World Famous Devil's Gulch Campout     June 21-23, 2002

This STM Campout has become so popular worldwide that one rider, Sean Benz, come over from Scotland to attend this year's event; after seeing it on the STM website. We learned first-hand from Sean that organizations are building lots of cool singletrack in Scotland, which is fast becoming a Mountain Bike mecca. (They hosted a World Cup Downhill Championship.) He proved that Scots can kick ass on the trails here, too!

Friday turnout included 11 eager campers and the happy reunion of Labs Jack & Sassy. Even though the temps were in the 90's, a group of nine headed out at sundown for a short ride on the Red Devil Trail before dark. A campfire gathering followed with the usual story telling and brew disposal. 

On Saturday morning sleepy campers were awakened by the inviting aroma of Ralph's "Big Pan" breakfast! As the Saturday arrivals drifted in, we loaded up Dave Goulet's utility trailer with bikes for a shuttle to the Devils Gulch summit trailhead. However, a hardcore group of seven (aka; Team Testosterone) pedaled UP the 16 mile, 3400 ft elevation gain! (Whew!) We "Shuttle Wimps", salute you! The awesome 13-mile ride DOWN included the usual highflying antics, crashes, mechanicals...and BIG smiles! A few hardcore riders topped off this great downhill descent with a 5 mile ride over the Red Devil Trail to the campsite. After re-hydrating ourselves with the finest brews, we gorged ourselves with a STM hosted BIG pasta feed. We then gathered around the campfire for more storytelling and tippling...with the added delicacy of "S’mors" by Rachel, until late in the evening.

Sunday morning greeted our campers with a STM hosted BIG breakfast of blueberry & banana pancakes, eggs, sausages, fruit, juice, and coffee; to recharge our batteries for the day's ride. At 10 am, the whole group headed out of the campsite trailhead to ride the Red Hill and Red Devil Trails in a 14-mile loop that required about 8 miles and 3000 feet of climbing (ugh)...but rewarded us with some awesome downhill sections. Our pace was occasionally interrupted by about fifty "Dual Sport Event" motorcycle riders (which gave many of us an excuse for a welcomed recovery). The chosen loop is all singletrack that challenges one's climbing ability, but rewards it with some awesome downhill runs, too. We rode it CCW...but the CW direction may be more fun. (Next time?) As usual, I was the "designated sweeper" and found most of the campers headed home when I rode into camp. Thanks to the patience and encouragement of Dave Goulet; he and I got my 70 year old body thru this tough ride somehow.

I think this year's campout was "da bomb". We had challenging trails, lots-o-great-food, and good company!! (Jack sends his unrequited love to Sassy...and gratitude to Pat for bringing her.)

A very tired Dinosaur...Rick

The campers: David Sawyer, Ralph Loewen, Sean Benz, Tony Crooker, Courtland Capwell, John Bradford, Pat Sprouse, Rachel McLain (whom Sean e-mailed about attending the campout), David Ammerman, Dave Goulet, Joe & Sue Krezelak, Tony Picardo, Forrest Giberson, Jim Grill (of the great Poker Run Flyer and sponsors Grills), Randy Nikolai, Sassy, Jack, and me.

ps: Cooking oil works in a pinch for hydraulic brake fluid...it did for me.

   “Requiem for a Trail”
Sunday, May 19, 2002

   A certain bit of sadness came over me on Sunday 19 May.  We were riding at Capitol Forest west of Olympia.  Now the sadness was not due this time to the eight-mile uphill crank, it was a result of what we ran into on the way down the hill.  Well okay, some of the sadness was a result of this old fat boy having to crank eight miles of uphill trail. Nevertheless, the forest folks have been doing a considerable amount of logging the last several months and have made the top four-to-five miles of down riding on ‘Porter Mina # 8’ a bad case of down walking.  The folks at the ranger station had told the ride leader that they were doing a little bit of logging at the top of the trails, but it would be clear from there.  A little bit of logging is like saying that O’Sama Bin Laden is a little bit of a terrorist.  The woods were full of partial clear cuts and log drops all across the trails.  Now it is one thing to have to walk over a few trees during a spring ride, it is another to spend most of the time walking and not really riding anywhere.  It was also difficult in several areas to figure out just where the trail was going to be accessible across from numerous new cat-trails that have gone in this spring.  In some of the areas, it looks like the cats used the existing ‘Porter Mina #8’ trail for the route line and they just dropped their blades and drove down the trail.

   Now this all sounds pretty bad, but the thing we need to remember is that Capitol Forest is a State Working forest that is intended to provide timber sale revenues to the state.  Given some time hopefully the state will be done cutting in the area and some of the MTB clubs and the state folks can get in and do some clearing of slag and trash and make the trails useable again.

   I hope that this will not be a long-term loss of the Porter Mina # 8 trail, but I would not recommend the ride to anyone for a while.  I mean who the heck wants to ride up eight miles of road to just have to come back down the same roads or hike through the timber.  Well I guess if it were just cycling they would have called it Mountain Cycling and not Mountain Biking.

   Anyway, just thought I’d put out a notice to the folks who have grown fond of Capitol Forest and the Porter Mina # 8 trail and let you know that you might not want to waste a long drive down there from the northern areas.

   Until we meet again, “Ride Hard, Ride Long”

Victor Falls
Tuesday, May 14, 2002

   All day long, I waited with anticipation for our “Joe and Sue” ride at Victor to arrive.  Yes, I am always happy when I know a ride is waiting for me after work.  However, this ride was extra special because I would be leading it!  Normally Joe would lead our rides and I would do sweep.  I felt it was time for me to try to lead a ride!  So, two weeks earlier, I asked Joe to help me learn some of the trails at Victor.  First, let me say I am terrible when it comes to maps, direction and navigation!  For years, I have taken a lot of ribbing from Joe concerning my inability to navigate, so I was determined to show Joe (and myself) that I could do this.  The trusting and brave people who joined Joe and myself on my first lead ride were Melissa Rogers, Dave Goulet, Jenny Lee, Steve Gann and Steve’s two rambunctious (and cute) dogs Homer and Kirby.

   The evening was perfect for riding, cool temperatures, no rain and decent trails.  When everyone was ready we left the tree farm parking lot, crossed the road and went over to the east side to begin our adventure.  I started at a leisurely pace so that we could get our muscles warmed up and ready for the big hill climb to the top where great singletrack awaited us.  The hill climb was about 1/3 a mile long and quite steep.  The trail was also very rough with rocks roots and ruts from beginning to end.  However, if you pace yourself and navigate the roots and ruts just right you can make it without stopping.  I am happy to say that every one of us made it to the top.  After catching our breath and shedding some jackets and vests, we continued on to the singletrack.

   We entered the singletrack and it felt great being up front!  Our first stretch of singletrack took us from the top of the big hill climb to Water Tank Road.  We immediately entered more singletrack after regrouping.  This second stretch of trail had some nice little log jumps and the path was nice and winding.  As our ride continued I noticed my socially paced ride was getting faster as we rode.  Was it because I was up front or was it because Melissa, Steve and Dave were right behind me?  Perhaps it was a combination of the two but I sure was having fun!  After 3 or 4 miles, we passed Hitching Post and headed towards “Big D”.  If you have never had the pleasure of riding Big D let me just say, “It’s a great twisty trail.”  Because I am not the quickest rider in the twisty stuff (I love it but I have to do it at my own pace) I let Melissa, Dave and Steve go first.  I told them that it was a big 2-mile loop.  With smiles on their faces, they entered Big D with me following behind them, and Jenny and Joe behind me.  I was amazed at how fast I did Big D that night!  I was right behind Melissa, Dave and Steve and the three of us finished Big D close together.  Joe and Jenny had a good time in there too and came out a bit later.  Homer and Kirby also appeared to be having a lot of fun as they ran with us through the woods of Victor.  When we stopped for water they would take turns lapping water from Steve’s hydropak “fountain” and from nearby puddles.  Then they would walk up to us with wagging tails and offer us slobbery kisses.  Once everyone was out of Big D we rode to Diamond Point for views, rest, chat and bathroom breaks.  This was Jenny’s first visit to Diamond Point and I had hoped the mountain would be out but it was not.  However, the view was still nice!

   After our rest, it was time to head back.  It always amazes me at how fast the time can go when you are having fun.  Anyway, off we went ... now this is when my navigational skills began to fail.  I could not remember how to get back!  I had to consult with Joe.  He did not mind offering his help although he did tease me on my lack of direction once again.  He is never the one to pass up an opportunity for some good-natured teasing, especially when I am at the receiving end.  But anyway, Joe, Melissa and the others suggested a great course back by way of “Route 66 and Elevator”.  What a way to finish a ride!  Route 66 and Elevator were a blast!  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed leading my first ride and I hope to lead a few more over the summer.  I want to thank Melissa, Dave, Jenny, Steve and his two pals Homer and Kirby and my wonderful hubby Joe for joining me on my first lead ride.

   Sue Krezelak

   aka “Knows no fear” (title given to me by Joe)

Beginner's Ride at Lake Wilderness
Saturday, May 11, 2002

   Another month has passed as we are quickly approaching summer.  This change in the seasons has two advantages, first it lets us get out in warmer weather and dryer trails and second it marks the beginning of the annual beginners rides.  Even though we do beginners rides in the winter on occasion, most folks who are about to start mountain biking for the first time aren’t really crazed enough yet to go out in January or February amongst all the cool winds, rain and occasional snow.

   May’s beginners ride was held at Lake Wilderness.  Sue Krezelak (my wonderful wife, aka ‘Knows no fear’)  and I were joined by Chuck Woodard, Leora Woodard, Tony Crooker, Lori Crooker, Kyle Crooker, and Jenny Lee.  Now I always have fun on beginner rides, but this is the first time that I had anyone as young as Kyle Crooker on a ride.  Kyle is four, going on five, and has all the spunk and vigor that a boy that age should have.  He also accomplished a feat that few real pro mountain bikers could achieve, he rode a bike for about two hours that weighed about half as much as he did.  Even for you light folks, that is still like pedaling a seventy-pound bike around all day long.  Most of us would have been whining about the weight and how it affected our otherwise stellar riding abilities (most of us complain about the weight of our tires and rims when we get heavier ones).  Not Kyle, he never complained or whined, matter of a fact when we finished he was upset that we were stopping for the day and that he had to go home.

   Another good thing about leading beginner rides is that you get to see the people who first come to the club and then you can watch their progression during the year and it is truly amazing how fast people pick up this sport.  I have ridden with Jenny Lee once before and she has really improved in the last couple of months.  I think she is ready for the move to bigger and better rides and she definitely has the attitude to keep mountain biking alive.

   The other new rider on our Lake Wilderness ride was Leora Woodard.  Leora hasn’t been on a bicycle in over twenty years.  I think there are folks out there, including me, who remember what the first bike ride is like after being off the saddle for so many years.  Leora did great on the ride, now we just have to work on getting Chuck to get her a seat post that is about two inches shorter so her feet can touch the ground when she is on the saddle.  I am sure that we’ll see Leora again and she should be riding well by the end of this summer.

   For those of you who have been pondering mountain biking, come on out.  Lake Wilderness is the perfect place to pick up the sport.  It has some rails-to-trail gravel to stretch our legs and get a good warm up as well as some nice even single track to practice balancing and cornering.  The root and rock population is low enough and small enough to preclude having to crash every five feet.  Finally, Lake Wilderness, like Lake Sawyer is located within a short hop of the “Rooters” barbecue site.  I must admit there is something about a good BBQ after a ride that brings a smile to this face.

   So for now, keep the rubber side down and the smile on your face and I hope to see everybody on the trails next month.

   “The Perpetual Beginner”

   (AKA, Joe Krezelak)

Beginner's Ride at Lake Wilderness
Saturday, May 11, 2002

   Another month has passed as we are quickly approaching summer.  This change in the seasons has two advantages, first it lets us get out in warmer weather and dryer trails and second it marks the beginning of the annual beginners rides.  Even though we do beginners rides in the winter on occasion, most folks who are about to start mountain biking for the first time aren’t really crazed enough yet to go out in January or February amongst all the cool winds, rain and occasional snow.

   May’s beginners ride was held at Lake Wilderness.  Sue Krezelak (my wonderful wife, aka ‘Knows no fear’)  and I were joined by Chuck Woodard, Leora Woodard, Tony Crooker, Lori Crooker, Kyle Crooker, and Jenny Lee.  Now I always have fun on beginner rides, but this is the first time that I had anyone as young as Kyle Crooker on a ride.  Kyle is four, going on five, and has all the spunk and vigor that a boy that age should have.  He also accomplished a feat that few real pro mountain bikers could achieve, he rode a bike for about two hours that weighed about half as much as he did.  Even for you light folks, that is still like pedaling a seventy-pound bike around all day long.  Most of us would have been whining about the weight and how it affected our otherwise stellar riding abilities (most of us complain about the weight of our tires and rims when we get heavier ones).  Not Kyle, he never complained or whined, matter of a fact when we finished he was upset that we were stopping for the day and that he had to go home.

   Another good thing about leading beginner rides is that you get to see the people who first come to the club and then you can watch their progression during the year and it is truly amazing how fast people pick up this sport.  I have ridden with Jenny Lee once before and she has really improved in the last couple of months.  I think she is ready for the move to bigger and better rides and she definitely has the attitude to keep mountain biking alive.

   The other new rider on our Lake Wilderness ride was Leora Woodard.  Leora hasn’t been on a bicycle in over twenty years.  I think there are folks out there, including me, who remember what the first bike ride is like after being off the saddle for so many years.  Leora did great on the ride, now we just have to work on getting Chuck to get her a seat post that is about two inches shorter so her feet can touch the ground when she is on the saddle.  I am sure that we’ll see Leora again and she should be riding well by the end of this summer.

   For those of you who have been pondering mountain biking, come on out.  Lake Wilderness is the perfect place to pick up the sport.  It has some rails-to-trail gravel to stretch our legs and get a good warm up as well as some nice even single track to practice balancing and cornering.  The root and rock population is low enough and small enough to preclude having to crash every five feet.  Finally, Lake Wilderness, like Lake Sawyer is located within a short hop of the “Rooters” barbecue site.  I must admit there is something about a good BBQ after a ride that brings a smile to this face.

   So for now, keep the rubber side down and the smile on your face and I hope to see everybody on the trails next month.

   “The Perpetual Beginner”

   (AKA, Joe Krezelak)

World Famous Devil's Gulch Campout     June 21-23, 2002

This STM Campout has become so popular worldwide that one rider, Sean Benz, come over from Scotland to attend this year's event; after seeing it on the STM website. We learned first-hand from Sean that organizations are building lots of cool singletrack in Scotland, which is fast becoming a Mountain Bike mecca. (They hosted a World Cup Downhill Championship.) He proved that Scots can kick ass on the trails here, too!

Friday turnout included 11 eager campers and the happy reunion of Labs Jack & Sassy. Even though the temps were in the 90's, a group of nine headed out at sundown for a short ride on the Red Devil Trail before dark. A campfire gathering followed with the usual story telling and brew disposal. 

On Saturday morning sleepy campers were awakened by the inviting aroma of Ralph's "Big Pan" breakfast! As the Saturday arrivals drifted in, we loaded up Dave Goulet's utility trailer with bikes for a shuttle to the Devils Gulch summit trailhead. However, a hardcore group of seven (aka; Team Testosterone) pedaled UP the 16 mile, 3400 ft elevation gain! (Whew!) We "Shuttle Wimps", salute you! The awesome 13-mile ride DOWN included the usual highflying antics, crashes, mechanicals...and BIG smiles! A few hardcore riders topped off this great downhill descent with a 5 mile ride over the Red Devil Trail to the campsite. After re-hydrating ourselves with the finest brews, we gorged ourselves with a STM hosted BIG pasta feed. We then gathered around the campfire for more storytelling and tippling...with the added delicacy of "S’mors" by Rachel, until late in the evening.

Sunday morning greeted our campers with a STM hosted BIG breakfast of blueberry & banana pancakes, eggs, sausages, fruit, juice, and coffee; to recharge our batteries for the day's ride. At 10 am, the whole group headed out of the campsite trailhead to ride the Red Hill and Red Devil Trails in a 14-mile loop that required about 8 miles and 3000 feet of climbing (ugh)...but rewarded us with some awesome downhill sections. Our pace was occasionally interrupted by about fifty "Dual Sport Event" motorcycle riders (which gave many of us an excuse for a welcomed recovery). The chosen loop is all singletrack that challenges one's climbing ability, but rewards it with some awesome downhill runs, too. We rode it CCW...but the CW direction may be more fun. (Next time?) As usual, I was the "designated sweeper" and found most of the campers headed home when I rode into camp. Thanks to the patience and encouragement of Dave Goulet; he and I got my 70 year old body thru this tough ride somehow.

I think this year's campout was "da bomb". We had challenging trails, lots-o-great-food, and good company!! (Jack sends his unrequited love to Sassy...and gratitude to Pat for bringing her.)

A very tired Dinosaur...Rick

The campers: David Sawyer, Ralph Loewen, Sean Benz, Tony Crooker, Courtland Capwell, John Bradford, Pat Sprouse, Rachel McLain (whom Sean e-mailed about attending the campout), David Ammerman, Dave Goulet, Joe & Sue Krezelak, Tony Picardo, Forrest Giberson, Jim Grill (of the great Poker Run Flyer and sponsors Grills), Randy Nikolai, Sassy, Jack, and me.

ps: Cooking oil works in a pinch for hydraulic brake fluid...it did for me.