L E W I S   R I V E R

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Southern Washington State

This photo attempts to capture an example of the drop-offs that lurk on some parts of the trail. This drop-off is probably 50 feet or so. Since this is singletrack, one has to be extra careful not to lose balance, drop over the edge, and enter into the dangerous realm of extreme sports.

Even though Mount St. Helens blew its stack 14 years ago, there are still remnants of its ashes to be found. This deposit was once sitting under a log that was recently moved aside to reveal the ashes underneath.

Even though the singletrack generally runs downhill, there are still some sections of uphill. Here I am after pushing my bike up numerous ascents, too steep for me to surmount. I'm just amazed at the folks who can get up and over them. Since I'm in lousy shape and don't know what the hell I'm doing when it comes to mountain biking, some measure of sweat is justified and actually welcome. Sweating means I'm alive and not dead at the bottom of a drop-off that I unwillingly extreme-sported my way down. I like sweat, sweat is good.

Some sections of the singletrack are set deep in the forest. At about this point in my trek I am befelled by my second misfortune.