Double Dagger Adventure Club https://doubledaggerac.com Spicy Cycling Routes & Misadventures Wed, 27 Apr 2022 18:16:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://i0.wp.com/doubledaggerac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-DDAC_Social_Skull-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Double Dagger Adventure Club https://doubledaggerac.com 32 32 185365861 St. Helens Death Zone https://doubledaggerac.com/mt-st-helens/ Fri, 13 Nov 2020 19:43:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=186

ST. HELENS DEATH ZONE

DISTANCE
0 MI
109KM
ELEVATION
0 '
1995M
IDEAL TIRE
0 C
Some gravel patches and broken pavement
DIFFICULTY
0 /10
Medium Mountain day

Into the Blast Zone

For weeks and months in 1980 the earth trembled. Then one May day the fury of hell was unleashed and ash rained from the sky. One of the biggest geological events in modern US history lays in Southern Washington. To the Cowlitz tribe the mountain was called “Loowit” which means “smoking mountain.” An incredibly foresightful name. 

The eruption of Mt. St. Helens occurred just over 40 years ago. It left 57 dead and spit ash as far East as Minnesota. It scorched off foliage, ripped the limbs off trees and left them in rows like matchsticks. The explosion blew out the North side of the mountain, losing over 1000ft of the summit and created the largest landslide in recorded history. And that my friends, is exactly where we are headed.

From the Forest to the Moon

We’re going to start this journey in Randle, WA. You can park near in the gravel near the bridge that crosses the Cowlitz River. You could also park up the road some, but because this ride starts off flat, but those flat miles are a nice warm up and the only flat miles you’ll see. Heading South on the Hwy131, which become NF25, you go from open river and shrubs into the canopy of the forest. Now the only real trick this entire ride is here, cross a small bridge about mile 10 and the road bends left but you want to go straight and start up NF26. If you do this the boom, achievement unlocked, your reward is less traffic as you ascend the mountain.

The climb starts out with a rude kick, but you settle in as the forest takes you in. Eventually it levels out and you have some easy miles as the sun pokes through from a clear cut, this respite a nice little gift. Enjoy it, as that was the appetizer. The main course starts soon. The lanes narrow as you soar through stands of alder. This second round of climbing is quite steady by NW standards, gaining 1600ft in around 5 miles as you follow Quartz creek. The higher you go the more sections of pavement become missing. After you cross Quartz the grade picks up until you come to one of the few possible turns, stay straight on NF26. Around here you begin popping out of the trees and the landscape begins more barren and rocky. It’ll all make sense, just keep climbing.

The next section is punchier both in steepness and the intermittent surface quality. It’ll keep you on your toes navigating skinny tires through patches of gravel. Near the top you see signs of some vehicles and trailheads. You ride up a final wall, and once you top it you come screaming down some dusty double track.

Enter Windy Ridge

For the first time in hours you have a decision, right or left? Left takes you to NF25 and back to Randle. Right takes you up. Trust us, choose up. Windy Ridge opens up to panoramic views a  barren mountain and lush hills below. Like many high alpine roads of the west, Windy Ridge itself is under constant bit of repaving due to the harsh winters and constantly shifting mountain.

There is a window of time after the snow is gone and before the gate is open to ride Windy Ridge car-free. If you can time it right this is some of the best car-free miles on in the whole West Coast. Though early season you will trade cars for dodging rocks scattered across the road. A worthwhile trade-off.

Eventually you get to the end of the road and views of Spirit Lake. Thousands of logs from the eruption are pushed to one end of the lake by wind. There is a bathroom but no running water. Take a snack break and head back the way you came. You will pass your NF26 turn off, but climb a little further. At this point you begin descending and you’re likely ready for it. Eventually you T into NF25, hang a left and it is tree canyon surfing for miles. Everything is clear sailing from here except for the occasional bad pavement to keep you on your toes (usually down lower). Around mile 57/58 there is a couple left turns to keep you headed back to Randle. Easy peasy. Maybe time for a dip in the Cowlitz.

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Words to the Wise

This route is fairly alpine. There is no water on this route. When in doubt bring a third bottle.

The route is also quite exposed for a large section, so probably a bad idea on a really hot day. It’s probably also a bad idea on a cold and windy day.

Photos and text by Ben Guernsey

]]> 186 Showers Pass Gloves & Socks https://doubledaggerac.com/showers-pass-gloves-socks/ Wed, 11 Nov 2020 19:50:18 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=193

Showers Pass Gloves & Socks

Dry Digits

Let’s start off with the gloves. They look like your run of the mill knit glove, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The newest version comes in some good colors and a logo that isn’t quite as ridiculously big as those in the photo. The gloves are stretchy and pocketable. My hands get cold pretty easy and these have become a go to.

These are the gloves I wish were around when I grew up on the Oregon Coast. They really repel water and are pretty good to about 40ºF (4.5ºC).

I am guessing the knit itself is given a DWR treatment, but the real key is there is actually a double layer of knit with a plastic layer between. They are a great go to in a shoulder season where you throw an emergency jacket and gloves in a bar bag. They are not a full deep winter glove in my book, but my be possible to be underlayer for a thick outer glove.

When your hands get damp and clammy the gloves become harder to get on an off; but not impossible like a neoprene glove. Now I think these gloves are great for casual rides. However the stretchy nature may be a detriment in really intense conditions like cyclocross or XC. Where you need a tight grip on slick bars and you want a high degree of feel.

These are not the only gloves you will ever need. But they certainly will be in my repertoire for the foreseeable future.

Thick Feet

Now lets talk about socks. I got these as a gift and thought they’d be great. But they sat in my drawer for a year because they were too thick. They changed the fit of my shoe too greatly, and I just could find an occasion to wear them.

Now in the mean time Showers Pass came out with a lightweight version, which I aim to try, but before I do I decided to try an experiment I heard about…

Protip: Oversocks > Socks

I love overstocks on road shoes. A breathable bit of insulation on dry days. And they keep the road grime off your kicks.

So I fit my Showers Pass over my road shoe, traced the cleat and made a fairly conservative cut hole (note: the fabric stretches a lot when you remove a section). I then singed the edge of the hole with a lighter to try and keep the layers together. Put it back on and voilà, waterproof oversock.

In my not-so-humble opinion these are a better product than the socks were intended. Not only do they keep your feet dry and warm, they keep your shoes dry too. Why does anyone want their shoes to get filled with muddy water? It’s just going to keep cold water absorbed in your shoe close to your foot. With a pair of water-resistant bib tights over the top of these oversocks I think you’d have a combo that could really get you through some harsh conditions. I have been using them for the past few weeks of winter training and couldn’t be happier.

I’d hesitate to do oversock hack over mountain shoes, I think the edges of the tread would quickly wear out the bottom. And time will tell how long until I walk a hole through the heel of these. 

But at $38–$42 this is one of the better hacks I’ve done because this is about half the price of high quality winter booties.

Overall my only feedback, is why is this need to be a hack? The opportunity is just waiting. The sizing just needs to be adjusted a bit, my L/XL is a tight squeeze over my size 46 shoe. Maybe the knit type of knit and material refined for this use. But overall pleased.

RATING

Gloves: 9/10
Socks: 3/10
Socks as Oversocks: 8/10

Photos and text by Ben Guernsey

MORE REVIEWS

]]> 193 Mt. Hood Circumnavigation https://doubledaggerac.com/mt-hood-circumnavigation/ Tue, 10 Nov 2020 21:34:10 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=153

Mt. Hood Circumnavigation

DISTANCE
0 MI
138 KM
ELEVATION
0 '
2,658 M
IDEAL TIRE
0 C
Some gravel sections
DIFFICULTY
0 /10
Pretty big Mountain day

A CUT ABOVE THE REST

Crawl from the deep wet woods and fly among the gods and snow. This ride has it all. Tree canyons. Gravel. Screaming descents. Punchy climbs. And an alpine lake for good measure.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, this ride takes you around Mt. Hood. Better known as “Wy’east” to the Multnomah tribe, this mountain is a gem in the Cascade Rage. It is the tallest mountain in Oregon and a beacon standing above Portland visible from nearly any high point (when it’s not raining). But it is a hidden gem in plain sight for road bikes. With a little know how you can mostly avoid most the bad parts of highway riding and enjoy views of Mt. Hood from all sides in a single day.

Zig When Other Zag

A good starting point is the Zigzag Ranger Station. Hit Coffee House 26 on your way in, so you have something to drink while your friend’s debate arm warmers or jacket. Starting here minimized your time on Hwy26, which has a good sized shoulder here until you turn off onto Still Creek. I hope you put your climbing legs on. Because Still Creek starts off as a pleasant one lane fern gulley but before long it shows it’s true colors and turns to gravel and begins to really climb. The pitch is never torturous but it is unrelenting first test. But it is a real treat to be in the woods with a Tom Dick and Harry Mountain between you and the highway. There are a few offshoot roads near the top, but stay straight and you’ll be rewarded by arriving at Trillium Lake. Trillium can be a little busy during the warmer months, so take a quick snap and keep moving. A bit more climbing till you reach Hwy26, the highway avoided so well up to this point but don’t fret. It’s downhill and you take the first exit onto Hwy35.

Okay okay. It’s another highway, but less busy and at least offers a pleasant view as you climb towards White River Glacier. At this point you’ve only done 24 miles, and you rightfully might feel a bit cooked. But don’t worry once you top out at the snow park it’s time to practice your aero tuck for a ripping downhill. By the time you start to get tired of descending, about 10mi, keep your eyes real sharp for a left turn. This turn isn’t mandatory but it puts you onto the lovely side roads to the Cooper Spur ski area, it’s a bit more climbing but well worth it. The miles tick by easy until you fly down to the apple orchards of Parkdale.

Land of Apples and Beer

Parkdale is more or less only refill point on this whole route. There is a grocer for sodas and Sandwiches. Or Solera Brewery if you want a burger and beer, which also has a top notch view of the mountain out back.

Getting out of town is easy, but the left hand turn onto Red Hill Dr is easy to miss. After you cross a small bridge and the climbing begins, the pitches are steeper. You may regret that beer. FS16 doesn’t take your pity, just your sweat on this exposed climb back into the remote hills of the mountain. The surface is mostly good but often times there is sections of gravel. For the most part you just stay on what seems like the main road and you’re good.

You know you’re at the top when you come to an intersection, and a sign. Possibly the first signs of humans you’ve seen in an hour. Take a left and and enjoy some ups and downs, before you eventually find a whole lot of down as you get under the power lines. A descent that will put a smile on your face and test your brakes a bit. T into an intersection, take the left again onto NF16/Lolo Pass Road.

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Lolo Lows

You’re now pretty deep into this ride. And Lolo seems like a nice road at this point. It lures you in with some flat smooth tarmac. A little climbing turns into more. And more. Just when you thought this shit was over. Then it turns into gravel. Just when you thought you and Lolo were friends. Eventually Lolo does turn back to pavement, but not the pavement you want. Large cracks and seams threaten to gobble your tire with a side dish of rim. But it feels good to be moving so let it rip.

Eventually you see a few signs of civilization. Houses for the first time in hours. The pavement smooths and then you’re back at Hwy26 where this all began. Dropped down from heavenly heights back to your earthly vehicle. There is a little market right there in Zigzag and your car is just across the way. Better yet, keep it classy and hit up Boomer’s Wall Street Pizza in Sandy. 

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Bonus miles?

Want to add a bit more? Start in Sandy and ride Marmot Road to the start. Make it a cool 125mi or so.

Some Route NOTES

We first heard about a version of this route called the Rapscallion Reacharound, but we’ve paired it with Still Creek Rd learned from 2012 Rapha Gentle-person’s Race. This combo makes best use of the highway sections or avoid them all together. We’ve done both ways and think this is the best way around the mountain.

Photos and text by Ben Guernsey

]]> 153 Marvelous Mt. Rainier https://doubledaggerac.com/mt-rainier/ Tue, 10 Nov 2020 21:33:20 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=151

Marvelous Mt. Rainier

DISTANCE
0 MI
96KM
ELEVATION
0 '
2,111M
IDEAL TIRE
0 C
All paved but some cush is good
DIFFICULTY
0 /10
Big Mountain day

Paradise Found on Tahoma

Longmire to Paradise and Stevens Canyon (Out and Back)

At the southwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park sits the small community of Longmire. This is a perfect starting point for tackling what is one of the most grand, rewarding, and downright Euro As F%ck passes in the United States. The route begins by meandering through the woods adjacent to the Nisqually River. Take note of how perfectly engineered the road is, because you’ll be ripping through this stretch at the end of the day going the opposite direction, with a massive grin on your face. Eventually the road straightens out a bit, and you approach a wide and unremarkable bridge that crosses the Nisqually. Once on the bridge, look to the left, for a riveting view of the melted glacier that forms the headwaters of the Nisqually. After crossing the river, the road changes course and heads south, providing a fresh perspective, the first of many clear views of Tahoma’s magnitude, as well as a chance to see how much elevation you’ve already gained in just a few miles.
Remember to bear left at any intersections, chill on the flat sections and stop to take photos. This is a long and relentless climb all the way to Paradise Lodge. At Paradise, you’ll have the opportunity to top off fluids, maybe even eat a hot dog, check out some wildflowers, and listen to some foreign languages being spoken. Paradise is a popular destination for international tourists, due in part to its proximity to Seattle, so weekday mornings are ideal times to be up here. I wouldn’t go as far as to say cars can spoil this ride, but those who get their kicks descending will have a better time with fewer cars on the road.
 
The other side of the pass is Stevens Canyon, a dry, rocky testament to the geological volatility of the Pacific Northwest. The descent begins just past Reflection Lake, where the road reluctantly tilts and then positively plummets off the shoulder of Tahoma toward the southeast corner of the park. If you’re going to send it, you’ll want to punch it right here, with no hesitation. This is a wide open descent, where high speed can be fickle; a test of aerodynamic efficiency more than of skill or bravery. About halfway down the descent, there is  a short uphill stretch, and this is a good place to recollect a group that strung out on the upper slopes. You’ll see a large turnout on the right, which provides another bucolic scene of Tahoma towering overhead. 
The second part of the descent is more of a thrill ride. Here the road traverses a ridge thickly forested with firs, the pavement is glass-smooth, and speed snowballs rapidly, setting you up for a lovely series of sweeping curves which signal it’s nearly time to turn around and reverse course back to Longmire.
 
On the return journey, remember how exposed the upper pitches of Stevens Canyon are. This exposure, combined with a surface that is rough at times, can present a challenge in high summer heat, or if there is a breeze blowing. 
 
Take in the views as you summit Stevens Canyon and cruise through the saddle between Reflection Lake and Paradise. Wait for a healthy gap in the cars at the left turn onto Paradise Valley Rd; trust us, the wait is worth it. This is one of those descents where you can chill and let the speed come to you, taking the curves as they come, and have a nice mellow end to a big ride. Or, you could empty the tank—synchronizing a deafening arrangement of full gas sprints, aero-tucks, and countersteering precision- in a seemingly bottomless well of high alpine adrenaline. 
Double-Dagger-AC-Mt-Rainier-Cycling-Route
DISTANCE
0 MI
95KM
ELEVATION
0 '
2,128M
IDEAL TIRE
0 C
All paved but some cush is good
DIFFICULTY
0 /10
Medium Mountain day

STEVENS CANYON TO SUNRISE

(Out and Back)

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris quis interdum mauris. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Phasellus in laoreet augue, at imperdiet risus. Quisque sit amet sapien elit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Maecenas sed purus neque. Mauris tristique, tellus et venenatis ullamcorper, metus libero lobortis lectus, id lobortis augue sapien sed nunc. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque sem odio, faucibus quis velit vitae, suscipit vulputate est. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed sit amet lacus lobortis, pretium ipsum et, efficitur felis.

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET​

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris quis interdum mauris. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Phasellus in laoreet augue, at imperdiet risus. Quisque sit amet sapien elit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Maecenas sed purus neque. Mauris tristique, tellus et venenatis ullamcorper, metus libero lobortis lectus, id lobortis augue sapien sed nunc. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque sem odio, faucibus quis velit vitae, suscipit vulputate est. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed sit amet lacus lobortis, pretium ipsum et, efficitur felis.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris quis interdum mauris. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Phasellus in laoreet augue, at imperdiet risus. Quisque sit amet sapien elit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Maecenas sed purus neque. Mauris tristique, tellus et venenatis ullamcorper, metus libero lobortis lectus, id lobortis augue sapien sed nunc. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque sem odio, faucibus quis velit vitae, suscipit vulputate est. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed sit amet lacus lobortis, pretium ipsum et, efficitur felis.

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Words to the Wise

We’ve broken up the riding into two routes. It’s possible in one, we’ve done it, but it exceeds the fun threshold. You can rally the climbs and descents more fresher.

This is one of the biggest mountains in the continental US, be prepared for mountain weather. Duh.

Text by Bennett Shane
Photos by Ben Guernsey

]]> 151 Forks of Salmon https://doubledaggerac.com/forks-of-salmon/ Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:26:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=356

Forks of salmon

DISTANCE
0 MI
162KM
ELEVATION
0 '
3237M
IDEAL TIRE
0 C
All tarmac
DIFFICULTY
0 /10
Damn long day

Pitchy. Sinuous. Grand.

Rugged. Breathtaking. Humbling. Life-affirming. And oh so socially distant. We chose Forks of Salmon as Double Dagger’s first ride story, because it is the archetype of what a mythical road ride is in 2021. 
I’ve occasionally thought about what would happen if someone with loads of cash purchased a vast, remote parcel of land, and built a network of roads over it, for the explicit purpose of shredding on road bikes. It’s a potent vision, but I honestly doubt anyone could do better than the great State of California did with this route in Siskiyou County.  Forks of Salmon is an amusement park for roadies, just without the crowds, or the easily- accessible junk food. 
 
That’s pronounced just like it looks: Sis-Ski-You County. This is Northern California, about an hour south of the Oregon border, and just across the Interstate 5 corridor from Mount Shasta. The area around Etna, CA—where this ride launches from—has not been discovered by real estate developers, or Instagram influencers. It isn’t the next Bend, Oregon or Asheville, NC. 

When we show up in Etna

Past sundown, already exhausted from two days of big rides and road-tripping from Portland, we don’t bother exploring. We check into our motel, clean our bikes, lay out kit, pockets loaded with snacks, and drop into an endorphin-soaked sleep, bleached bed sheets and rattling AC units encasing us, a simple, rural silence outside our rooms. 
 
The morning arrives chilly and bright. We’ve timed this perfectly; it’s going to be a banner autumn day in the mountains. We munch breakfast burritos and wash down doughnuts with coffee at The South Fork Baking Co. Glycogen stores topped off, and caffeine absorbed, it’s time to start. 
 
We roll west out of Etna, and soon begin to climb, slow dancing up a creek drainage, the morning sun rising at our backs, gently sifted through dense forest canopy. The road wiggles and pitches, gradually narrowing, and at a sharp left turn, reveals its true nature; a gut punch of a climb, the road ramped and precarious, looking like it could crumble and slide off the mountainside at any moment. But this is no time for morbid shit like that, it’s time to focus on ourselves, our breath, our cadence. This climb isn’t one to fight. We make friends and give it a hug, in the grandparent gears.
 
Eventually the sky widens, the grade relents, and we see the top. We look back down the climb, to the East, a cascade of hillsides, rocky protrusions, and fall foliage beneath us, and it’s clear; we’ve already taken a big step into this day, and it’s barely even started. 

regrouping at the top

We take in the view of what will be the next 3–4 hours of our ride. The Salmon River’s north fork plows an obvious and direct path west, toward the Pacific Ocean. We will follow this fork to where it converges with the river’s south fork some 20 miles from where we stand, then cross the river to follow the south fork back up to the same ridgeline, reaching it much later in the day. The view is both exhilarating and daunting; it’s not often that we can see such an expansive part of a ride as it’s happening. I try not to think about the distance, and just take in the scene. 

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The descent begins

And we instantly plummet up to 40+ mph, which feels a bit weird with the heart rate now very low. The road is just as perilous as it was on the other side, a strip of pavement hugging the edges of a questionably stable section of rock. I recall being on rim-brake carbon hoops at the time, and trying to pump hard and let off, alternating levers so as to avoid melting a brake track in the middle of remote mountain nowhere. We come out of a hairpin right turn, dropping into tree cover. The grade flattens slightly, visibility up the road improves, and we hit the gas gleefully. Our machines at last feeling planted and secure. The road is still deceptively steep, and the calmed forest air combines with gravity to keep us sailing downward, over small rises and around nicely banked turns. Eventually we reach the river, the euphoric section of the descent ends, and the road takes on a more challenging character, with a long series of short kickers followed by equally steep downhills. The temptation is to try to hold high speeds over the top of these small rises, and some will be able to do this with ease, for a while, but that’s a dangerous game this early in the ride. 
 
We come across some friendly cows and stop for another photo and snack break. We pass through Sawyers Bar, one of the small communities nestled along the banks of the Salmon River, the road here is barely wide enough for one car, and visibility is poor at times. It’s a place wholly unaltered by the passing of time and it passes by in an instant. After trending down in elevation for another hour or so, we reach a bridge and turn left, crossing the Salmon River. We are at the furthest point from our starting point in Etna, and will now begin the journey back up river to the ridgeline at the high point of the Marble Mountain Wilderness. While there are respites, this is a gradual climb that will take several hours, with a net gain of six thousand feet. Not that this ride is about numbers, which it certainly is not. And so it goes, we climb along a shelf of pavement, carved into cliffs overlooking the Salmon River’s north fork. The situation feels truly remote, and borders on disorienting, were it not for the constant push of gravity against and the curves in the road following the wild path of the river below us. I ride close to the edge and glance down the shadowy cliffs to the river rocks below. I see a naked human jump into the river and I am envious. The temperature has risen significantly since we crossed the river, strong sunlight and extreme geology splattering  hot and cold pockets of air along the road, with near zero humidity to buffer the sudden changes. The fall foliage is glittering gold and amber, with an infinitely rich blue sky above to contrast. The vibe is dreamy and we pedal through the early afternoon. 
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Licking The Plate Clean

After a resupply in Cecilville, which is never to be counted on, we begin the most challenging part of the day. While our first ascent of the Marble Mountains was heaving and twisting horse track, the second time over the pass will be a slow burn from Cecilville on a perfectly engineered state highway. One of the better named segments on Strava, “The C-Monster” never tilts above 5%, but the meandering path of the road, always revealing another gradual ramp around it’s countless bends, makes it a practice in self control and patience. As we plod along, the shadows begin to creep across the tarmac, and the temperature begins to drop. At the summit, we see a small viewpoint, still protruding into the waning afternoon sun. We regroup here, relieved to have the C-Monster behind us. 
 
The descent back into Scott Valley is wide open and smoothly paved, and we spend most of it tucking low on our bikes, the turbulence drowning out the sound of our freehubs. After crossing Highway 3, we ride north on a lovely farm road as the sun begins to set. This has been a big ride for all of us, and for some of us, it’s been a step up to a new level of endurance. The faces in the group prove this, and I am relieved that we made it through and had a rewarding day. Dustin beats me width by a tire to the town line of Etna, and we bump fists to cap off a perfect day of riding. 

Text by Bennett Shane. 
Photos by Dustin Einig, Bennett Shane & Ben Guernsey.

]]> 356 Wonderland https://doubledaggerac.com/wonderland/ Thu, 24 Sep 2020 03:46:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=941

Wonderland

Crown of the Cascades

The Cascades are know for rain, Douglas Firs and Sasquatch. The range extends from Northern California into Canada and the highest among it’s many peaks is Mt. Rainier. The mountain almost looks smaller than it is because of it’s not as pointy, and you’re seeing it from so far away. But at 14’111’ (4,392m) it stands above the rest.

The trail around the mountain was started in 1907, crews added to it every year until 1915 when they finished the 93 mile loop. To hike the trail you need a permit, which is a lottery system you enter in the early spring. You can set out to do so in as little or as much time as you want. The current FKT (fastest known time) to complete the loop is 16h 40m 55s. We spent a little more time than that.

Before the Trail

Let me start off with the permit, we filed for what seemed like the most “standard” option, 10 days clockwise from Longmire. We were accepted, but the route given was very different. Counter-clockwise from Longmire in 10 days/9 nights, but also sending us to the East Side trail off the Wonderland in the section I was most looking forward to. My advice: make multiple attempts and keep your expectations low.

The one real benefit of the Wonderland is the established food caches that allow you to lighten your load. Although coming up with shelf stable food options isn’t great, it is well worth the hassle. We sent off our bags of tuna and crackers along with our pre-packaged meals two weeks ahead. And crossed our fingers they would make it. If your food cache gets lost you’re pretty shit out of luck. Have to hike to the nearest campground and beg for a ride.

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Hitting the Trail

Day 1: Longmire to Maple Creek (10.4mi)

Standard start to an adventure, try to leave early and fail. And that is ok. Nearing the end of our 3+hr drive we realize neither of us packed the map. Luckily Longmire General Store had our idiot butts taken care of with a fresh print. The hardest part of the day was to know where to leave your car for over a week. But we just hit the trail a bit late. Hitting the trail, Longmire to past Paradise and Louise Lake actually kind of sucks, it’s a mild uphill within earshot of the road for 6 miles. Eventually a forever descent into Maple Creek has you praying for a little up for the sake of your knees. Daylight waned the trail became rocky as we found camp, tucked away in the trees on Steven’s Canyon.

Maple Creek Camp: 5/10

Not the worst camp, good creek nearby, but road noise audible into evening.

Day 2: Maple Creek to Olallie Creek (6.6mi)

This was one of two easy days on the trip, and felt almost guilty that having it only one day in. So we leisurely made breakfast and packed up. There was a super cool routing over the Steven’s Canyon Road, where you hike over a car tunnel. Today we split from the traditional Wonderland route down the Cowlitz Trail towards the Eastside Trail.

Olallie Creek Camp: 8/10

This was a great creek camp. Wasn’t epic but it had solitude, we waded in the creek and ate our fill of huckleberries.

Day 3: Olallie Creek to Deer Creek (10.3mi)

More downhill. I couldn’t help but think we would eventually pay for all this downhill. As we neared the bottom of the watershed the most bizarre thing occurred… A line of people on the trail. Probably over 50 people standing there in the woods. None of them had more than daypacks, so we started passing everyone. This being COVID year we just didn’t want to be surrounded by people, it’s the one thing that didn’t get cancelled. Someone even yelled at us to wait in line, but right as they did we split on the Eastside Trail. They were all waiting to cross a pedestrian bridge.

The day got better as the trail follows the Ohanapecosh River and eventually drops to it. We found a perfect spot to drop pack and jump into the frigid glacier fed waters.

Deer Creek Camp: 6/10

The camp is okay, nothing special but the swimming hole in the river isn’t too terribly far.

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Double-Dagger-AC-Mt-Rainier-Wonderland-Trail
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Day 4: Deer Creek to Sunrise Camp (14.6mi)

We knew this would be a big day both mileage and elevation-wise. Luckily our packs were light headed to our first food cache. We followed a creed before heading up and up to reconnect with the Wonderland. Eventually high enough that the trees thinned and we passed some pristine alpine lakes in a meadow before reaching the White River and Sunrise Road. We had to hike along the road, which was a drag. But right as we got tired and found our food cache waiting right on top at White River Campground. We ate second lunch before embarking up the second round of pitches towards Sunrise. Our packs heavy this turned into a death march. Up and up. Forever.

Views finally peaked out, we hadn’t actually seen Rainier proper in a couple days. The mountain seemed a little hazy, and a cool breeze from the East had started. A mile from camp you can hike towards the parking lot and store, which I did to get us a couple much earned beers and chips. Civilization is always weird when you come from the backcountry. People who drove up the mountain seem like boring and alien. I’m sure they were equally as put off by my body odor. Upon finally reaching camp the breeze had picked up and turned quite cold. Almost too cold for the beers I just procured. This was an ominous sign. We slept with our down jackets on.

Sunrise Camp: 4/10

Situated in a very pristine area that has been overrun by droves of tourists.

Day 5: Sunrise Camp to Mystic Camp (8.6mi)

After a fitful night of sleep with the gale outside we made breakfast in our sleeping bags in the tent. Hiked out in our down with the wind still howling, fortunately at our backs. The haze had cleared and the views were amazing, but the cold made us keep moving as we crested Sourdough Gap. We descended past the nice little camp of Granite Creek Camp to refill and shed layers. The bad sleep made the last few miles to Mystic Camp a trudge.

We threw down our gear and hiked the half mile up to the lake itself. Sweet relief, this is what we came for. The wind died, the sun shown bright at the lake with granite peaks looming above. It was warm enough to take a dip and dry off on a log. This is the bounty of the backcountry.

Mystic Lake Camp: 10/10

Though not on the lake itself, it was the a nice camp in the nearby woods. 

Day 6: Mystic Camp to Eagle’s Roost (11.2mi)

Today we once again veer off the traditional Wonderland route, but for good reason we’re headed up and over Spray Park. While we knew this would be the highest point on our route before we left it wasn’t on our map and we figured would be similar to previous ascents. Turned out to be much steeper and rougher trail. But there was no way to be mad in what was one of the most heavenly alpine meadows I’ve been to. Like living in a 360º postcard. We cross several patches of snow in the meadows, on the look out for bears that frequent this area. Short on time the dream has to end as we descend into the next valley and our camp. A haze had settled into the valley, but it wasn’t feeling humid.

Eagle’s Roost Camp: 8/10

Perched on a bluff above the valley, it gets amazing evening light even if it’s all blocked by trees.

Day 7: Eagle’s Roost to Golden Lakes (12.4mi)

Yesterday was tougher than anticipated, but my pack is light now, bordering on empty. Pick up our second food cache at Mowich Lake, a nice little lake with a patrol cabin. The day seems to drag on, like I am dragging a boat anchor. We are running on fumes into Golden Lakes, but a perfect spot to recharge with an actual swimmable lake. Which was cold, but not glacial cold, it was a welcome finale to the day.

Golden Lakes Camp: 10/10

This spot is amazing, lakes are great for swimming.

Day 8: Golden Lakes to North Puyallap (5mi)

Our final rest day. Mostly downhill and our shortest day of the trip. We almost felt guilty taking a break to eat midway. The haze had followed us from Eagle’s Roost, and was getting thicker. Still quite tolerable but we now realize it is definitely smoke. The camp itself was weird, most the sites are in a row on a ledge a ways from the river. The group camp is across river on an old decommissioned road, which I find strange but somehow more appealing. We take the group camp as the day turns to evening.

North Pullayup Camp: 3/10

The spot if kind of boring, and row of camps don’t offer very good privacy.

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Double-Dagger-AC-Mt-Rainier-Wonderland-Trail
Double-Dagger-AC-Mt-Rainier-Wonderland-Trail

Day 9: North Puyallup to Devil’s Dream (14mi)

We awake to the distinct smell of camp fire. But we haven’t had a fire the whole trip. The haze was now intolerable and eerie not knowing any details about where it was coming from. The hike out should have been beautiful, but the sun could not penetrate the gray haze giving everything a gray and yellow cast.

“Oregon City has been evacuated,” a hiking group going the other way informs us as we briefly trade information. The news hits me like a brick in the chest. We figured the smoke was local to somewhere in Washington Cascades. But it turns out the wind storm from Sunrise Camp had caused fires along the whole west coast that was a tinder box this season. The worry of what was happening back home started to creep and build. I tried not to think about them and enjoy the trail. But the anxiety monster grew large on my shoulders.

We met a nice marmot. We named him Carl.

Devil’s Dream Camp: 2/10

Oddly spooky, camps are next to the trail and had to hike for 20min each way to get late season water.

Day 10: Devil’s Dream to Longmire (5.8mi)

Someone described the last miles of a big day out as the feeling of when a horse can smell the barn. There is something about nearing the end of a long trip, whether riding, driving or walking. An anticipation to be done even if we had spent so much effort to do the trip. But with the smoke we wanted out, to know what was happening in our normal world. Truth is it didn’t matter a whole lot, the civilized world was terrible and choked with smoke. We were better off on the mountain. We drove back to Portland in air that only became more clogged with smoke the further we went. It was dark and foreboding. It had already been such a fucked year, and now this.

Our vehicle was covered in a layer of ash. But it still felt joyous to finish and drop pack. We celebrated with candy and chips from the Longmire market. Briefly enjoying the novelty of civilization after living like dirtbags for 10 days around the mountain.

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Leaving the Trail

I left the Wonderland feeling underwhelmed.

The trip was had fun and beautiful moments but overall I feel like it wasn’t a great bang for the buck. It was a pretty big haul that felt mostly in the woods, the few times we had amazing views felt very rushed due to conditions and timing. Maybe my thoughts would be different without the re-route to the East Side, had the wind storm and smoke not occurred. While I appreciate the trail is simply there and well taken care of I don’t see myself returning to do another lap around Rainier for a long time. There are too many other great places to explore.

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Photos and text by Ben Guernsey

]]> 941 Giordana Knit Leggings Review https://doubledaggerac.com/girodana-leg-warmers/ Sat, 11 Jul 2020 18:51:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=195

Giordana KNIT leggings review

Let me start off with this is like 1/2 rant and 1/2 review. 

Knit Warmers are Legit

Lightweight leg warmers are versatile and awesome. The knitted ones from Giordana are great, easy to get on and off. Offer a surprising amount of temperature range considering they are basically athletic pantyhose.  The sweet spot for these is about 50º  (10ºC). Lower end of use would be mid-40s and easily fine to ride in up into the 60s. But also they are so much easier to stash in a pocket than full thermal warmers, so if you start out on a cool morning and the sun breaks through a little later. The knit allows some good breathability and modest protection.

These aren’t to replace thermal leg warmers or thermal bibs. But they are better to replace times you’d consider knee warmers. As a bonus full coverage lightweight warmers allow you to not shave your legs into spring and save your cycling friends from your *gasp* hairy legs. These are def a cycling sock over warmer situation because they are like a second skin.

I found out about these form CyclingTips a couple seasons ago and it is one of few products that has really changed my wardrobe. The warmers offer a fair amount of stretch. But no adjustability as they are very much a tube of fabric. So if you are on quite skinny side or the thicc sprinter side of the cyclist-leg-shape-bell-curve you could be out of luck.

Giordana has also come out with a heavyweight knit. As well as a knit arm warmer. These are my shortlist of kit to try. Find them on Giordana’s site or just by ye olde Google.

Giordana-Knit-Warmers
Cover Your Damn Legs

Death to Knickers

Early in my cycling journey I didn’t have money for a lot of cycling gear. I managed to trade for a pair of new Rapha winter knickers and I wore them deep into a rare PNW snow-covered winter. First off, I was a young idiot, cover your damn legs when it’s freezing. Your legs tend to not feel as cold as other parts, your body simply have less receptors. Simple rule, if you need arm warmers you need leg warmers to match. The only exceptions is if you’re doing short intense race or intervals. The only case for wearing knee warmers for longer is in races that start early when it’s cold and you’re skilled enough to remove them before things get spicy. 

Bib knickers? No use for them. Use thermal bibs and leg warmers (thermal or knitted pending temperature). More even temperature control. And can be removed and fit into a pocket if the sun comes out. Bib knickers are some antiquated 1970’s idea that should be shelved with sausage helmets.

While we are here let me just throw out thermal bibs may be the most underrated piece of kit offered by several brands. Keep them loins toasty. And if paired with leg warmers you can shed a layer. Eliel offers one of the best pairs on the market.

]]> 195 Glamping the San Juans https://doubledaggerac.com/san-juan-huts/ Mon, 23 Sep 2019 01:02:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=905

Glamping the san Juans

High Country

Colorado is a state of mind. As well as one of the first two states to legalize weed. So lets get real high. This multi-day journey takes you from Durango, CO to Moab, UT. Starting out in tree filled valleys, you climb up to high desert and eventually wind up in the red rocks straight out of an episode of Road Runner. 

The San Juan Hut System is a series of huts in very remote to remote-ish areas. They have bunks and well stocked with food, bars and beer. Yes, these people get us, nothing is sweeter than beer after a long day in the saddle. Now this is a paid operation, but if you divide it among your friends it is pretty reasonable compared to a lot of vacation options.

Before we get started let me just start off with the worst part of this trip. Logistics! Getting a group to pick a date, book flights, shuttles, find their way to the start of this is a minor miracle. And traveling with a bike, much less a mountain bike with your gear is a pain in the ass. Okay, buckle down your saddle bag and let’s get started.

Purgatory

We got a shuttle to Purgatory, which is not as hellish as it sounds, simply a ski and mountain bike resort up in the mountains. Now every day there is a standard route and some alternates, some are minor but the first day is a major deviation. Our party all got dropped off on the Colorado Trail. This trail was made for hiking, twisty, rocky and occasional unridable features. We spent hours climbing getting to the high point of the day, a wind swept pass before bombing down. We thought most the climbing was over but after several undeniably steep grades of pushing our bikes we got to the first hut.

Being a glutton for punishment I opted for the alternative route for day 2. It had a lot of up and down in very scenic areas. The wind had picked up as we descended some flowy grassland and I couldn’t hear Jade yell “BEAR!” I was on track to T-bone the furry dude running across the trail until the last few yards. The second cabin is in the forest near a rocky out cropping where we star gazed into the night.

Eventually you leave the confines of the forest and descend into the dry warm plateaus. While it required some pedaling a day of mostly descending double track was some much needed respite. There was enough time in the day to jump in the reservoir and do as close to washing up as we had got in a couple days.

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Desert and Dessert

Popping and weaving sandy double track while sending lizards scurrying. We are in the backwater part of the state near some oil and gas refineries. There was some more paved highway riding to connect to more dirt double track that turns to proper jeep road. The clouds roll in as we find ourselves on the edge of a high plateau in which we must scramble down. Ketchumup Stock Trail is the sketchiest part of the whole trip trying to get down the steep loose rocks with loaded bikes and stiff shoes. But we do it right as the rains come in. Luckily we are next to the only market of the entire journey in Bedrock, CO. The owner chats us up for at least an hour as we eat ice cream and the heavens dump rain. 

We arise the second to last day all with a bit of mild dread by the profile. Elevation we had been largely losing the previous days was about to collect on that vertical debt. A slow slog into the La Sal Mountains while dodging rain clouds. In areas it really reminded me of the lone pine forests of Bend, OR. There were many herds of cattle that we had to try to shoo off the road.

The final day you start with a small climb before a single track descent that alternates between flowy grass and rocky woods. And the gives way to sandstone red rock. It strange to think not long before you were in the woods. At this point you have  choice to make, take the road to town. Or finish out the trek with the famous Whole Enchilada mountain bike trail.

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Pro Tips

There are a few tricks to making this trip really work. The biggest is your group. The huts hold up to 8. Once you book 5 you get the whole hut to yourselves, no potentially weird interloper who booked the same date. Now if you have 8 riders you get to split the cost more. But… the other thing is the huts are small and you’re always needing people to awkwardly move or take turns cooking. I think ideal is 5–6 riders and spend a little more.

The second trick is timing. And this is a total gamble. The huts are open to book May–Oct. The closer to the beginning and end of the season the more chance of bad weather. And let me tell you we found a rain storm in Durango the day before we left and I’ve never seen more sticky mud. And I know my mud pretty well from a decade of cyclocross. Mud like this could easily make a hard day near impossible death march hike-a-bike. We went in September and the only bummer is there was a lot fewer wildflowers.

Last note, book early. Prime times fill up.

Some Stats

Total Distance: 211.5MI
Elevation gain: 21,742'
Ride time: 26h 54m
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All text and photos by Ben Guernsey

]]> 905 Be Nice. But Take No Prisoners. https://doubledaggerac.com/be-nice-but-take-no-prisoners/ Thu, 20 Dec 2018 19:58:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=1069

Be nice. But take no prisoners.

Louisville, 2018

It’s strange to pin your whole year on 45-minutes. Not only strange but downright dumb. But so are most addictions.

It had been a pretty shit season. An accident in August seemed to drag and left me looking for former fitness. But I had already paid for the airfare and registration for Cyclocross Nationals. The AirBNB I had booked ended up being bizarre; the rental house’s pipe burst and I ended up sleeping in the owner’s daughter’s pink princess bed. But the bike was ready and all my frustration settled in my head like the clouds the storm clouds blew in from the East. There was nothing to do in Kentucky except be the calm little center of the world and wait for my start time.

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The Start Chute

It’s cold and dank but I pull off my arm warmers, from the last row I can toss them behind me to my Mettle team boss Randall. The arm warmers are a safety blanket from the elements, a last bit of luxury I won’t need. I feel the need to light everything on fire.

“Riders you are inside thirty seconds,” roars overhead from speakers in the distance and the rowdy lycra-clad crowd hushes with their last few breathes in the frigid dampness. Time slows but even so I am so far back in the state chute sea of lycra that I have no panic, it’ll be an extra few seconds before my actual race will start. The light switches and followed by the sound of cleats snapping into pedals ripples backwards row by row.

My entire world narrows. Nothing exists outside the Kentucky blue grass turned over and over until it has become a serpentine pig pen of mud.

This is it. There is only forward.

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I am in full control but somehow the sensation is different than the dozens and dozens of past races. My body is not my own. My sense of self has shrunk into a tiny operator. Rather than feeling the effort it’s like I am piloting a myself from within. My body is but a vehicle of effort; a machine made for careening through a muddy obstacle course. I can read all the inputs meanwhile the bike sliding beneath me is somewhere between marathon and rodeo.

In front of me is a school of lycra clad fish winding their way between the tape. Bumping and moving as one. I know the fast lines. But I do not take them. I must zig where others zag. Passes come by the handful, moving and taking space. As we careen and splash. Momentum is my only friend. 

The flat upper bends and chicanes are done and my tactic has been working. The crowds gather on either side of the huge mud chute. It’s not clear where the puddle stops and the brown toboggan run starts, it is all varying degrees of muddiness. The announcers overhead echo from afar broken as a space transmission while the crowd screaming on my side is in tongues. The cowbell is the only noise that makes any sense. Racers cluster to the safer high side, my only opportunity is to zag and take the low side. The decision is made.

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But in front of me is a slow motion crash begins to roll from high left to the right. There is no way to actually stop. Control is not what you have in these slippery conditions, you merely where the bike should go. Exhale. Let go. Let go of the brake, it’s the only chance. But gravity slides the riders in front of me further. I think it’ll be o… 

A bar end catches the brake lever. Sirens in my head come alive. Error! Error!

Rolling from head to back then presses off the soft clay mud with a right hand. Find the handle bars and go. Auto-pilot takes over, somehow in a blink I’ve crashed rolled and rebounded. I have no vision while a rhythmic splatter from beneath shoes mixes with the sounds cowbell let me know where I am. My glasses covered in brown, reflexively I tossed into the unknown world beyond the course tape. There is no stopping. Only forward.

Hanging onto the bars is incredibly difficult with an inch of slick mud on your palm. But back off the bike we go to run up chutes and lime stairs. Then back down to the basin bottom. The track is so tilted and thick it is tricky to know whats faster. Run. Jump. Pedal. Jump. Run.

The sea of racers has been scattered along the course now. The treacherous conditions has separated mice from men in less than a lap. The battle shifts from one another to against the race course itself. But for the first time I can see the front of the race as the course doubles back on itself. As I continue to dodge, pick and battle with other riders. The race track takes us back up what was is the main mud chute sees all the same people simply shifted over twelve feet. Their chants for carnage are now wide eyed at the mud covered monsters coming back up the hill.

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Stamping at the pedals my sights narrow on more racers. And now I can begin to take more inside lines. Using puddles to crudely wash off my bike and keep the mud from setting up.

The machine is beginning to crack now. Running too hot.

At the top of the hill the pits already whirring their ferocious hum. As we hit the only flat easy ground for the whole race I rip off my gloves. Undoing the velcro with my teeth. The gloves have been figuratively off for a lap, but the gesture still feels appropriate.

There is still three more laps…

Afterword

From the  basically the last row of 137 starters I managed to get 14th on the day. Passing well over 100 riders. With no pit bike. This will probably be my best performance on a bike in over a decade of amateur racing. The only accolades earned are my memories of what it feels like to have a peak performance. It’s addicting. Makes you want to chase the dragon.

One last note for clarification. This race was in Dec 2018 and was technically the second Cyclocross Nationals of 2018. USA Cycling flipped back to a December schedule after trying the more international January slot.

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Photos by Randall Fransen
Text by Ben Guernsey

]]> 1069 McKenzie Pass https://doubledaggerac.com/mckenzie-pass/ Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:18:00 +0000 https://doubledaggerac.com/?p=138

Mckenzie Pass

DISTANCE
0 MI
124KM
ELEVATION
0 '
1944M
IDEAL TIRE
0 C
All paved
DIFFICULTY
0 /10
Medium Mountain day

Classic Oregon

This route is hardly a DDAC original. It’s been well documented and is more of an Oregon Classic than anything. However, we’ve ridden it numerous times in both directions and have a few tips to make this journey magical. And while we are generally against out-and-back routes we make an exception here, because it’s rare in America to get to ride plowed mountain passes that make you pretend you’re in The Giro.

First and most importantly picking the right date. As of the past few years the pass has been opening in mid-June. So May until June is the prime window. Check the ODOT page here that the pass is clear first: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Regions/Pages/McKenzie-Highway.aspx

Also don’t forget weather, check it both in Eugene and Sisters, OR and assume it will get much chiller on the top of the pass.

From the Forest to the High Desert

We prefer the West to East route. There is something about ascending from the lush valley first that just feels right. Sure, some will complain that you ascend the steep side straight away, but to us that is a feature. Park before Hwy242 (McKenzie Highway) at the Rainbow Ranger Station. The first couple miles are flat and leave you wondering why you drove all this way, but upon turning onto Hwy242 you quickly forget your pessimistic mindset. Things get good when you go around the yellow closed gate a few miles in. The forest beckons you and lures you as it begins to point upwards. Breathe it in.

As you get higher you stand among the trees. As the climb opens it up it begins to get steeper and switchbacks take you higher. When the views of the Willamette Valley end you get to the lava fields and a series of rollers. Views open up to Mt. Washington and Three Fingered Jack to the North. To the South the Sisters along with Broken Top. Eventually in the distance you spy a castle seemingly from Lord of the Rings. This is no illusion it is the Dee Wright Observatory. Now for your true challenge of the day try hiking to the top in road shoes. Don’t linger long and get cold because it’s downhill to Sisters.

Now, if you’ve done your meteorologic homework correctly some of the best snow banks to ride through are just past the observatory. Point it down and try not to imagine Andy Hampsten covered in snow on the Gavia. There is a nice pull out before getting to the gate. The downhill continues a little bit more till you’re on the flats into the town of  Sisters. We recommend coffee and a pastry at Sisters Coffee Co.  on Hood Ave. You’ll need the fuel to get you back up the other side. The good news is the East side climb is easier and you get a top notch brake-roasting alpine descent back down the West side to your car. See, we told you West to East was better.

If you want some fun homework look up Carl Decker and Adam Craig setting the downhill KOM

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OTHER CAR-FREE ALPINE Roads

For what it’s worth there is also windows of car-free riding at Mt. Lassen and Crater Lake National Parks that are publicly posted. At Yosemite, Tioga Road (Hwy 120) has a small window before hoards of tourists come, however if you can find out when you pretty much have to be ready to go. What makes McKenzie Pass unique is the communication from ODOT and the relatively long window until cars are let through. It’s part of why Oregon is pretty damn magical for bikes.

Check ODOT’s site for info: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/regions/pages/mckenzie-highway.aspx

Photos and text by Ben Guernsey

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