Lots of Riding, Lots of Climbing

Seems as though, despite the weather the past couple of weeks, we have all been getting in a lot of riding.  In addition to Dana's climbing Mt. St. Helen's, Lisa, Gale & Nancy have been getting in some good rides.  Nancy and Gale did the Reach the Beach route between Pacific City and Grand Ronde for about 56 miles (not much climbing).  Gale and Lisa have been participating in Col de Beaver Creek, a weekly hill climb time trial which is "2.1 steep, grueling miles".  Nancy has been practicing hill climbing on the hill to Drift Creek Falls (about a 7% grade); she brought Gale along a couple of days ago and they climbed 2 miles up towards the falls (total ride about 36 miles).  Lisa rode up to the top of Washington's Hurricane Ridge last week, and managed to be hit with snow and hail; she said the descent was pretty "narly" as the road was very slippery.  Today, Lisa, Gale and Nancy did a 44 mile roundtrip ride from Otis to Pacific City starting on Old Hwy 101; this is a beautiful ride with little traffic, and long, steady climbs.