Hood and St Helens in Aug?

[mntlion]

So will it be too hot for a couple of Alberta mountain Canuks to ride that area in mid to late Aug?
girlguide and I might have some time off and where thinking of driving down to mountain bike the area for a few days.
looking for long XC singletrack, Ideas for rides in the area?

[Platinum Pete]

The Lewis River Trail near Mt. St. Hell-yeah is some of the best single track I've ridden and has been proclaimed as such by many better riders more traveled than I. Surveyor's Ridge near Hood is great, too.
Those are just a couple off the top o my head. There was an issue of BIKE mag that focused on that area recently - I'll try to dig it up for you. Also, the guys at the shops around PDX are pretty knowledgeable and friendly about sharing beta and directions to great rides. I can hook you up with some of those dudes. Hood River makes a great base camp for a mtb vacation.

[mntlion]

what are the temps at that time of year, day highs of 80 or 110?

If you find that BIKE mag let me know, I'll try to find it or if you have an extra copy??

[Nobody Famous]

The cover of Dirt Rag's current issue says the Best of the Pacific Northwest.

[Platinum Pete]

what are the temps at that time of year, day highs of 80 or 110?

If you find that BIKE mag let me know, I'll try to find it or if you have an extra copy??

Temps should be 70s-80s depending on elevation and wind direction. I think that BIKe is in my brother's bathroom, I'll prolly be over there this weekend to snag it.

[Monique]

St. Helens is closed to all climbing and some of the usual mtb trails are closed as well, due to volcanic activity. You'll want to check in on conditions closer to your trip. Here's the main conditions site, and it links to lots of good info.

St. Helens conditions:

[mntlion]

thanks guys, ya that volcano thing might change the plans a bit

[Monique]

Come on up the Mt. Rainier area...can't ride within the nat'l park but just outside the boundary there's a ton of great riding.

[Eldo]

Have you guys been to Bend, another 2 1/2 hours south of Hood? Bend has some awesome biking, more XC and less gonzo. If it's too hot right at Bend then ride nearby trails at higher elevations.

I've only ridden Bend in the springtime and had to stick to the lower elevation trails because of snowpack, but the area around Phil's Trail etc is super buff, fun and fast single track. We had a great time there again in April. Bend is one of my favourite places to visit. Cool brew pubs, Smith Rock climbing nearby, volcanic stuff to explore, lots of outdoor gear stores, etc.

Trail info from a local organization:

http://www.cotamtb.org/

[mntlion]

thanks Eldo, I've climbed smith in the fall, and ridden a bit in that area, but have not explored much else ......

still not 100% sure about time off for me. but working on it