Sunday, September 1, 2013

2013_09_01 Puyallup Cyclopaths "Windy Ridge Ride"


Author:   Mike Hassur

 

Before proceeding, check out a map of this area at the following link (start at the top of the map on Hwy 12 à road #26 à road #99 to Windy Ridge Viewpoint à back on road #99 à road #25 à back to Randle)(Hint: minimize the map three clicks to see it better):  http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5160314.pdf .

7:00 AM in Randle, WA and everyone was there and ready to go.  We had a good group (Conor Collins, Jim Wilcher, Chris Fox, Les Becker, Jurgen Becker, David Garate, David Crawford, Mark Delrosario, Kurt Maute, Gabe Scott, and me (Mike H). 

Mark, Mike, David C, David G, Jim, Gabe, Jurgen, Conor, Kurt, & Les

As usual, Conor was gone almost as soon as the ride commenced (accompanied by Jurgen and David Crawford).  The road was flat for the first mile or two; and, then, we climbed for awhile to get to the top of a plateau.  We rode on the plateau until about mile “8” when we caught a single lane road
Starting to climb on single lane (road #26)
(hwy 26).  That's the point where we really started to climb.  We climbed about 6500 feet on this ride and most of it was from mile “8” to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint at mile “32.5”. 
Once we started climbing, our group separated some, but we managed to re-group along the way up.  Before long, we found Jurgen waiting for us.  The single lane road that we climbed on for about sixteen miles was really great – rough in spots, but no traffic and really awesome sights.  It had some potholes that might swallow you, some gravel patches that might wreck you and two very steep grades (ugh); but it was a great road for cycling (at least for us).
Told you it was steep...

Once we finished with the single lane road and got on the main road to Windy Ridge (hwy 99), we began to get glimpses of Mt St Helens (and Mt Adams and Mt Hood).  The climb on this main road was pretty consistent but without the excruciatingly steep grades that we encountered while on the single lane.  We cruised up to a couple of viewpoints overlooking Spirit Lake (where we met up with Conor and David C who had already been to Windy Ridge Viewpoint and had come back to meet us – very humbling).  We, then, all rode the final mile or two to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint where you have a very “up close and personal” view of Mt St Helens.

 

After some photos and recoup time at the top, we headed back.  On the route back, we did not take the single lane road.  Instead we stayed on the main road (hwy 99) until it met hwy 25 which took us back to Randle.  The descent down hwy 99 was curvy and fast and fun.  The road was in pretty good shape; so, mostly, all you had to worry about was taking the corners smoothly.  This was not the case for the last part of the ride (hwy 25).  It was curvy and fast (just like hwy 99), but the road surface was in poor condition and the shadows from the trees made it hard to see the cracks and bumps in the surface.  Fortunately, we all made it through this section safely.

This was a great ride.  The weather was perfect, the ride was challenging, and the group of guys was great.

To see photos of this ride click on the following link:  

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