taste of the Cascades............ | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 9:36 PM | | After hooking up with Jeff my old ride partner, and Tim D.( Oldschool), We set up camp in the Gifford Pinchot N.F.
We were able to get a ride in right away.... the first one was a family ride.
Some Ice caves are a couple of miles away so Jeff and his son Miles, Mary and I rode down to check them out.... there is an Ice pillar from floor to ceiling in the main chamber..... after crawling around inside we continued our ride back towards camp. |
| Along the way we rode over some natural bridges and other volcanic features. | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 9:39 PM | | I managed to crash during this nice easy ride.... True to form Jeff had a remedy for my roll in the Huckleberries....a 16 mile recovery ride.
While Jeff's wife Julie, and the kids headed back to the house to get dinner started, Jeff and I had other plans. |
| There is a rather narly 8 mile trail near the camp..... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 9:43 PM | | It is simply called Middle trail #26.
Jeff just picked it off the map and we gave it a try....
This trail was a shared use trail.... ORV's and Snowmobiles as well as MTB's use it.
It was fast and steep on rutted berms that snaked down towards a creek crossing then some ups and downs thru the weeds.... Then steep pushes to the top again. Only getting one view on the trail.... we break into the clear and there is Mt Adams with late afternoon sun on it.
It was an incredible workout on the uphills and way fast back down......and another creek crossing with a little wood ride for the entry.... we kept repeating this up and down till we were spent..... |
| We emerge from the brush next to a large pond | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 9:47 PM | | with Mt Adams in the background were we eat a snack and take a break.
We return via the Forest road.... this was really a blast as it was nicely bladed and banked for high speed jammin'..... I had gotten my energy back and so Jeff and I flew back, trying to remember not to drift it too far and end up eating it at 30 mph. The gravel topping was like marbles on concrete.
With the family ride we got about 22 miles in on the first ride day. |
| Gotcha' trail and Cold Springs trail | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 9:54 PM | | Thurs we met Oldschool, his father inlaw Bob, Gary who works with Jeff, and Gary's son Joe.
After some navigation practice we end up at the trail head..... with five miles worth of warm up riding to find it......
The single track is wide loose and has lots of limbs and twiggs.... about a mile in we regroup at a log ride/water crossing..... only Joe rode the log ride..... A short break where breakdown stories were told sealed our fate.... never tell breakdown stories on a trail named "Gotcha'". Within a 1/4 mile it happened.... almost simultaneously, both Joe and Bob had major breakages.... I was with Bob when a twigg rammed itself into the idler and ran the deraileur(fr?) back over the gears and snapped it off clean.... just dangling by the cable... Bob was riding Tim D.'s bike... I rode ahead to let Tim know that his bike was hard down........
Pictured Left to right:
Tim D., Bob, Joe, Gary, and Jeff. |
| when I got to the others they were clustered around Joe's bike.. | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 9:57 PM | | a similar fate and on a SS at that !!! Gary and Joe tried to do a trail fix but Joe was going to walk.....No chance of repair. |
| After splitting up ... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:03 PM | | just Jeff, Gary and I were left to finish our ride...... we had four more miles of climbing. Some was just work, other spots were just loose, and up.... We finally reached the top were the Mt. climbers camp before doing Mt. Adams.... The three of us take a break and tear up a large bag of Jerky that Gary found unopened on the trail.... better Karma then the breakages.
Now we got our reward.... 5 miles of bliss.... that dropped imediately. This was the most technical descent I had ever ridden and it wasn't going to end for a while.... I tried to carefully pick my way, and roll stuff loose.... I just kept going faster and faster..... I was basically flying over stuff with little control just body english and inertia.... at one point I was off the brakes, leaning gently and went right off the trail.... my only choice then was to try and scrub off some speed and regain the trail. I some how managed to get back on the trail and come to a stop......I think it was B.V. who mentioned downhill heart rate..... I can confirm this....
The Photo was when we regrouped and got the next bunch of down.........
I was quite done when we got back to the trailhead......... Gary went OTB once, with no appearant damage. I did the same but I managed to smash my knee again..... This trail was a killer intro to Gifford Pinchot N.F. |
| As the others returned to work ..... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:06 PM | | I took a ride alone up to Goose lake..... this was Forest service road but it was bounded by waterfalls and lava flows. I kept riding and climbing hoping to see Mt St. Helens.
I found out after my return that I was one ridge away.... I rode back to camp and had gone a total of 24 miles.
The next ride would be at St Helens..... |
| | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:10 PM | | Mary and I did some recon on the rides and such at St. Helens and found that MTB's are not only welcome but the young ranger lady I talked to gave me all kinds of trail info. She got rather worked up about the trails. When I saw her later she told me that she had taken her roommate out to the Lewis river trail after work and asked me if I liked the rides..... The rangers they have now seem to be better looking and more energetic..... |
| I took the rangers advise and rode the Ape canyon trail. | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:13 PM | | It starts near the base of a mud flow on the south east side of the crater. The trail climbs easily for a mile or so and lulls you into a nice spin..... but then turns to switchbacks for the next several miles.... after this grind you are greeted with up close personal views of the Mountain. |
| Nice photos. Looks like you're having a good trip. nm | AK Ken
Aug 8, 2002 10:20 PM | | |
| Time to earn more vacation...............NM | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:46 PM | | |
| You are on a razor back ridge | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:17 PM | | with a trail that is about 16" wide and long drops to the rock piles below.
The strong smell of Camomile was all over this trail.... the plants were hanging right into your face...... |
| I really like this shot!!! | anon
Aug 9, 2002 8:36 AM | | I have yet to ride there, soon I hope. Looks really fun!
B |
| There were views of destruction and renewal.... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:20 PM | | lots of flowers and small trees, then piles and piles of rock and Pumice.
The sky was a big part of the scenery as it was changing by the moment. |
| I gained my reward and rolled back down.... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:23 PM | | thru the patches of old growth firs... and twisted along the steep descent glad that this one was smooth and fast.... my favorite. |
| sweet trail....(nm) | evs
Aug 9, 2002 4:12 AM | | . |
| yummy | Dragonfly
Aug 9, 2002 5:09 AM | | This picture is a perfect example of my favorite kind of trail. Sooth, twisty, and either flat or slightly downhill. And so beautiful.
ymmmmmmmmm |
| There is something familiar....Hmmm... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 5:27 AM | | did somebody get a new handle?
Tim |
| hehe.... how'd ya guess? | Dragonfly
Aug 9, 2002 5:49 AM | | It just started out as a "trial" a week ago. Seems to be sticking.
Everything else in my life is new, so... what the heck.
I still have "Stine" registered in case I want to use it. |
| It was the new gossomer wings..... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 5:56 AM | | It's a fine thing to get a new life...
Tim |
| True... (if the metamorphosis doesn't kill you) | Dragonfly
Aug 9, 2002 7:06 AM | | did I spell that right?
I don't know if you saw this post of mine or not...
Steve-O "I AM the Dragonfly! (so totally non MTB)" 7/29/02 7:27am
You might want to print it out and read it when you get the chance. Unless, of course, you have nothing better to do.
;)
It was on this day that I decided to try out the new handle.
Anyway, liked your post! |
| I read your post... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 6:50 PM | | It was an interesting read....
I hope your new wings carry you far...
Tim |
| Thanks Tim. (nm) | Dragonfly
Aug 9, 2002 8:10 PM | | nm |
| Someone left their calling card....... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:26 PM | | |
| Lewis river trail was the final ride of my trip.... | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:29 PM | | It was a fitting finish. 14 miles out and back along a riverbank that gained and lost the same 100 ft of elevation dozens of times.... |
| some times short and steep with wet roots and rock piles, | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:33 PM | | some times slow and easy up smooth packed trail.... It was single track but it was wide and sweeping early on. |
| Once you got about 6 miles in it got good and technical. | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:36 PM | | The river going from emerald pools to whitewater.... |
| This trail like the others at Mt St. Helens | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:40 PM | | lead to more and more trails.... if you have the time you could really do some exploring |
| Four incredible rides, each one had something different to offer | Battman42
Aug 8, 2002 10:45 PM | | It stretched my wings and filled my spirit.... I will be back......
Thanks again to Jeff and Julie, for hosting Mary and I.
And to Tim D. for helping with the planning and meeting up with us.
I enjoyed meeting Bob, Gary and Joe.
I hope to ride with you all again.
Tim |
| Looks stunning, Tim. Love the pics (nm) | dannybikemagic
Aug 8, 2002 11:32 PM | | nm |
| Gorgeous trails - nice vacation | pedalAZ
Aug 9, 2002 8:11 AM | | I sure would have enjoyed being on that trip, Tim. Great scenery and fun looking trails. Your photography skills are getting pretty good. |
| The tough part was.... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 11:10 AM | | Keeping the Photos even remotely MTB related....
I'm still getting used to not shooting with an SLR.
I'll e-mail you tonight when I go on shift.
Tim |
| Great shots ... make me want to ... | Harovore
Aug 9, 2002 12:44 AM | | take my telescopic fishing pole with me on that ride. I'd bet some great fishing there, and what incredible scenary! Thanks for sharing. |
| Lots of people fishing on Lewis lake..... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 5:30 AM | | but the river was totally deserted....
plenty of campsites on the bank to choose from.
Tim |
| Great way to start my day - thanks. nm | M-U-M
Aug 9, 2002 3:51 AM | | 8) |
| Nice... thanks! Looks like a fun time for sure. (nm) | Dragonfly
Aug 9, 2002 5:14 AM | | nm |
| Wow. | Doc
Aug 9, 2002 5:57 AM | | Makes me miss home. I love the Oregon/Washington area. I copied a bunch of your pictures to use as desktops in the near future. Keep the great pics coming! |
| Thanks I really enjoyed the green.....Here is a Crater lake pic. | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 6:13 AM | | I take it as the highest compliment that you are saving my images.
This year combining MTB's at a new level, with Digital photography has been like a dream come true....
I'll keep after those special views.
Tim |
| Dang nice pic(s) !!! (nm) | ET_SoCal
Aug 9, 2002 7:10 AM | | |
| Excellent! | sugarloaf
Aug 9, 2002 6:05 AM | | Nice pictures. St. Helens looks like another world. |
| She was rather moody while we were there..... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 6:25 AM | | The weather turned the night before we moved the St. Helens....
I really felt part of the environment with the Interaction between the mountain and the sky.
Tim |
| WoW! Truly beautiful scenery! [nm] | Bikebreath
Aug 9, 2002 6:37 AM | | |
| Awesome!! | mugg
Aug 9, 2002 9:47 AM | | Looks like fantastic riding in that corner of the world. Thanks for the passion hit! |
| thanks for sharing! | parkmeister
Aug 9, 2002 9:53 AM | | those are some wonderful shots. i just got a digital camera and hope to start posting (pictures like yours and not some of fp's junk!) soon.
send me an email if you want to hook up at Annadel...
gary |
| Holy Crapola Battman.....Nice stuff.....nm | sheebo
Aug 9, 2002 11:27 AM | | |
| Thanks... I think Interesting turn of phrase.......NM | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 11:51 AM | | |
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