Linda inspects a covered bridge near Cottage Grove.

Between Millpond Campground and the summit of Huckleberry Mt. lie 15 miles of climbing. It’s early. We left camp about 6:40 to beat the heat though this day’s ride would only be 53 miles.

The pitch is 6 or 7 percent here. I’m passing people. It’s not a race. No one cares. It’s the final day of seven and there’s no premium for being early. Not even a choice camping site to be claimed.

The pitch is 6 or 7 but my heart rate is falling. At 140 I’m comfortable, remembering to spin, to keep the bike in an easy gear, reach my knees to the handlebars and then dive my toes down and back. If I forget and push straight down, pedaling is harder. So I’m riding at recovery rate and passing people. How wonderful to be strong and fit on this final day.

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I'm sure Steve is crying in his beer right now, if he drank beer. Guess this trip's going to have to be rescheduled. He just doesn't have any luck.--Corrie

Scott sends this

We (Doug, Jen and I) did the down river road ride in Riggins today. (Riggins to Vinegar creek (the road runs along the salmon river until the at Vinegar creek boat ramp)) The weather was great, the temps were nice, the wind was fairly mild and we only dealt with the left overs of the in process road construction (they take sundays off YEA!!!) for about the first 4 miles (and of course the last 4 miles). The out and back ride ended up being just a little over 52 miles... Dinner at the river rock restaurant in Riggins after the ride was yummy.

Here is the news report on the snow level from that general area... at least from my perspective... Once we got up into the canyons.. the snow level on the north facing slopes seemed to be about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the river level... I think Riggins sits roughly at 1,800 feet... so that would put the snow level around 2,800 to 3,300 feet... I think the start of the Weiser trail is in the 4,000 to 4,500 foot range... aka... I am going to guess that a good portion of it is under snow right now... I was also chatting with a couple at the rest area in Riggins, As it turns out they were from Cascade... They said they had come down to the Riggins area to visit spring as they still had a good six feet of snow at their place... I think Cascade is roughly around 5,000 feet...

The bottom line... and as much as I hate to admit it... I think Sean is right... (gawd that hurt!!) There is just to much snow this year to do the upper portions of the Weiser trail ride just yet... I would guess that by late May/early June... things should be cleared up and dried off (aka not so muddy and wet in the shady spots that see little sun light.). It does sound like an interesting ride...

That is my two cents worth on the subject.. for what it's worth.

Cheers

Scott.

"it was fun," Lee said handing over his road crew vest at the end of pickup today. I'd thanked him for driving down from Uniontown but he'd had a good time.

We moved quickly today. Accuweather had forcast snow at noon. I don't think we had any precipitation but the wind came up with a biting edge.

The Honor Roll

Corrie
Linda
Doug
Lee Bauer
Nicki Riddle
Helen
Bill Arnold
Mike Warnock
Debbie
Scott Whitely
Scott Trost
Jennifer Cunningham
David Tibbals
Sean
Carol

Pretty impressive work today. Linda and I arrived early to set up the signs. (Eric came by on a road bike on his way to work.)

By12:30 Linda headed up the road. Soon Lee arrived and I sent him ahead. The Doug followed and he was out ahead.

No one wanted to sit around and wait for the group to arrive and so by 1 we already had several folks at work. Nicki was able to move a group of workers out onto the road.

By the time I got in the pickup, we already had teams beyond the first mile. I just moved the sign. By the time I turned around, I was telling folks to cross the road and head back.

I really appreciate all the turn out. It would have been pretty miserable had only a couple shown up. So once again, thanks to everyone. Sorry, there was not ride afterward. Windchill Cancel.