Loup Loup Pass - Two of Us... - CycleBlaze

June 1, 2024

Loup Loup Pass

Twisp to Omak

Cumulative miles 243

Just the facts Ma'am.
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The three of us felt yesterday's hill climb today climbing Loup Loup Pass.  Fortunately it was relatively easy but unfortunately still absolutely hard. 

Any excuse to stop on the way up a pass. This was a good one. I think a zebra crossed with some other equine.
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We have quickly departed the rain forest for some arid plains.

We are now crossing relatively narrow dry valleys with a variety of land uses.
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 The forecast says otherwise... Rain for the next few days. Doing some more strategizing for the next few days.

Looks like we will take an alternate route avoiding Rte 20 over Wacaunda Pass. Traffic and road conditions on this section are reported to be quite bad. So, we'll take the alternate ACA route. It should be safer but it's longer and gives us more to climb. Oh yeah!

This guy was looking to see who would fail first.
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Bill ShaneyfeltLooks like a red tailed hawk

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/overview
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6 months ago
Jamie DolanType your comment here
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6 months ago
Jamie DolanTo Bill ShaneyfeltThis is Tina, Jamie's wife.
Yes, the hawk was a red-tailed. He was being harassed by some red-winged blackbirds and so was just sitting still while a red-winged guarded him. Today we saw five red-wingeds hammering at a turkey vulture. Pecking at it while it tried to gain altitude to get away from them. Those RWBLs! They are so protective. During our x-country in 2018 we saw one LAND on a red-tailed's back. I have known them also to peck bikers' heads. Wearing helmets has helped that problem. 😊
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6 months ago
Bill ShaneyfeltTo Jamie DolanFunny!

Yeah, protective! Where I fish, during nesting, they fly from branch to branch yelling at me for hours on end.
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6 months ago
Tina kicking up her heels as Sarah grinds out another pass
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Tina saying TaTa to Loup Loup.
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Though we saw numerous orchards apparently forest and lumber is the major industry in the area. Interestingly, we did not see much evidence of that in our cursory trip through main Street. 

Nearby is Omak Lake. A saline lake with no known outlet (endorheic). 

This is a rather extensive orchard of honey seed (no idea), Delicious apples, Cherries and peaches!
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Beautiful Town Hall in Okanagan.
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Today's ride: 34 miles (55 km)
Total: 241 miles (388 km)

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