2019-08-11 45 -120

Location

Near the mouth of the Deschutes River.

Participants

Michael5000 -- Expedition #224.

Plans

This hashpoint was just off of one of the most spectacular easy-to-access trails in Oregon. If I was in full running trim, it would have been a complete no-brainer. As it was, it was very tempting -- and after waking up Sunday, I went for it!

Expedition

First, there was a hundred miles of interstate driving east through the always spectacular Columbia Gorge.

There is a state park where the Deschutes River reaches its confluence with the Columbia, and there is a blessedly free parking lot off the entrance for access to the trail running up the canyon. The trail follows an old railroad grade -- the history of which I will spare you the long-winded story of -- and it therefore wide and at a consistent, even grade. I ran two miles up it, which is my current limit, then walked back to a side path that led down to within a short trudge through sagebrush of the hashpoint.

After that, I climbed back up to the trail, walked back to the car, and got my bike out. I rode the bike five miles up the canyon... and then, of course, rode it five miles back. Then I went on a little drive through Sherman and Wasco Counties, and then I went home, had dinner, and did the Sunday puzzle with Mrs.5000. Pretty good Sunday, really.