SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER

September. Sounds to me like summer's drawing to a close. But what a summer it's been. For me, a summer of mucho mountain biking ridin' and racing.

Above, please note image of studly Steve Noble negotiating one of the jumps/drops/things-I-tend-to-ride-around on Lower Bob's up at Galbraith. That was Sunday. He put the hurt on me big time leading us up trails I only ever ride down. Such as all three of the Three Pigs. Today, I rode with the lovely and talented Steve Vanderstaay, he of the three consecutive vowels, on what, it turns out, was his 50th birthday. For fun we rode down the crazy-fast SST, loosening up most of my fillings in the process. 

Speaking of descending super-fast, last Wednesday evening John Clark (who's birthday is Wednesday, I believe) and I rode up the Pine and Cedar Lakes trail which is perhaps the steepest sustained climb around B'ham. Thirteen hundred feet in 1.6 miles. We sounded like a couple of emphysemics riding side-by-side at a whopping 3 miles-per-hour, but we made it. Had a great ride with screaming descents of the Burninator and the Hemlock Trail. We missed the injured Scott "Titanium Cowboy" Young who's on the DL nursing a sprained wrist, suffered a few weeks ago on Whoopsie Woodle.

This area boy is awaiting his Redline 29er single-speed which should arrive later this week.

SEATTLE TIMES HIKING STORY

Check out my story in today's Seattle Times about getting high ... in the mountains. It's here (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009748164_nwwhighhikes27.html) and features five hikes in the Cascades that top out at 7,500 or higher. Shot above is Sahale Arm above Cascade Pass, which I hiked about three weeks ago.

ADVENTURES NW

Check out the new issue of Adventures NW, out now. Lots of great stories and photos including one by yours truly about the wonders of riding a 29er. Speaking of photos (we were, weren't we?), that fetching cover shot is mine too. Pretty cool, huh?

In other news, I'm closing in on closing in on a 29er single-speed, probably the Redline Monocog Flight. I'm looking for something else to do this fall and it occurred to me that it might be cool to do a little more running than I have of late, and to also ride a single-speed. Not sure why, but at least the combo will be new to me. Still undecided about this year's Mount Baker Hill Climb. Having trouble getting as skinny as I need to be. These pizzas and cookies and such keep finding their way in front of my face.

In other other news, got a story in tomorrow's Seattle Times about me hike to Cascade Pass-Sahale Arm.

CASCADE PASS - SAHALE ARM

Here are some photos from last week's amazing hike with Jim Robbins to Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm. Truly one of the most spectacular places in the North Cascades.
Highly recommended, and it's the main subject of my next Seattle Times story which hits newstands and the WorldWide InnerGoogle next Thursday, Aug. 27. (Northwest Weekend section.) Below, see a ptarmigan. The sea of peaks.

A forest fire with Eldorado Peak in the background.

Shout out and good luck to Jim, Deb and Emma Robbins who this week relocated to Maine--we miss ya' already!

YET ANOTHER GALBRAITH MOUNTAIN VIDEO

Team Unattacked hit the south side of Galbraith last night linking up Woopsie Woodle with two of the Three Pigs. On the way out we dun throwed in Lower Bob's and Karma fer fun but by then the sun had dropped a little and it was too dark to get any good footage. Enjoy. Song is "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon.