Ride to the snow

[FastDoc]

It's been sunny and warm for a long time already, but Roger and I are heading to the Blue Mountains this morning and try to get up to the snow line.

[FastDoc]

It turns out we did not have to ride far. At about 5,000 feet and up on the northern and east facing slopes there was plenty of snow. We did get up to 6,000 feet or so on the sunnier western and south facing slopes.

I got stuck in the snow on some tight single track. I had to kill the bike and dismount and attempt to back the bike up about 200 feet before I could turn it around. Even there it was so tight the bike had to be lifted vertical and pivoted to turn it around.



The WR and the YZ enjoying the early summer sunshine.



Where exactly are we?



You can see the snow that remains at the higher elevations. In the foreground you can see the amazingly beautiful trail we were riding on.



Roger playing with his Go Pro. I'll link to some videos when he posts them.



This is the tight section we turned around on.

I mis stepped and fell off the cliff to the left. The picture does not do it justice but its an honest 60+ degree cliff down for hundreds of feet. I was blessed to land on a small tree that kept me from falling off. The bike, which I was walking besides and not on or even running as we backed down, fell on me pinning me to the small tree.

Roger helped me climb out of the small tree, but getting the bike out of the tree and back on the trail was hard to do. Thank God not a scratch on me or the machine.



No worse for wear.



I love this guy.



Great bike.



The cliff is very poorly seen in this pic but it's the best I have.





Roger wound up in this creek. On the uphill out of the creek which was steep and slimy he hit a rock and flipped off the back. When I got to him he was on his back in the cold snowmelt stream and the WR was beside him with a broken front brake lever. He bashed his knee but no real damage thank God.

All things considered it was a wonderful ride. So beautiful here in the Northwest.

[Weldangrind]

When I first looked at the cliff, I was thankful that you didn't fall.

Then I saw your comments. I'm grateful that you guys are ok. Looks like an awesome ride!

[SpudRider]

Thanks for posting the beautiful photographs.

[zingshoen]

i can smell the cold mountain air!