Rocky Mountains Trip

Most Excellent! Too bad about the fall but at least nothing broken. Have you tried hiking poles? They have saved my ass countless times. My kids used to make fun of me years ago for using them but after they tried them on a Wind River climb 4 years ago they both understand the theory behind them. Its easy to understand how they help balance and aiding in sketchy parts especially downhill but also how much stress they take off your legs and hips. There is a formula of how much weight is taken off for every so many steps. Black Diamond, and Komperdel make excellent light weight ones. Glad to see you on top. Try a little walking to aid healing, might hurt but it will help.

 

I had thought about them before but discounted them. Was of the opinion that to rely on them would prevent your use of the core muscles that support your spine. I still believe that to a large degree in most instances based on rehab I have been through with back injuries. But after this hike, I do believe there is certainly a place for them on more rigorous hiking and will be in the market for them soon for that reason.

 

The shot of the Mountain Goat would make Art Wolfe envious..

 

Beautiful pics Gator!

 

You guys in the PNW have the most beautiful mountains in North America. They call the Northern North Cascades the American Alps. Soaring granite peaks, big glaciers and deep forests. Here are a few from 2013.




And a few from the Olympic peninsula camping on the beach. This area would make an excellent motorcycle camping trip.

 

The upper North Cascades reminds me of the Tetons back in the late 70's, still wild. Go see it while its still old school.m The Mt Baker hwy is a great ride.

 

If you are bringing your bike up to see and do Baker from the south or south east, you simply must do the east road up Mt. St. Helen's. The Baker highway is a great ride for sure. but it does not hold a candle to St. Helen's. The scenery at both is breathtaking. Seeing them once is not enough. My next trip up St. Helen's I will be bringing some hiking gear to hike to the look out at the top of the blow there.

Ah yes. Washington and Oregon has the best roads and people. Ever since Marrib moved away from Portland.

In BC there are thousands and thousands of miles of logging roads that are beautiful too but not suitable for riding on a VFR. Great for adventure riding though.

 

Is that the road to St. Helen the mountain?

 

Yes. The road that goes up the east side of the mountain to the crater lookout. I would have to go to Google Maps to get the road number. It is a forestry road I think.

EDIT: The destination road is NF-99. Even the roads getting to that point are great. Find Cougar Washington and find your way from there.

 

I have to go over to that area. I remember the insane footage after it blew its top. It was hard to grasp the scale of the destruction.

 

I have a few photos saved on my desk top I will share later here. A couple of them were calendar submissions.

 

I've been one of those bikers (bicyclers) that rode up, over and down Trail Ridge Road. Ate a huge steak that afternoon. It wasn't enough, LOL!