C5 Snowboarder
09-09-2007, 05:47 PM
Saturday the 8th, my GF and I took on the grueling ride up to Windy Ridge at Mt St Helens. We started this challenging ride at the Iron Creek parking area which is at an elevation of about 1500 ft. Ride elevation gain was 4500 feet or so in 27 miles of wonderful views and scenery. We stopped at each view point for a little rest and to gaze at the wonder of Mother Nature when she blew the top off of Mt St Helens. There were a few places where we could peddle flat land and a couple of downhills to cool off on the way up knowing full well we had to climb back up those on the way back. We carried a little more than 2 liters of water each and food for much needed fuel for the trip - all of that was gone when we pulled into the parking lot after the 54 mile ride. The pavement is superb for riding 90% of the time with the rest being some gravel or rocks strewn over the road at many places and deep crevasses in the road where the road has split and shifts down – do not hit one of those at 30mpg. At mile 27 you are at the top of this climb - standing in front of the Mountain’s opening and seeing, even after 27 years after the fact, the shear power and destruction wrought by this phenomenon. The trees are still scattered every where but still all parallel to the 300 mph wind force that blew this dense forest down in a heartbeat.
A 70’s Pontiac -what is left of it - that was tossed around is still there as part of the memory of the deaths of 57 people that day.
We are beat, tired and amazed by all we have done and seen and find it hard to leave but before the legs and joints get too cold we start our decent. One of the visitors came out of their car and asked us “you didn’t ride those things up here did you?” We answer “yes, we did - it is a great ride” We talk about the 3 pretty hellashish climbs out of there to get back home but looking forward to the mostly down hill ride with exciting fast corners – read that as 15 or 20 mph speed limit signs for those that have motor vehicle. So now we are at Bear Meadows with nothing but miles of down hill curves ahead I let my Legend go full tilt – very few cars on the road down – lean my bike in the curves and the smile on my face was as wide as it could be. It reminded me of riding my alpine snowboard down Blackcomb. My GF is loving her Seven Cycle Luma and is all smiles at mile 42 where we take a break.
If any of you live in the great PNW – and have not done this ride I strongly suggest you put it on the “to do list” Cascade bike club is doing this ride Sept 23rd - see link for description.
http://www.cascade.org/EandR/hpc/Details.cfm
The part we did of this ride was the hard part – if you can do this the rest is child’s play.
I want to thank Serotta for making my Legend so this ride was possible and thank Brooks B-17 Ti saddle for making it comfortable.
A 70’s Pontiac -what is left of it - that was tossed around is still there as part of the memory of the deaths of 57 people that day.
We are beat, tired and amazed by all we have done and seen and find it hard to leave but before the legs and joints get too cold we start our decent. One of the visitors came out of their car and asked us “you didn’t ride those things up here did you?” We answer “yes, we did - it is a great ride” We talk about the 3 pretty hellashish climbs out of there to get back home but looking forward to the mostly down hill ride with exciting fast corners – read that as 15 or 20 mph speed limit signs for those that have motor vehicle. So now we are at Bear Meadows with nothing but miles of down hill curves ahead I let my Legend go full tilt – very few cars on the road down – lean my bike in the curves and the smile on my face was as wide as it could be. It reminded me of riding my alpine snowboard down Blackcomb. My GF is loving her Seven Cycle Luma and is all smiles at mile 42 where we take a break.
If any of you live in the great PNW – and have not done this ride I strongly suggest you put it on the “to do list” Cascade bike club is doing this ride Sept 23rd - see link for description.
http://www.cascade.org/EandR/hpc/Details.cfm
The part we did of this ride was the hard part – if you can do this the rest is child’s play.
I want to thank Serotta for making my Legend so this ride was possible and thank Brooks B-17 Ti saddle for making it comfortable.