Weekend Ride in the Cascades

[Brian Hanson]

I have been waiting for the opportunity to get the Hunqapillar into the mountains for a ride.  My wife and daughter went to MN to see family, so I had a few days to get out of dodge.  I wanted to do some sort of S24X, but it was out of the question as I have a dog that isn't one to run alongside me (first squirrel that shows up starts wild goose chase).  I figured I would drive up to an old favorite haunt of some 10 years ago, and bike around the area.  It seemed like a good time and place to get lost.  The good part is that I would not have to fight the crowds at the campgrounds.  This place is in the back country in the Central Cascades.  

The first night was just spent setting up camp, and concluded with a short bike ride down to discover the old road was overgrown.  After breakfast the next day, I did a 10 mile out and back to a rock formation that was north of my camp.  I had seen goats up there in the past (white specks in binoculars), and I wasn't really sure I would get all the way up there.  After exploring a few dead-ends, I really started climbing.  It was probably 85, so the shady spots on the ride were nice!  There were quite a few overlooks where I had great views of Mt. Rainier to the south, and the North/Central Cascades to the north.  When I reached the end of the trail, I figured I was only a short hop to the top, so I left the bike, and started hoofing it up.  I surprised (myself and them) a herd of mountain goats that were lounging on the rocks.  Coolest thing ever - even saw a kid in the group!  The ride back down was a trip!  The Marathon Duremes worked like a champ at hanging on to the gravel roads at 15-30mph, and the Hunqapillar was smooth as silk.  The front is at about 20psi, and the back at 35ish.  The only rough parts were the washboard sections on the main road.  My arms got a workout hanging on.  No problems going up-hill with the balanced load.  I've never had the bike try to wander off trail.  I may go back to a triple crank if I do more of these rides.  Those Cascade grades are steep!  The 32 front, 36 rear combo got me up the worst of it, though.

That night, after charging my phone, I realized I had drained my truck battery.  I had accidentally left the lights on.  After the initial panic of being in the middle of nowhere, I called an old friend who was about the only person in Seattle who knew how to get where I was.  I told him to come up and get me if I didn't call him by 4pm the next night.  Sunday morning, I rode down from my camp to the main road on the alternate route.  This road had really become overgrown in the past 10 years, and was barely passable on bike.  I had to walk 2 sections through alder tunnels that were growing over the road from both sides.  Amazing how quick nature takes over!  The amazing thing was how this bike just barreled through the brush, though.  I took a few branches at speed on upper and lower wheel, and the bike just blew through with nary a hiccup.  Solid!  

Within 5 minutes of getting to the road, I flagged down a pickup, explained my predicament, and asked if they could give me a jump start.  Long story short - they did.  Lucky too.  This was the only other car I saw on that road the rest of the day.  Yikes!

Pics of record:  http://flic.kr/s/aHsjAwmxY7

Brian Hanson (and tired Brittany Spaniel, Cupcake)

Seattle, WA

[jimD]

Nice trip!

JimD

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[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

pics, bike, goats, dog... all of it awesome! Thanks for sharing. 

--Andy

Portland, OR

[Mike]

Brian, that looks like a nice trip. Great weather and photos! Thanks for posting them here. Sounds like your very happy with your Hunqapillar.

--mike

[Rob]

I enjoyed reading that and seeing those pics Brian! 

Very cool.

Rob in Seattle

[Zack]

Those are some pro-level shots!

Good stuff.

So you let your dog run along behind you on the trip?  (just wondering, i have a pup, and am never sure how to incorporate him into my riding here in vt!)

[Brian Hanson]

Not this one - she stayed back in camp.  It was tough, but she's a hunter and would have been tying me up left and right chasing ground squirrels.  It was fun having her with, though.  Nothing like being in the wilderness with man's best friend.

Brian

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