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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Hood Mountain, September 2019
Steep, steep, and steep: A Photographic Log
6 September, 8 miles
Only eight miles?!? It felt more like a hundred, given the steepness, heat, and swarms of gnats attempting to take up permanent residence in my eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.Not having bicycled through Hood Mountain Regional Park in almost three years (although I hike there far more often), I decided it was time to give it a go on the Ogre. That meant I would be pushing the bike as much as I would be pedaling it, because the park is nothing but hills (more like mountains, say I) and the trails are nothing but steep.
Not an easy expedition. More like Type Two fun. That is, not really fun until it's over and you're telling someone about it while consuming a suitable beverage. Whew.
PS: Yesterday I was at NorCal bike shop, and one of the guys was showing me a Class 1 electric-assist mountain bike. Had I pulled out a credit card and bought it on the spot, today's adventure would have been a piece of cake. Or at least Type One fun.
Starting down from the parking lot at the end of Los Alamos Road.
Much of the ride is under cover of trees, with dappled sunlight and shadows.
Not exactly autumn in Sonoma County, but plenty of leaf litter on the trail.
Pausing to look back up the hill I just came down.
Almost at the creek at the bottom.
Warming up fast.
I decided to consume some liquid refreshment before crossing the creek and starting up the long climb.
The creek in the narrow valley.
Not much water in mid-summer, but I've been here in the rainy season when this has been a treacherous crossing due to high flow.
These are the headwaters of Santa Rosa Creek, which eventually empties into the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean.
An example of how steep the trail is in many places.
On the way back, near here I managed to lock up the brakes, skid through a patch of loose rocks, and lay down the Ogre in a cloud of dust before I knew what was happening.
A flat spot on one of the switchbacks on the climb.
Vineyard in the distance, just outside the park boundary.
Stopped to catch my breath and drink some water at the turnoff leading down to the old homestead.
Near here I met a woman walking her dog. Didn't see anyone else in the park all day.
Almost at the high point on the trail.
Now I'll get some steep downhill before starting up the next climb.
Climbing again.
I left the Ogre beside the trail and walked up to a hitherto unexplored hilltop where I ate lunch with a good view of the trail-less interior of the park.
Trees along the trail.
The park has posted multiple videos on its website demonstrating that this is now habitat for bears and mountain lions. I sang loudly whenever I had enough spare oxygen in my lungs to do so. No one wants to hang around when I'm singing, not even bears and mountain lions.
Almost at the end of the line.
The ridge in the distance is private land outside the park.
End of the line at the park boundary.
Not visible from here, about a half mile farther along is a winery with hillside vineyards in Napa County.
No wine for me. I finished a bottle of water, then turned around and retraced my route back to the parking lot.
Definitely Type Two fun.
Summary
Date: 6 September 2019
Time: 10:30 - 2:00
Weather: 65 - 90° F, sunny
Route: Hood Mountain Regional Park
Distance: 8 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
Tags: Hood Mountain Regional Park
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