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May 26, 2008 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

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Oregon Trip '08 - Day Two

AWESOME DAY. Today we intended to go on our first of several "Bike 'N' Hike" Days, where we'd go for a long, hopefully scenic bike ride and then compliment that with a trail run of some kind.

A few days prior to leaving, I thought it'd be cool to bike a portion of the Needles Highway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needles_Highway; http://www.pbase.com/harpeggio/needles_highway) I knew it'd be some uphills, but I figured that if we had all day, we could do the whole circuit -- from our place south to Custer, east along US16A, then north/west on the Needles Highway (SD87) and then back on the Sylvan Highway (SD89).

We got up pretty early -- I was up at 0630 -- and had a small breakfast of tea and Clif Bars. We got our gear together -- namely CamelBaks and more Clif Bars -- and were biking toward Custer by 0800.

The weather for Memorial Day in the Black Hills was much cooler than the 70s we experienced Sunday. It was maybe 50F at the start and didn't warm much beyond that.

The first part of the ride was downhill for about 2-3 miles before hitting US16A. Our first stop was at "Gordon Stockade", which was the first *illegal* settlement established in the Black Hills in 1874-75, in defiance of the Treaty of 1868 which gave the Sioux exclusive land rights to the entire territory.

We didn't stay there long, and we were rolling east down 16A toward the start of the Needles Highway. The terrain along this stretch was pretty friendly, which a few small climbs and rolling hills. I wasn't biking very hard at all, but I was constantly gapping Behrs. I was afraid it was due to his crappy "Le Tour III" bike from 1978, so once we got to the beginning of SD78, I traded bikes with him so that we'd be a bit more even. The seat was way too damn low, but we couldn't raise it so I was stuck with it.

The beginning of the Needles Highway was more of the same: nice, easy rollers. However, as we reached the eastern-most stretch, we encountered a significant downhill stretch. AT the bottom, we took a detour to the Center Lake area, which was a camping option the night before, so we biked an additional 1-1.5 miles east to see that camp and the lake. This would DEFINITELY signal the lowest point of our ride, and the beginning on what would be a mammoth climb.

After some decent climbing, we took our first rest stop at "Hole in the Wall", which is basically this hole in the rock wall along this creek flowing down the slope leading up Needles. We took a few pics and moved on.

The next HOUR was spent biking uphill. I was feeling AMAZING, but Behrs was NOT. About midway through, he had to stop to rest. In the mean time, I would climb up a half mile or mile and check out the terrain, then bike back to him. We did this a couple times, including a time when he walked the bike up a portion. It WAS steep and, besides being generally de-conditioned, wasn't used to biking, either. I was used to biking, but it was still steep AND around 6500-7000' altitude. Despite that, I felt AMAZING!

Midway through this climb, just as Behrs was having a bad time, it began to RAIN. We got a peak of sun at Hole-in-the-Wall, but that was quickly erased with a wall of gray and rain that varied from mist to steady drizzle. It was just enough to chill us and make it annoying, but still bearable.

Just under two hours into the ride we made the summit: the Needles "Eye Formation", which are these huge rocks, through which one of two tunnels were blasted for cars to drive through. It was pretty sweet to bike through those! We stopped at a look-out and took a couple pics, but we couldn't see much because of cloud cover and fog.

From the Needles summit it was a surprisingly quick descent to Sylvan Lake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvan_Lake%2C_South_Dakota). This was going to be our "end-point" of the bike, where we'd rest and have a Clif snack before biking downhill back to camp. The Lodge was a welcome oasis, since by then we were both cold and wet from the increasingly unfriendly conditions.

Since I was feeling awesome and still needed a run, it was decided that I would stay at Sylvan and do a trail run there -- choosing from one of several trails leaving the Lake -- while Behrs would roll home. I was a bit apprehensive about splitting since the weather was poor and there was a chance that either or both of us could get hurt/lost on our respective adventures. But this trail run was too tempting, so after warming ourselves in the "lodge" (e.g. a glorified convenience store/gift shop), me with a 20oz Caribou Coffee.

Before Behrs biked back, he and I did a short jog around the flat dirt trail around part of Sylvan to take some pics. After that, I ditched the bike and CamelBak at the Lodge and hit the trail!

It had been raining steady, but as I stepped out for the main run, it mercifully subsided. I decided I'd really go for it and run the Harney Peak climber trail, which ascended to the top of Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota.

The first part of the trail left the lake and climbed relatively gently for the first 1.5 miles or so. Then it dipped down into a valley for the next mile, til the long, gradual ascent of Harney. I felt GREAT that first up and downhill, and I was powered by adrenaline of my first true wilderness run in a couple years -- signified by having to fill out a "trip permit" midway through the run as the trail entered the Elk Creek Wilderness. The last 2 miles to the top of Harney was tough because it was a consistent, progressively steeper climb to the top. Even though the weather was garbage, I saw several people and got some good cheering from people as I ran (e.g. shuffled at points) up the trail. It's always fun to watch people's reactions when they see me running up what most would consider a tough [walking] hike!

Just over a half hour in I approached the final segment, which included several sets of stones steps leading up to an amazing stone tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It was AMAZING to have made it!

Harney Peak boasts "breathtaking views of four states", but at that altitude, the whole peak was socked in with clouds and fog, limiting visibilty to maybe 100-200', so there were no such views to be had. I still climbed to the top of the lookout tower, and even used my compass (the only thing I took with me on the run) to etch "TRAN" into the wooden platform, as had many others that preceded me. I had made the 4.5 miles ascent (from 6200' to 7800') in 38 minutes, and I was pumped to descend.

The best part about trail running is the downhills! They're less physical effort and more mental focus and agility in managing momentum and keeping speed over challenging and dangerous terrain. It's one of the few physical things I am good at, and I love it! That first two miles blew by, 'til I reached the valley bottom.

Fatigue from 2+ hours of biking and the peak ascent finally hit me on that middle climb. I was anxious to be done by that point and just focused on good hill form and keeping the feet moving. Before long, I had reached the top and it was a nice, gradual downhill to Sylvan!

I got in a quick drink, stretch, and pee stop before I was on the bike back to the campsite. The ride down was QUICK: the first 75% of it a huge descent, then a flat spot before one last gut-busting climb up and over to the campground.

I was finally done! The total exertion time was 3 hours, 30 minutes. 2:20ish was biking and about :75 was running. GREAT DAY.

I had a snack, then enjoyed a AMAZING hot shower, courtesy of our private campground. After we had both cleaned up, Behrs and I headed into Custer for supplies and to hang out.

Much to our dismay, while at Lynn's Dakotamart getting food, it started raining HARD. And it kept getting colder, too! It was there we were told by the cashier it was supposed to SNOW tonight. :|

We returned to camp where we got a brief reprieve from rain to make a dinner of steamed vegetables and string cheese, with some oats + chocolate milk for dessert. We did manage to get a fire going, using wood bought from the campground. However, it had started raining. AGAIN. After gutting it out around the fire, we retreated to the car to read and just sit there. Finally, we decided we'd just go into Custer to find something to do.

We didn't do much of anything, since by sundown most of the city is closed for the night! Our main entertainment was shopping at "Family Dollar". After that, the only place open was this "Pie Shoppee", so we went there and Behrs sat there while I rewarded my big day with a slice of apple pie and a hot tea.

The weather was getting colder and shittier, so we left Custer and returned to camp, quickly retreating to our tents.

AMAZING DAY but crappy night! :s