Mood:  don't ask

Washington Pass lay in front of me.  I had ridden over it twice last year on an upright bike, but I wanted to ride a recumbent.  Since it entailed some different leg muscles than an upright bike, I trained hard trying to get the muscles "climb ready".  Apparently they weren't.  Nevertheless, I was alone, smack in the middle of nowhere, no cell phone coverage, and I was going to ascend Washington Pass.

Washington Pass is 5,400-5,500 feet in elevation, one of the highest in the state.  My campground was at around 1,000 feet. It was thirty two miles to the summit, most of it uphill.  Last year I left at 9 AM and reached the summit at 2:30 PM.  It had been difficult but I felt strong.  What would today bring?

8:15 AM.  The first 3 miles are steep, probably a 6% grade.  before leaving, I drained off half my water, knowing that I could filter water from the steams on the hill (This turned out to be a sound strategy) .  I also jettisoned my entire cookset except for one small pot.  I still had to be carrying 50 pounds of gear.  Legs felt stiff and weak.  I prayed again.  I don't think I've prayed this much in years.

After the first three grueling miles, things perked up a bit.  The grade became much more managable and easier.   I felt I was barely moving, then noticed something up ahead.  It was another touring bicycler, and I was gaining on him!  In fact he ended up walking several times.  I was thankful about getting special gearing on the bike which helped move the huge load forward. 

The last four miles were a one mile descent followed by a three mile very steep climb.  The descent lasted less than two minutes.  The last three miles took 50 minutes.  BUT I MADE IT!!  With lots and lots of prayer.  I checked the time when reache the summit.  It was 2:30 PM.  For all of my thinking that I was going so slow, I was only 45 minutes slower than last year on the upright. 

There was still 32 miles to go.  Most of the first 10-15 miles were downhill.  The balance was gently downhill.  I arrived in Winthrop around 5 PM., just in time to meet my friends Karl and Harriet Groth at the KOA campground. 

I was a little amazed that I was so weak last night, then today I had scaled Washington Pass.  Go figure.  Of course, the next day's ride, Loup Loup, was the one I had been worried about for weeks.  It was shorter but steeper than Washington Pass.

Will McMahan