Day 12 – Hood River to Frog Lake – Safe Return Doubtful

51 miles (82 km) – Total so far: 703 miles (1,131 km)

Time riding 5 hrs 42 mins Max Speed 33.7 mph Average speed 8.9 mph Altitude 1155 meters asl Left at 7:00 am Arrived at 3:00 pm

Hood River has a population of just 7,000 but is serves probably 10 times that amount who live within the radius of an hour’s drive. It has nearby skiing in the winter, climbing and trekking, water sports of the Hood and Columbia Rivers and is probably most famous for cycling, particularly mountain biking. Though I was told the descent of what I was to ride up today (to the Bennett Pass) is the quickest downhill around, and it is almost 1400 meters.

I had a cheap motel to get some clothes washed and stay out of the heat for a bit. Again yesterday it went up to 39C and today in Hood River was forecast for 40. With that in mind I was away at 7, taking the backroad, the 281 or Dee Highway out of town and to Parkdale about 17 miles away. This is a quiet village and prefect for a stopover night for anyone wanting a leg up the pass, as its at 500 meters asl. Having moseyed along through fruit orchard from Parkdale the real ascent begins. Though for probably another 10 miles it’s only at 4%. The traffic wasn’t too bad and there is always some decent shoulder (not so before Parkdale on the main road though). The last 6 or 7 miles are steeper and the temperature was rising fast. I was at Bennett Pass (1428 metres asl) at 12:20 pm, 4 and a half hours of ride time, 37 miles, mostly of ascent. Slow but steady.

There are two rapid little descents, one to White River, then up again 100 metres or so to Barlow Pass, then another to the junction with route 26. Despite being at over 1000 metres it was hot now. There’s a gas station a mile or so down the road, and a chance to grab a cold drink and refill water, as several of the coming campsites don’t have water. A notice board actually tells you this at the gas station which is very useful.

From here the climb up to the Blue Box Pass starts. I was only headed to Frog Lake, about 4 kilometres up, but that climb was the hardest of the day.

I forgot it was Friday. Campsites are packed again for the weekend, especially here, on,y an hour or so out from Portland. I have therefore moved round to the ‘day use’ area for now and will pitch the tent later. The ‘camp host’ (a burly character reminiscent in appearance to Santa Claus) told me also it was a full moon tonight. I asked about wolves, and told him we have dreadful problems in Europe with them on such nights. He said he didn’t really know. Not helpful.

I passed two other Sierra Cascade sets of riders today. A couple from Netherlands with a flat just before the Barlow Pass, and we chatted for a few minutes, they were headed to Parkdale but wouldn’t get to the pass until early afternoon so would be hot. Also a couple of Americans in their early 20’s that I ‘overtook’ at the gas station. They had left a campsite midway up the Bennett Pass too late and we’re going to struggle to do much more today in the heat.

I just about beat the heat, so a good day, with probably more than 1500 metres of climbing. Camping has worked out well also, as these State Forest campgrounds can be hard work when they are packed at weekends.