Well hello friends. Did you enjoy your weekend? I’m still feeling the lingering effects of long saddle time and epic gravel. So let’s not get muddled with words and hit right into the photos. But first I’ll say that my picture taking took a sharp nosedive around mile 54. Soon after I found Matt Sims who had taken a wrong turn, and the two of us worked together for the last seventy or so miles.

” alt=”Leaving the campground” title=”stampede_1″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1030″ />

” alt=”The first climb” title=”stampede_1″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1030″ />

” alt=”Still climbing up the first ridge” title=”stampede_3″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1032″ />

” alt=”Leaving the Columbia” title=”stampede_4″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1033″ />

” alt=”Looking down on The Dalles Bridge” title=”stampede_5″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1034″ />

” alt=”Only about 12 miles in” title=”stampede_6″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1035″ />

” alt=”The sun would be there all day” title=”stampede_7″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1036″ />

” alt=”The first abandoned church” title=”stampede_8″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1037″ />

” alt=”Thankful for the granny gear” title=”stampede_9″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1038″ />

” alt=”Our small group working towards Dufur” title=”stampede_10″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1039″ />

” alt=”Leaving Dufur, headed into the White River Wilderness” title=”stampede_11″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1040″ />

” alt=”Outhouses at another abandoned church” title=”stampede_12″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1041″ />
Around this time I stopped taking photos. The climbs kept going, and I remember very little besides the heat. Dropping into the White River Wilderness was a real hoot. Baby/squirrel heads on a rutted multiple mile descent were definitely a highlight of the day. Once finding Matt, we proceeded on and a few miles later we came around a corner to see a man in full camo, with full face paint, and a compound bow on the road. He smiled and we hit the gas. Aside from this fifteen or so mile stretch, the rest of the route was full of sun.

” alt=”Dear outside of Tygh Valley” title=”stampede_13″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1042″ />
This would be a turning point in the race. Still enjoying the work, but my legs were starting to cramp and we were just around halfway done. After the climb from Sherars Bridge was over, my legs were in a constant state of cramp. Shifting between light spinning, mashing, and standing kept me going for the remainder of the race. Shut up legs!

” alt=”Deschutes chutes” title=”stampede_14″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1043″ />

” alt=”Fishing for Steelhead” title=”stampede_15″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1044″ />

” alt=”Grass Valley. 107 year old wood floors. No cleats” title=”stampede_16″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1045″ />

” alt=”Almost there” title=”stampede_17″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1046″ />
The last two miles back to camp were met with a fierce headwind. The previous five miles were hands down the fastest descending all day. I clocked a 44.3 headed into the wind as we turned our way down the canyon. It was beautiful and totally invigorating.

” alt=”At last!” title=”stampede_18″ width=”720″ height=”406″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1047″ />

127 miles. Something around 70+ of gravel. Around 9,000 feet of climbing. Dozens of bottles of water. Six clif bars. Five gel packs. One Pepsi. One Coke. One pack of orange slice gummy candies.

14th out of 47th.

I’ll be back next year.

p.s. Big ups to Team Beer for sticking together. Poor form on Team Beer for not camping with us. You missed out on cupcakes!