June 6, Day 7 Hood River

Greg and Francine ride the Ridgeline at the top of Hospital Hill.

Today, Tuesday, is Scott's last day here.  He is planning on doing a paddle before making the drive back to the pass.

Greg, Francine and Kevin went to bike at Hospital Hill, on the Washington side.  It's been a few years since we have been here, and maps are scarce, as most of the ride is on private property owned by the Kreps family, who graciously let mountain bikers on their land that they graze cattle on.  As we were climbing on trail above the hospital, we ran into about 3 ranchers on horses, moving the cattle off Hospital Hill.  There is a no dog policy/leave gates as they are, thru the end of June, when they have cattle here.  They were friendly, and asked us to let them know if we see any stray cows, as one guy would be going back up the hill for about 15 more cattle.

We headed up the hill and at the first intersection, decided not to climb the super narrow Millelenium Trail, and to take the road, which now was a gravel road, due to logging.  Thankfully, at the next intersection, the gravel road stopped, and we were greeted with the normal single track options.  We climbed up to the upper trail that traverses over to the Syncline area.  We did an out and back here, and were thankful that logging didn't take out any of the upper trails for our descent.  We wound thru the woods and meadows and made our way down to the bottom, near White Salmon.

Great ride.  About 12 miles and 2,500 feet of elevation gain.   Trails were narrow, and in great shape.  Poison Oak was present, and we hope we washed it all off when we got back to the house.

Greg treated us to Thai dinner from Thai House on the heights.  Unfortunately, we didn't know that the cooks from Thai House left, and started their own restaurant, Pho River Wok & Grill.  I swear my Pad Se Ew was made with egg noodles.

Greg and Tom

Tom and Kevin

June 4-5, Days 5-6 Hood River

Sunday, June 4, and we did yoga again.  We returned home and today is a day off.  We putzed around, and made it down to the water to try flying a kite.  They pumped up the smaller 7meter kite, and Kev floundered around with a board and the kite.  Eventually the wind died, and we made it back home.  Greg arrived around 4pm, and we cooked Maui Ribs.

Scott

Monday, June 5, Kevin and Scott went for a moto ride in Post Canyon, going up Dirt Surfer to Kingsley Reservoir.   Francine and Greg were going mountain biking, and got dropped off a bit before the Family Man Staging area, and rode up 8 Track.  They sat around up there long enough, that Scott and Kevin came over the hill on their way up Dirt Surfer to say hi.  On Kevin's recommendation, Francine and Greg headed over the hill to descend Dirt Surfer.  The trail was in pretty good shape, but the non-motorized trails are smoother.  They climbed Spaghetti Factory to finish on Mitchell Ridge trail.

Kevin

June 2-3, Day 3&4 Hood River

Yoga was at 8am today, Friday.  Came home to breakfast by Scott, and headed down to the river for  Scott and Kevin's 2pm kite lessons.  There was barely enough wind, so Cascade Kiteboarding recommended rescheduling the lessons.  The instructor did recommend playing in the water with the kite for practice, so that is what Kev and Scott did.

Kevin

Scott and Kevin on an empty sandbar

Kite is in air

Saturday, June 3rd, is Scott's Birthday.  Kevin and Scott left at 6:15am to ride in the Black Dog Dualsport ride.  After yoga, Francine rode Post Canyon.  We treated to Scott dinner at Brian's Pourhouse for his birthday.

June 1, Day 2 Hood River

The weather is in the low 70's, with some rain last night to dampen the trails.  In the morning, did a short 11 mile loop at Post Canyon today on the bikes.  Up Seven Streams to the Family Man  parking area.  We climbed to the top of 8Track,  descended Bad Moto Scooter to Grand Prix to lower GP.  Then took Spaghetti Factory to the start of Sister's Wives to Kleeway and out on the Seven Streams trail back to the car.  Fun loop.

Scott at Family Man Staging area

Kev at top of 8Track #150.  Our descent on Bad Moto Scooter is #158, even though sign says #150

Scott and Kevin - whaat, you can drive to here?

Came back to the house for lunch, and Kevin and Scott went down to the river for Kev's 2pm Kite lesson.

Kev on sand spit for kite lesson

Kev and his instructor, Melanie

Kevin

May 31, Day 1 in Hood River

We are back in Hood River for the month, renting the same house as the last two years.  After working non-stop on the left side of the duplex for the last two months, except for a 2 week jaunt to Redding CA, and Klamath Falls, OR, we are ready for a break.

The house is as impeccable as always, and Kent the owner is wonderful.  Scott Sumner will be here until Tuesday, 6th, with Greg Louie arrives on the 4th.  After unpacking and filling coolers with Margaritas, we headed down to the river.  We dropped Francine off at the Chiropractors office right down by the "Event Site", and Scott got ready for a paddle.  Kevin had the next  Chiro appt after Francine, and Scott headed out to Wells Island on his paddle board, went around it, and did a tiny downwinder to the park, where he would meet up with Kevin trying to fly his trainer kite.

Scott finishing tiny paddle from Event Site

After we met back up with Scott, Kevin wanted to try to fly his trainer Kite before his first kite lesson tomorrow, Thursday.  We tried a few flights, but there wasn't enough wind.  Packed it up and went to 64 oz. Taphouse and Growler Station in town for a drink.  Then back home to a dinner that, luckily we didn't have to prepare.  Diane had pre-made a few meals, and sent with Scott.  Tonite we ate the Thai Peanut Noodles and a added a salad.  Dinner was great.

May 28, Playing in the Backyard

Kevin at the high point of our ride, overlooking Lake Keechelus

After almost two months spent down in Seattle, working on a rental property, it was time to play in the backyard.  With eighty degree weather, the snow was retreating fast.  We were just able to make it through the snow to get to the far end of Lake Keechelus.   Yesterday it was paddle boarding on the lake.  It sure feels good to be back home.  Especially with this amazing weather.

Vic  working his way up through the snow.

Scott rides the rut, after we cleared a fallen tree

Victor

Wetter water crossings than normal

Feet still dry

April 25, 2017 - Klamath Falls, Or. - Spence Mountain

Tom getting a little air beneath his tires on Hooligan.

Spence Mountain is only about 10 miles north of the Running Y Resort.  We rode 13 miles of fun, Mountain Bike built trails, that were constructed within the last couple of years by the bike club, Klamath Trails Alliance.  They still have what looks like 20+ more miles to build in the "proposed state".  We started biking around 10:30am, with temperatures at the trail head at a chilly 41 degrees at 4200 feet elevation.  Kevin's normal outside low temperature parameter is that it has to be above 40 degrees for a fun mountain bike ride.  Even so, we encountered snow as we perserved uphill.

Kevin climbing in snow up South Ridge Trail

We climbed a beautifully built trail for about 5.5 miles to the top of Spence Mountain via the Spence Mountain South Ridge trail.  They wound the trail thru nice manaznita, trees, and rock outcroppings.  Even though the area was logged a few years ago, they left enough standing trees and Juniper, along with the manzanita, to make the area pretty to ride thru.

Kevin, Val and Tom at the top of Spence Mountain

Francine and Val navigating our only snow on the trail.

At the top (5849 feet), the north side of the mountain had a considerable amount of snow, calling for an out and back.  Once off the summit, and only 1/2 mile of trail lower, we peeked around the corner towards Upper Hooligan, but found too much snow as well.  So, we continued backtracking down a couple of miles to the road crossing on South Ridge trail, and turned right onto the dirt road for a mile or so to the intersection of the Hooligan trail.  We were still able to ride the bottom two thirds of Hooligan.  We loved the downhill on their directional, down-hill trail (blue square) for a super fun, flowy, user built flow-trail.  Trail conditions were perfect, and the sun even came out for most of the descent.  We all couldn't believe how well constructed the berms and corners were.  These guys gave serious thought to all aspects of construction.  Even the jumps were built so you didn't have to kill all your speed if you weren't getting air.

April 24, Klamath Falls, OR

Tom and Lori will join us with Don and Val in Klamath Falls for 3 nights at the Running Y.  They are getting their own unit.  Today is an off day, as the weather isn't quite cooperating.

Finally a picture of Lori

Don, Tom and Kevin

Tom and Kevin

April 23,Klamath Falls, Or. - Moore Park

First ride from the Running Y Ranch.  Again, we can thank Pat and Larry for access to our 2 bedroom unit for the week at The Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  Just a couple of miles south of where we were staying, you can tie into the Klamath Ridgeview trail.   We managed a 19 mile ride by the time we rode to the far side of Moore Park and back.    Lava rocks intterupted smooth dirt to add some technicality to the ride.  Some of the hill climbs got our attention.

Val on -TBag

Francine and Val on Southie

Francine on 5 Gallon

Val descending 5 Gallon

Don heading towards home (Running Y) on Klamath Ridgeview Trail

April 21, Ski Mt. Shasta

Wendy Hecker (Ewing)  ready to ski Mt. Shasta

Add caption

Wendy enjoying the ski down

Don

Val and Francine rode Clickaputi trail by Shasta Dam

April 20, Mule Mountain Loop

Hooked up with Val's brother, Brad, who lives in Redding.  He has been doing the Redding Mayor's Challenge.  They have set up a collection of mtb rides to encourage the town to get out and ride.   The website is a great resource for the available trail options and loop ideas.  Brad had completed almost all the rides and only had a couple of the advanced rides left.  We hooked up with Brad at the end of his work day, hitting the trail about 4:00.   We were also joined by Val's daughter Wendy.  Trails were in great shape, and despite some solid climbs, we had a great time.   The trail to the summit was in excellent shape and we were glad we made the push to the top.

Francine on Mule Mt. Loop

Francine

Brad makes the summit

Don and Brad check the views from the
top of Mule Mt.

Brad coming down the summit trail

Don on Terminater Trail

Brad gets wet feet near the end of our ride

April 19, Mrs Piggy and the Westside Trail

Going with a bicycle shop recomendation, we went to check out the Westside trails.  We parked at the Upper Cold Springs trailhead and headed up, up steeply on the Westside trail to the Top of the World.  From there we descended down Mrs Piggy, intending on connecting a larger loop.  Unfortunately Mrs. Piggy dead ended on private property, where the owner had blocked the trail with several toppled trees.   We retreated back to the Westside trail and down to the car.  We then ran out the Cold Springs trail as an out and back.   Not a bad ride, but definitely not as good as some of the other trails we have ridden this week.

Don leads Francine up Mrs. Piggy