EPIC WINTHROP-CONCONULLY LOOP

Put simply: this was my most epicest mountain bike epic ever--82 miles with 10,472 feet of elevation gain. And oh yeah, temps hit 102! With the indomitable duo of Brian Ecker and Scott Young. (Nice to have Stewart Bowmer along for the first 15 miles as well; he peeled off when pavement turned to dirt.) Please enjoy some pics ...

Brian and Scott before the descent from Parachute (or Tiffany?) Meadow on FS 39. At 6,800 feet, this was the literal high point of the ride. As you can see, there's much evidence of past forest fires.

Scott approaches Freezeout Ridge, the first of three summits above 6,300 feet.

On his beefed-up 'cross bike, Brian climbs FR 39 somewhere on the shoulder of Tiffany Mountain.

Stewart Bowmer joined us for the approach climb on the paved section of FR 37. Nice to have him along.

Fairly early on the 16-mile, 4,000-foot descent into Conconully. Sun, lots of sun. Sun and heat were the themes of the day. And climbing too--10,000-plus feet of it.

Scott and my steeds: 29er mountain bikes.

Brian rode a 'cross bike with mountain bike gearing and cranks, 29er rims (I believe) and a Softride suspension stem. On this ride I learned a couple things about Brian. 1) he climbs really fast and 2) he descends really, really, really fast.

I provide vital support while Brian fixes a flat.

Using his magical SteriPen, Brian makes the waters of Boulder Creek potable.

Before the ride, fidgety Scott Young appears keyed up and unable to relax.

The bustling metropolis of Conconully. Population: 211. Temperature during our visit: 102.

At the Freezeout Ridge trailhead, Brian waits for Titanium Cowboys. That would be another of the day's themes.

Scott Young gets down on some of the 10,000 feet of climbing.

Is this thing working?

Here's our route:

STEVENS PASS BIKE PARK PHOTOS

Here're some photos that didn't make it into my Seattle Times story on the new Stevens Pass Bike Park because of space considerations.

WINTHROP-CONCONULLY EPIC

Saturday.

We's gettin' our Conconully on.

Gonna be hot.

Gonna be brutal.

Gonna be righteously groovy!

(Here's our route.)

BURNOUT ROAD - SICK JOKE CX-PLORE

Author overcome by Usain-mania, high on Burnout Road.

Friday night, Brian Ecker's e-mail arrived announcing his open invitation for a "mini-epic" from Winthrop to Conconully and back via the remote forest service roads of the Okanogan. (Seems hilarious that to Brian, an 80-plus miler w/ 9,600 feet of elevation gain rates only a "mini-epic.") This is a route I've been lusting over for a while and thus, Titaniuma Cancellara and I are going to go for it. (That is, if I can come up w/ an appropriate bike to ride. My geared mountain bike is in a state of disrepair right now and I'm not sure if my CX bike is up to it.)

To get us in the right frame of mind, on Saturday TC and I rode what I guess might be considered a mini-mini epic through the Chuckanuts (though to me it was pretty epic): Burnout Road, a bushwack down into the Land of the Lost, followed by Sick Joke--a steep, nasty bastard of a climb that ascends to the Pine and Cedar Lakes end of the world.

Accessed from already steep Fragrance Lake Road, Burnout Road climbs 1,200 feet in less than three miles with four especially steep sections that I'll call the Four Hillingen of the Apocalypse. Above, Scott Young ascends the last one which pitches upwards at 20-plus percent. (The others are similar ranging from about 18 to 22 percent.) Plus it's gravel. I was pedaling my 'cross bike whose lowest gear is a 38-26; ideally, I need a couple lower for epics (or mini-mini epics) like this. 

At the top, the recent logging, while a bit of an eyesore from down below, offers up some amazing island and water views. (See top pic.)

With the Overlander Trail no more, we hike-a-biked about 20 minutes until we found the Rockyard--basically an overgrown, rocky gully--which eventually hooks up with the south terminus of the Lost Lake Trail. From there, it's those remote Land of the Lost roads which lead to, among other places, Mud Lake, Blanchard Mountain, Lake Samish and elsehwhere. We made for Sick Joke which is every bit as evil as Burnout, if not more so given its slippery rocky surface. Admittedly, I had to stop at one spot; something I've not had to do the two recent times I've ridden Burnout.

Once at the top, it was the fun, winding Hemlock Trail down to Arroyo Park, most of which I quite enjoyed on the 'cross bike. In all, it was about 30 miles of rugged riding with 3,600 feet of elevation gain. Not quite Winthrop to Conconully and back, but probably my most rugged day yet on my 'cross bike. 

Here's our route:

FORTNIGHTLY ARTIST POINT RIDE

Rode to Artist Point today for the third every-other-Thursday in a row. I love it so much up there I'd ride it again tomorrow if I could! We left from Kendall making for a 70-miler with just about 6,000 feet of climbing. Please enjoy some pics...

John Pottle and Tom Meloy make the final turn.

Almost there. In the distance, you can see the top of the Artist Point restrooms poking above the snow.

The players: Reg Norbert, Tom Meloy, some McQuaide dude, John Pottle.

Refilling water bottles at Silver Fir Campground.

 Waiting in line for pilot car to take us through repaving segment on Power House Hill. We lucked out and had to wait only about 5 minutes both ways.

Team car shouting encouragement.

At this point, John's got it in the bag.

Tom on the descent; Table Mountain in the background.