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Hood River/White Salmon Area: ridge trail run

September 21, 2018 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: mid 70s, pretty nice

Comments:
Slept pretty well in the van on the Washington side of the Columbia, in a strip of NF land CA found. We didn't rush too much to get ready, but CA found a ridge park along the river with trails, so we went there after coffee and toast.

I'm not sure what it was, but the first half of this run felt HORRIBLE. I think it's two things (maybe equal):

1. General ongoing post-wedding adrenal "crater"
2. I'm allergic to something in these "oat squares" CA bought. They're delicious, but I have a dairy-like reaction (extreme fatigue, grouchiness) when I eat them.

As we took off for this run, at first flat along this rocky open ridgeline that climbs above the Columbia, I felt terrible. And frustrated. And OLD. SO sick of this: slow, stiff, cranky, exhausted, OLD. SO frustrating.

CA was patient with me and once we got on the ridge, there was a lot of hiking. It took a couple solid miles to reach the top, which afforded nice views of the river, and of Mt Hood in the distance. Once up there, I gradually came around, and once we found a different trail loop to descend, I felt really good.

Solid run, as it turned out. As would be the theme of the weekend: SUPER-slow but good...besides the assload of poison oak we came across! We took a hard-core dishsoap shower in the parking lot with our heated shower unit (which was effective).

After that:

* drove into Hood River for breakfast
* got groceries
* headed back over to WA

Drove up a NF road into the heart of Gifford Pinchot NF, along Mt Adams. There we found a pretty sweet campground at "Takhlakh Lake"! Middle of nowhere but a full campground. Had a nice, big campfire and a great meal and beers around the fire. Great night!