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| Hiking | 9.45 Miles |
1,967 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.45 Miles | 4 Hrs 45 Mns | | 2.48 mph |
| 1,967 ft AEG | 56 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I have a backpack/hike next weekend and I wanted to get a good hike under my belt even though next week's backpack/hike is only 7 miles one way and 7 miles back with a mile hike to an Arch in-between.
I thot the temps would be cooler but that didn't materialize as it warmed up real fast even though I was done by 11:30. Those last few miles were hot to me.
Since my hiking partner had to bail, I did manage to get started a little earlier. I never sleep well the nite before a hike so I woke at 5:30 and was on the trail by 6:40AM. The first mile and 1/2 the air was still  ; not a breeze or a little gust to be found anywhere. I was thinking this might cause me to turn back at the pass. Fortunately, WINDgate Pass was going to live up to its mantra and as I turned the corner around McDowell(?) Mtn heading east again, a slight breeze picked up and since I was still in the shade, I got a little lilt in my step  .
I got to the Pass in pretty good time. I like that last 1/2 mile as the grade is nice and so is the trail. At the Pass I ate 1/2 of my snack and drank 1/3 of my gatorade. I visited with 3 mtn bikers (they were riding some rough routes today). I then headed down the east side of Windgate Pass and would end up going clockwise compared to when I did this route last year. Funny that the temp would end up being somewhat similar except that this year the temp would be a few degerees less and I also got started an hour earlier. I was still ever mindful of the heat exhaustion I suffered last year out here.
I got down Windgate in no time at all and encountered another mountain biker before heading south and over to Bell Pass. I figured the elevation gain and mileage was very similar to Shaw Butte which I had done the previous weekend. The breeze was very limited on this stretch of the trail and I have to say, that last little bit before arriving at Bell Pass  , I felt like I was in slow motion.
There were quite a few folks up on the Pass during my time here. I finished off my snack and most of the gatorade before heading down. I got my poles out for this steep section. I am having trouble with my computer elbow again so using the poles kind of agitated it a bit. I was surprised how many folks were still coming up the Pass from the west side since it was now getting warm and the breeze was nearly non-existent.
I was looking forward to getting to the Gateway intersection when I could break out the Chrome Dome; so it was motivation to keep me moving briskly. Now, however, my darn hip flexors started acting up so I stopped twice to try and stretch them. Today, two days later, my flexors are still pretty sore. I've always gotten the sore flexors but it's never lingered. Finally I hit that intersection, drink the rest of the gatorade, put my poles away and unleash the chrome dome. I so much prefer body shade  .
I finished off the last 1.5 miles and looked forward to seeing the turn to the Gateway Center. And of course, there are The Looks I get carrying the Chrome Dome though I think most people out in the heat appreciated its relevance. Other than the heat, I was pleased with how I did time wise. I really didn't expect to finish until 12:30 and I was done at 11:30. My flexors may have paid the price though.
I like this route and will want to try it again from the Bell Pass side when it's MUCH cooler. I thot I might be pushing the temps today and I did. As I tell my hiking friends, "why hike in the heat when more than likely, you will be caught in the heat and have to hike in it much to your chagrin". |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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