Day 109 - Colville to Republic - Two Far 2023 - Oranges to Apples

August 2, 2023

Day 109 - Colville to Republic

Heart

Comment

Keith A. SpanglerRepublic looks like a nice town! Did you explore much?
Reply to this comment
1 year ago

It was an easy, then TOUGH, then spooky-fast type of day. I got an early start because I knew that I had a very long climb over Sherman Pass and the afternoon temps were going to be in the 90's.

Starting out, I took the scenic route to Kettle Falls. That turned out to be the most scenic and relaxing part of the day. Once I turned off WA-20, I was on a very quiet country road surrounded by farms and ranches. Most of the farms had their fields tilled and looked like they were ready for planting, but what, I do not know. The ranches I saw seemed equally divided between horses and cattle. All-in-all it was a very bucolic segment of the ride.

WA-20, just outside Colville. The day started out nice and flat, but that didn't last.

Fields ready for planting, or just planted. I couldn't determine which.

Looking to the north, the mountains looked mostly bare and dry.

After leaving Kettle Falls, I dropped down to the Columbia River / Lake Roosevelt where I passed a Boise Cascade plywood mill that had a very large log yard. As I was riding by the log piles, I saw a log truck enter the yard. In the time it took me to ride past the site, the truck was unloaded and back on its way - a very efficient operation indeed.

Large sprinklers were keeping the logs wet.

This unloader picked up the entire truckload of logs in one fell swoop.

Looking back at the plywood mill after crossing the river and starting the climb to Sherman Pass. Notice the logs corralled in the river.

Once I crossed the river, I immediately started the ascent to Sherman Pass. My first break occurred about 7 miles into the climb, at the Log Flume Interpretive Site. Those 7 miles were the easiest part of the ascent, with the grades in the 3-5% range. While at the site, I called Jeanna and discovered she was only a couple of miles away, so I waited for her and we took a short walk along the interpretive trail.

Here is what we learned...

My 2nd break occurred four miles further into the climb at the Camp Growden CCC Camp Interpretive Site. The grade in this section steepened and I was very happy to take time to read the info panels and give my legs a rest.

I did not walk down to the CCC cabin to see what that info pane said.

After leaving the CCC site, the grade steepened even more and was a constant 6-7% for the next 12+ miles. The stops became more frequent, the nearer the summit I got. Near the end I was stopping and sitting on a guardrail about every mile or so, and my legs were telling me if I ever did this again, they were getting a divorce from me. We'll see what they think tomorrow :-)

My final stop on the climb was about a mile away from the summit, at the Sheman Pass Campground / Overlook.

I made it! From 1,350' to 5,575' in about 23 miles.

Once I crested the pass, I faced another problem. From going about 3.5 MPH during the last several miles of the ascent, I now was trying to keep my speed under 30MPH during the 10-mile 6% descent. Luckily, the traffic was light, and I encountered no log trucks coming up behind me, so I just planted myself in the middle of the lane. I had to pretty much ride the brakes all the way down while hoping they wouldn't overheat too much. Near the end of the descent, I noticed that there was more travel in the brake handles, so I'm going to have to adjust the brakes in the morning before I start out.

Looking out (downhill) from the White Mountain Overlook. Damage from the 1988 White Mountain Complex fire is still evident.

Looking uphill from the same overlook. The 1988 fire consumed over 20,000 acres.

Entering Republic, I had my last climb of the day - a 1.8 mile 3%'er which maxed out at 6% just as I reached downtown. Passing the bank, their thermometer read 96 degrees, so I was really ready for the cold beer Jeanna handed me as I entered our motel room. I was hot and tired, but it was a good day!

Today's ride: 55 miles (89 km)
Total: 5,157 miles (8,299 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	3
Comment on this entry	Comment	1

Ken GassOK, you've been tested by vertical feet and heat and next comes smoke from the Osoyoos and Sourdough fires... Here's hoping you'll have favorable winds.
Reply to this comment
1 year ago