August 29, Miller Peak

As usual, great ride.

Vic - Miller Peak in background

August 27, Moto the Middle Fork

Went creeking on the Middle Fork of the Teanaway with Vic.  Unfortunately the first creek flooded Vic's bike and it sputtered most of the rest of the day.  After about 8 crossings and lots of brush we gave up and turned around.

Vic with wet feet

Skirting the deep end on our way home.

August 11, Duthie Ride

Hooked up with Chris, Heather, and Mike, with Eleni in the backpack, to do some laps at Duthie.  Trails were in great shape and it's always fun to see so many mountain bikers in one place.  

Kevin, Mike, and Eleni (future mountain biker)

August 5, Post Canyon / Windsurf

We took yesterday off from riding.  This morning we got up bright and early and did another ride at Post Canyon before we had to check out of our rental house.  The wind was picking up, so decided to windsurf for a couple of hours, before heading home.  Wind was really nice and steady and made for a great day.

Kevin starting to get up on a plane.  Consistent winds with a 6.0 sail made for a fun day.

August 3, 2013, Hood River Day 3 – High Prairie

Francine climbing Cook's Meadow trail

Our legs are getting a little tired.  Even though our rides have been short, there seems to be a lot of climbing on the rides.   We decided to do a new ride for us, High Prairie.  We parked at the intersection of Forest Road 44 and FR120 at elev. 4550 feet. Went west on FR44, and painfully descended on pavement about 2.5 miles and approx. 500 feet to Surveryor’s Ridge Trail #688.  (In the future, we would recommend climbing Trail 474 to FR 1720.  Left here to FR44, to hopefully get a trail descent instead.) 

Rode Trail #688 for about ¼ mile and went left on Cooks Meadow Trail #639 at 2.7 miles.  The trail immediately crosses FR44, and starts out with a good grunt, making you think you will be hike-a-biking for miles.  Luckily, it has seen re-routes with rideable switchbacks and traverses across the hill, definitely made by mountain bikers.  Even though this was a grunt, the grade was really rideable for almost the entire trail.  This trail was in great condition for Hood River in August.  We climbed up to around 5,200 feet and descended a couple of hundred feet to gravel FR4410 at 6.7 miles.  Went left here and climbed 2 miles to 6,000 feet at High Prairie.  Went left on FR4420 and descended for 1.2 miles to the Eight Mile Creek Trail #450.  Here we went left on the trail #450 for our 4.5 mile descent to the car.  Bypassed the 15 mile creek trail on the right on our way down.  Trails were in great condition.  Fun ride.  15 miles.

Cruising downhill at the junction of 8 mile and 15 mile creek trails

August 2, 2013 – Hood River Day 2 - Whoopdee Trail to Whoop it Up & Kevin Windsurfing

It was still windy, so Kevin wanted to get out and windsurf, so we made our way to The Event Site where Kevin rented a 115 Litre Board with 5.0m sail for a couple of hours.

Kevin checks to see that he still
remebers how to sail.

Fire danger meant that the Whoopdee Trail, and others on private land owned by SDS Lumber Company, were closing at the end of today, so we had to ride it.  Plus, earlier this spring, they just finished putting in a new trail to replace the old jeep road climb at the end of the ride (approx. 900 feet climb), that climbs back to Old Dalles Road, and we had to check that out.  From the car (elev. 1500’), we climbed Old Dalles Drive, which is now paved (sweet), for about 2 miles to the start of the Whoopdee Trail (elev. 2000’).  There is a new trailhead, at the exit end of the one-way loop trail, for those that wish to skip the “Puke Hill” portion of the ride.

After Post Canyon, the Whoopdee trail conditions were superb.  The trail was basically hard pan all the way.  Even in the clear cuts, the trail was sweet.  As this trail is on private property, and the landowner does not wish maps posted, it must see less use, as evidenced by the trail conditions.  Played a little tag, back and forth with a couple of guys from Bellevue and Los Angeles. 

After our big long descent, we hit our climb out (low point elev. 1140’) on Whoop It Up, the new trail.  Signage was nice here.  They did a nice job of re-routing and building a new trail to replace the jeep road climb.  The climbing was a grunt at the end of a ride, but the grade was perfect for the climb out.  You can tell that Whoop It Up was made by mountain bikers for mountain bikers.   I don’t remember this being a 14 mile ride, but all the countless, rideable, switchbacks mean you can stay on your bike, rest in between switchbacks, and ride in the shade.

We hit the Old Dalles Road again after about 12 miles.  Went right towards the car for about ¼ mile to the start of the “Puke Hill” trail section.  Went left and began climbing again.  Climbed a couple of hills to 2,160 feet.  Descended a screaming, fast, brushed in section of trail down to the car at elevation of 1,500 feet.  I am sure we burned up some brake pads here.  14.5 miles.

Francine rides up the ridge for the puke hill downhill.
Mt. hood in the distance

August 1, 2013 – Hood River Day 1 - Post Canyon

Camping in style.  Great house in upper Hood River.

We originally planned on riding in Baker City, Oregon, with Don and Val.  Unfortunately, Don's dad got sick, and that weekend was off.

Where to go?  Thought about Vancouver Island, BC, but this weekend is a Canada 3 day weekend, so Canada was out.  We seriously got the last house for rent in Hood River.  The town is full.   We arrived in Hood River this afternoon, checked in to our house, and headed out for a ride around 4pm.  We parked at the “Post Canyon Staging area”, the lowest parking lot.  After the ice storm a couple of years ago, the mile or so section of trail starting at this parking area was closed off by the property owner.  So, we climbed the road about a mile.  Rode up Seven Streams (#100) to the 100Loop trail.  We rode up to the Family Man area.  Rode around a little on the wood skinnies, and made our way out 8Track (#150).  The Seven Streams trail below 8Track was real beat up and hammered, but  Once we hit 8Track, trail conditions improved.  As we climbed, we skipped The Boot Loop (lazy) as we wound and climbed and grunted our way to Upper 8Track.  They have done an amazing job making steep, climbable trails.  Did we mention that it was windy and cold up here?  Who would have guessed we could have used more clothing?

Now for the descent on Bad Motor Scooter (#158).  This is a new trail, made in the freeride fashion, with berms and steep up and downs in between the bermed corners.  Was a little bumpy.  Crossed Riordan Road and headed down on GP (still #158).  At the intersection with #105, we opted for the XC (Cross Country oriented trail, as opposed to the Freeride version of GP, and went right on #105, to #120 where we started descending.  Hit Road 1200, went right for 50 feet and went left on #118 and continued descending.  Came to a new intersection to us, with Charley’s Trail (#120L).  We missed the L, which means loop.  This super narrow singletrack wound around back to point we had already been.  Below us, we could see the trail we wanted to be on to get back to the car.  Took the connector down to the 100L trail, and retraced our steps back to the car.

Fun ride, but we are used to these trails in April or May, when they are tacky and damp, and less beat up.  Trail conditions kept you on your toes with the clay, roller ball bearings, adding excitement to the off camber sections.  13 miles.

Francine forges through the brush
on Charleys trail.

Francine plans the next ride.