Grand Ridge Trails

This past weekend Kerrie and I headed up to Seattle to spend some time with her family. This allowed me the opportunity to check out a new trail along the I-90 corridor. I spent some time on Tiger Mtn the previous spring so I wanted to try something new. I wasn’t ready to tackle any serious climbs so I settled on the Grand Ridge Trail system, opposite of Tiger Mtn.

The trail was designed to be used by mountain bikers as well so most of the switchbacks had wide, banked corners, and there were a few small kickers here and there. I completed the Coal Mine loop then did the whole out and back of the grand ridge trail. I needed a few extra miles so when I got to the halfway point, I headed down the road and did some laps around the elementary school nearby.



Cool section of boardwalk at the end

  

All in all, I had a good run. I put in around 14 miles, but the trail had a little more elevation than I had anticipated so it took me almost 2hrs 45mins to complete it. Probably wouldn’t ever run the trail again, but would definitely take my bike on it if I get the chance.

Only broke one of my rules on this run: Don’t run it when you can bike it…

UNT

Bryan



Cool section of old growth red cedars.



Riverside National Recreation Trail

This past weekend I headed out to the Mt. Hood National Forest to go for a short run on the Riverside National Recreation Trail. It was a rest week for me so I was decreasing my weekly and long run mileage by 20%. This allows my body to heal a little bit as I am ramping up my training. Ive been operating under the plan of a 10% increase in weekly mileage and long runs with a rest week every 6^th week. At this point, weekly mileage is still nothing to write home about with this upcoming week’s mileage at 33 with a long run of 13.3 miles, but given my hamstring injury and tendency to overdo it early, I’m being methodical and taking it slow.



Sorry for the blurry photos. Took them thro my iphone case and its not the best



Anyway, the weather was amazing this past weekend with temperatures hovering around 50-53 degrees and blue skies. There was a little wind, but it didn’t affect me that much. I chose this trail because of its correct length (at approx 8 miles), its designation as a national recreation trail, old growth forest and somewhat close proximity to my house. (Although I ended up breaking my rule of never spending more time in the car on the way to the run than on the actual run.)

 

I parked at the Riverside trailhead at the middle of the trail and ran double OAB on each arm of the trail. The eastern part of the trail towards Riverside CG was nothing special, but the western part was very nice. Lots of cool bridges connect a few small riverside canyons with steep switchbacks. Big Trees. Minimal people. Nice weather. Blowdown free trails. All in all it was a great run. Definitely want to spend more time in the Clackamas River area. I did an OAB on the Clackamas River Trail last February, but I want to explore the Bull of the Woods Wilderness and Rock Lake Basin as soon as it melts out.

UNT

Bryan