Sweatin’ To the Oldies
A high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit here in PDX today. Remember a couple months ago when I requested warmer weather, Mother Nature? You overshot. I appreciate your enthusiasm for your work, I really do. But, you might want to ease off the power a little. Perhaps let Jack Frost on the controls for an hour, just so I can have enough time to rehydrate. A bit of rain for a couple days would not go unappreciated either. Clear out the pollen, clean the car, drench the bikers.
...
Last Wednesday, I broke two spokes on my bike's back wheel. Originally thought it was only one until a closer inspection discover a second spoke weakened to the point that a bit of additional stress broke it. Just so happened to break two miles from home on yet another hot afternoon, requiring a sweaty (and cranky) walk home. And, thanks to the holiday weekend and me not having the two parts required to remove my cassette, it is only just getting fixed today.
Nearly a week without a bicycle to use. And so, I used the car. To drive! In the city! Granted, I did not have to use the car. However, today, for example, I had already walked four miles in the morning and found another five miles rather unappealing in this heat. The bus really was not an attractive option either, as it required a transfer and probably would have taken twice as long while standing around outside at a bus stop. I admit, I was weak. But! The heat!
::points upwards dramatically::
I will flog myself with some organic, no-BGH, antibiotic-free, vegan, free-range...er, hemp rope in penance. Bacon flavored, of course.
Makes me think I should procure a second bicycle for those inevitable times when I somehow take my current bicycle out of commission. Looking around, I really cannot find anything more appealing than the current Trek XO-1 model I am using. The Trek Portland is a nice bike and it has disc brakes, which would be great during rain and mud outings, but it is a few hundred dollars more expensive than the XO-1. Though I did just receive my security deposit for the Maine house today. Of course, if I am just looking for a "backup" bike I can likely get something used and far cheaper that works until the primary is repaired. Decisions, decisions.
...
July is looking to be an incredibly unfulfilling month for backpacking so far. My plan was originally to backpack around Mt. Hood this week along the Timberline Trail. Typically clear of most snow by early to the middle of July, it is a moderate trail with excellent views of Oregon and Washington. A good chance to try out solo backpacking and a few new items I purchased from REI. Looking at the Mt. Hood National Forest website yesterday dashed those hopes. Seems as of July 1st 95% of the trail is still snow bound and part of it is now closed thanks to Eliot Creek flooding during a late storm last year. This piece of text is particularly severe:
Off the books. Took a look at the trail conditions in the Three Sisters area. The loop around the mountains is still mostly snow bound. A couple long trails up near Mt. Saint Helens seem to be mostly clear, albeit with significant maintenance required to clear them. One suggested only 'adventurous' souls with excellent skills try it. Rough winter for higher elevation summer backpacking it seems. I think I might try the Washington part of the PCT though as it is a lower elevation and I have not done it before with a backpack. Not a loop though, so I will be going in and coming out the same way. Still, might be fun.
...
Last Wednesday, I broke two spokes on my bike's back wheel. Originally thought it was only one until a closer inspection discover a second spoke weakened to the point that a bit of additional stress broke it. Just so happened to break two miles from home on yet another hot afternoon, requiring a sweaty (and cranky) walk home. And, thanks to the holiday weekend and me not having the two parts required to remove my cassette, it is only just getting fixed today.
Nearly a week without a bicycle to use. And so, I used the car. To drive! In the city! Granted, I did not have to use the car. However, today, for example, I had already walked four miles in the morning and found another five miles rather unappealing in this heat. The bus really was not an attractive option either, as it required a transfer and probably would have taken twice as long while standing around outside at a bus stop. I admit, I was weak. But! The heat!
::points upwards dramatically::
I will flog myself with some organic, no-BGH, antibiotic-free, vegan, free-range...er, hemp rope in penance. Bacon flavored, of course.
Makes me think I should procure a second bicycle for those inevitable times when I somehow take my current bicycle out of commission. Looking around, I really cannot find anything more appealing than the current Trek XO-1 model I am using. The Trek Portland is a nice bike and it has disc brakes, which would be great during rain and mud outings, but it is a few hundred dollars more expensive than the XO-1. Though I did just receive my security deposit for the Maine house today. Of course, if I am just looking for a "backup" bike I can likely get something used and far cheaper that works until the primary is repaired. Decisions, decisions.
...
July is looking to be an incredibly unfulfilling month for backpacking so far. My plan was originally to backpack around Mt. Hood this week along the Timberline Trail. Typically clear of most snow by early to the middle of July, it is a moderate trail with excellent views of Oregon and Washington. A good chance to try out solo backpacking and a few new items I purchased from REI. Looking at the Mt. Hood National Forest website yesterday dashed those hopes. Seems as of July 1st 95% of the trail is still snow bound and part of it is now closed thanks to Eliot Creek flooding during a late storm last year. This piece of text is particularly severe:
The flood last winter created deep chasms all the way down the drainage. Numerous sections of Eliot Creek have 50-150ft vertical drops down to the creek. Plan your trips accordingly. Eliot drainage is very unstable and hazardous. No plans to engineer a fix this year due to the instability of the entire area. This crossing's designation has been changed from 'dangerous' to CLOSED.
Off the books. Took a look at the trail conditions in the Three Sisters area. The loop around the mountains is still mostly snow bound. A couple long trails up near Mt. Saint Helens seem to be mostly clear, albeit with significant maintenance required to clear them. One suggested only 'adventurous' souls with excellent skills try it. Rough winter for higher elevation summer backpacking it seems. I think I might try the Washington part of the PCT though as it is a lower elevation and I have not done it before with a backpack. Not a loop though, so I will be going in and coming out the same way. Still, might be fun.
– Tuesday, 2008 July 08 @ 4:06 PM | 9 Comments -