Riding at Mt Saint Helens on the Ape Canyon Trail and Plains of Abraham is a pretty incredible experience. From old growth forest to riding across the destruction from its eruption there is something here that should move you as a human. I went out to Windy Gap onto the top of the Smith Creek trail before heading back. This video on the back portion of the ride. The views here absolutely amazing. Here is my blog post from that outing.
What an amazing place
This video sit around for over a year as the audio was horrible. The Hero 5 did not have particularly good audio in the first place but my gimbal was having issues as well as it was starting to get noisy enough that the mics of the GoPro focused on that noise and it also managed to start picking up my heartbeat. The whole setup was aggravating. I thought about just covering it all up with music but I was able to get it mostly wrangled in with some filters in post. The video does not do this place justice. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend this place.
I had been out here the year before and the weather was not cooperating. I did shoot video on that trip and looked at incorporating some of it into this video but none of it made the cut. Here is my blog post from my 2018 visit to this area.
I was pretty stoked to finally be able to get a way from the house in the midst of all this COVID-19 BS. The plan was to take the RV up to the Herky Creek Campground and base camp there for the weekend Nichol and got up there on Friday afternoon and a couple of hours later my longtime MTB Bud Bill arrived. We spent the afternoon and evening grubbing out catching up and sampling tasty whiskeys. Bill and I have learned a thing our two about our proclivity to try and solve world hunger around a campfire at night when there is a bike ride the following morning. We set an alarm clock, not to get up in the morning but to go to bed 🙂
Base Camp Herkey Creek (This picture was from Sunday, Saturday was cloudy)
The weather was pretty foggy the following morning it looked like we might get some drizzle action as well. We had the right gear so off we went. Today’s ride would be Pine Cove and Hub Trails.
In the twisty stuff up top
We took advantage of the spousal shuttle service leaving Bill’s truck at the Hub Trailhead while Nichol dropped us off up in Pine Cove
Misty at the top!
It has been more than a couple moons since the last time I had started from Pine Cove so it took me a couple of minutes orientate myself. I ended up taking the route I new and then later in the ride realized that few new connectors had been added that optimized your elevation loss/gain. Our basic route was a bit of Project X, Toptimater, Dreamwalker, Hard Sun and Tubs.
I believe we are on Dream Walker
The cloud cover kept the temperatures at just in the comfortable range. We got ourselves turned around a couple of times snooping on some of the new stuff (since the last time I rode there) but that is all part of the fun of this area.
That evening was more tasty grub and good times. The next morning the sun was out and it was time for some more fun on two wheels to the east of where we were base camped.
Desert Flower Goodness
The Pretty Cool Temps and cloud cover were gone for this ride and replaced with gorgeous sunshine and warmer temps.
Desert Goodness
Spring was still holding on in a few spots.
Horny Lil Guy
Bill harassing the locals
More Cactus Goodness
We had a great time out on a nice bit of trail. This was my second time out on this route and I was really stoked to show off some of the bits of trail that included some of the California Riding and Hiking Trail.
Back at camp we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, before breaking camp and rolling back to San Deigo. I had reserved the spot for Sunday night as well, but I enjoy not having to be rushed out of the site on the last day. This was a nice weekend getaway and good opportunity for Bill to check out live in the RV for some of less local adventures I have planned with this rig in the future.
So I managed to get back to the Cowboy trails for another crack and making it up to the ridge without getting snowed out.
What a bunch of asses out running a muck off trailI took the Bunny and Fossil Canyon Trails first bit of climbing
After that I took the outer loop which I had never done before. It was some nice bit of single track
The snow capped red-rocks. So cool.Looking back down the Fossil Canyon Trail
From Outer Loop I hooked up with Midas and SARS. It was nice to be able to feel my toes at this stage of the ride compared to my last time our here.
Cool view of the strip from along the ridge
After that I took Radio Tower. (Next time I will take Little , The uppermost bit of Bomb Voyage, Little Jimmy Switchbacks up to the Ridge Trail
More views from the topI bet the night view would be really awesome from here
The views from the ridge line was just as cool as I remember Once off I the ridge trail, I hooked up with the Bomb Voyage trail. I got turned turned around just a bit at the top on some hiker spurs but there is no mistaking the trail once it turns downhill. Oh man is the trail burly! I had to walk more that a couple of sections. Pretty close to the bottom, the Bob Gnarly trail merges with Bomb Voyage. During my next visit out here I’m going to give Bob Gnarly a shot. The numbers are a lot less than the fun (and work) factor out here. I’m already looking forward to a return to here on the next visit to Vegas.
Thanksgiving has brought me to Las Vegas. Besides overeating with family getting out to the Cowboy Trails in the Red Rock area just west of town was on the list. A series of winter storms was rolling through the area so the weather was a bit iffy.
Rolling the weather dice in Vegas!
Well Las Vegas is a gambling town so I opted to roll the weather dice and hit the trails. I have ridden here before and near the trails handle rain very well. When I arrived at the trail head it was quite brisk at 47 degrees and wind gusts up to 20mph. I have gear so it was go time.
Rolling up Bunny
I was interested in doing some of the trails I had not done before. Last time out I climbed up a technical bit of desert goodness that is now been named Kibbles and Bits. I don’t recall that trail being named last time. This outing I went “Bunny”. A couple of years ago while working in the Pacific Northwest, I asked a local bike shop guy if bad weather was expected and his response has really stuck with me. “There is no bad weather, only bad gear.”
Red Rock across the valley. I’m either on Bunny or Kat in the Hat at this point
My gear included a long sleeve jersey base layer, a short sleeve jersey on top of that followed up with a cycling specific windbreaker/jacket. I had bandanna tied low around my ears. While I was a bit cold starting out, this was a good combo after a short distance up the trail. I had on a set of knee warmers and some wool socks. This was pretty good at the start, but I could have easily gone with full length leg warmers. I love my wool socks as it is pretty much the only type of socks I wear year round. On this particular day, the wind was cutting though those socks a bit more than I cared for but it was manageable.
A few snow flurries happened while I worked up Cat in the Hat and Fossil Canyon.
The clouds looking more “snowie”
Looking back the way I came on Fossil Canyon
When I got to the junction of Fossil Canyon I took First Finger as I was pretty sure I had not been on it before. First Finger was not sheltered from the wind much and I while I was fairly comfortable for the most part my toes were pretty cold as the wind just cut right through my shoes and socks. The temperature was dropping as well.
The lower end of the SARS trail.
After First Finger, I got onto the SARS trail. I had been on this trail before and my intention was to get up to the Ridge Trail and then take Bomb Voyage or Bob Gnarly down.
Climbing up SARS
A very short segment of of descending into shallow canyon SARS turns back into a climb. The snow started to come down pretty solid at this point. This was not bad at all as I was sheltered from the wind while in this canyon. My toes were damn cold at this point. As I neared the top of SARS the wind got to be really biting and my toes were really unhappy at this point. I pulled the plug on heading up to the ridge and decided to take Boneshaker down.
The descent on Boneshaker in the snow
I have done Boneshaker before and it certainly earns its name. Now that I had committed to bailing out there was a knew level of calmness in my head since I was no longer having to make those risk vs reward calculations. This was a good thing as you need your wits about you when working your way down this trail. The snow was pretty close to horizontal now and the windward side of my face was almost numb. It was pretty cool to see this place in this state. I had a surreal moment while going through a series of technical rock moves on Boneshaker when my speed and direction became perfectly in sync with the near sideways falling snow. For a second or so it looked like the snow and I were motionless while the trail moved underneath us. It was so cool!
Boneshaker dumps off around about 1,000 feet in a mile and it certainly felt warmer as I rolled into the trail head. The thermometer in my truck read 37 degrees. Some would say the house won this gamble, but upon further reflection now that I can feel my toes and the windward side of my face, I rolled off that ridge line with some great memories.
One of the things I like about the typical loamy soil of the Pacific Northwest is that it can stand up to some rain. So a little drizzle or rain is not automatically a ride stopper.
Such was the today’s ride out at Banner Forest. Here are a few pictures.
Moss moss and more moss
Cool trail names
What would have been a bust in San Diego turned into another fun after work ride up in the Puget Sound area.
Plan A was to ride on the Olympic Peninsula today but that whole area looked socked with clouds. Plan B was to head east for the big ride I had planned for the following weekend. A return to the Ranger Creek and Palisades Trails.
Time for some significant climbing!
I first rode out in August of 2010 and it was fantastic. This time was still fantastic and slightly different.
Chicken Soup for the MTB Soul
The elevation gain be deceptive to the eyes in the forest. You legs and lung will tell you the truth after a while.
As I climbed further up the trail, I could see that some fire damage had occurred in 2017 up near the ridge tops.
Little Ranger Peak
I would guess during the last mile up to where the Ranger Shelter would be, started going through some fire damage along the trail. The trail was in pretty descent shape
The shelter that was at the junction of the Ranger Creek and Palisade Trails burned during a forest fire. This I pretty much all that remains
When I stopped at the location of the old shelter, I had to deal with some horseflies and gnats. Luckily I was prepared with bug goop!
Mt Rainier in the not so distance
Once I got rolling on the Palisades Trail, the views did not disappoint!
If this looks like it would be awesome to ride, you would most certainly be correct!
What also did not disappoint was the riding on Palisades as well. Fast, tight and technical root bits made for a banging good time shedding off the elevation gained on Ranger Creek Trail. One thing is for certain, it did not suck to be me today!
Good Times on the Palisade Trail. Last photo taken before ripping down the trail!
This trail is located turn the town on of Purdy, WA in the Gig Harbor Area. It is good example of what good city, county and user group relations can get accomplished. Here is a link to the park’s map.
Most the forest here is new growth, kinda recently worked land is the vibe I get. There are is a lot of purpose built MTB trails. Some of them are even one way.
Most of the trails area XC type trails with a little bit of tech here and there. There is a pump track as well as pump trail.
Even a wee bit of a log riding as well.
Top of the upper jump lines
There is a set of jump trail near the upper end of the trail system that allows for some progression as you develop your skills.
Down near the bottom of the trail system are a couple of serious jump lines (not the ones pictured above) they are not joke jump lines. (Marvik and NWT3K)
Not all of the trails are on the current city map of the place, but if you check out Trailforks, you can see the delta. Interestingly enough trailforks is missing some trails that is on the city map of the place.
It is well worth a visit, but I have to admit, it does not have the same classic Pacfic Northwest trail appeal that I get at some of the other nearby places like Green Mountain State Park and Banner Forest.
Green Mountain State Park is located within about 15 minutes of where I am working here in the Puget Sound area so it is part of the post-work ride rotation.
The Olympic Mountains seen along the fire road climb.
There are plenty of way to ride the trails out here at Green Mountain State Park. I have not created a dedicated page on my site for this place yet. Here you can find some of my previous posts on this area.
Most of the trails in this area are on Trailforks.com. The Wildcat Trail is one of many trails out in the area. It is well worth a look see for the network out there.
The Wildcat trail is one of the hardest ways to get up the mountain and it will certainly test your lungs and how well you can handle redlining into the anaerobic end your cardio reserves. Lately I have been taking a longer series of fireroads up to the top of the mountain and then take Wildcat down. Well mostly down there are some uphills even on the descent to keep you honest.
Downtown Seattle in the distance as well as Mount Rainier peaking out in the distance.
A great workout with good views on clear days. A good way work out the stress of a solid day’s work.
So I am working in the Puget Sound area of Washington for the next few weeks. This is a great time be up in this area of thr country. Last year I went out to Mt Saint Helens and rode the Ape Canyon and Plains of Abraham trails. It was a pretty incredible ride but the weather did not cooperate so my views were quite limited. Here is report from that day
On the top of my MTB list for this trip was a return outing to here when the weather was clear. My first weekend here and the weather report looked good so I pulled the trigger. Boy was I rewarded for it.
Along the Ape Canyon trail looking at the south fsce of the mountain.
I saw a lot more of the mountain than last year even before I got to the trailhead. The climb up Ape Canyon was fantastic and the further up I went the better things got. The tops of Mt Adams and Mt Rainier were even visible in spots.
The view from the top of Ape Canyon
The view when you reach the top of Ape Canyon is incredibly impressive. In the pan shot above you can see the Rainier, Adams and of course Mt Saint Helens.
The south-southeast slopes of the mountain.
It is crazy to think that much of the foreground was forest before the eruption in 1980. The mountain used to have a typical volcano shape to it but the eruption blasted off 1,300 feet off the top. This is just the non-blast side of the mountain.
From here I rode the Plains of Abraham trail over the eastern slope of pumice and lava rock. Riding through here I once again felt very small seeing what the power of Mama Earth can do. There were also lots of wildflowers and other low growing stuff.
The northestern slope as seen on the fireroad out Windy Gap.
The trail takes you around to the northeastern area of the mountain where you can get your first view of the side of the mountain that was blown off. In the picture above you can see the trail in the ridgeline.
Spirit Lake and the “log raft”
The singletrack dumps you off a ridgeline and onto a dirt forest service road. I took that out to Windy Gap and the onward to the Smith Creek trailhead. Here I was treated to a nice view of Spirit Lake and the “Log Raft”. The lake took the brunt of the blast and most of the water was thrown up into the higher elevations in the form of a wave estimated to be about 850 feet high. When the dust settled and water drained back into the lake it was a much larger and shallower lake that had 40% of it surface area covered in the floating trunks of the trees between it and the mountain. Check out this wikipedia article on it. Moat of those trunks are still floating on the lake.
I thought about dropping the Smith Creek trail to do a more epic loop, but I wanted to retrace my steps and descend Ape Canyon to finish the ride.
In the trees of the Ape Canyon Trail
Retracing my steps was plenty of work but I was once again rewarded with killer views and the descent down Ape Canyon was the source of multiple joygasms. What an opener for this trip!
So my youngest son, Jake has been accepted to Humbolt State University to finish off his degree in Forestry and Wildland Fire Management. We decide to take the travel trailer up there for a week to get the lay of the land and find him a place to live out in town. First stop along the journey was a overnighter to see my oldest son who lives south of San Jose. It was really nice to have both of my not so much boys anymore in the same spot.
The next made the rest of the way up north and setup shop in Trinidad at a campsite nestled between redwoods.
So everyday we had some chores to do which mostly included scoping out rooms for rent and doing interviews with the landlords/owners.
But that stuff took up less than half of each day so we were about to checkout some stuff.
As luck would have it a good friend, JD, has a brother who lives in nearby Bluelake. After some emails and phone calls his brother Tim took Jake and I out for a tour through the local woods. We even started right from the HSU campus. I do believe Jake is pretty stoked about this.
The last day our planned stay up there we ended up finding “The Place” and put some ink to paper. The next morning we headed out but this time we decided to take a different route we took us inland though some mighty pretty country side. I’m not so sure SoCal is ever going to get Jake back.
We made our way down to Fresno and had enough time to check out thier MTB skills park. It was not bad. I would not make a special trip for it, but if you are passing through, go for it.
The next day we mad our way back to home. A very productive and fun trip.
