2017_05_20 Alder Lake Loop Ride

Author:  Nick Iverson

On an overcast morning, having rescheduled this yearly ride based on weather concerns from May 13 to May 20th, seven intrepid cyclists gathered in Orting for the annual “easy ride.”  Rob Critchfield, David Crawford, Leon Matz (this years leader), Kurt Maute, Scott Larson, Scott Wagar and Nick Iverson headed out for apleasant ride.  We headed out Orville Road, toward Eatonville, then up a short climb on WA 161, then right on Ohop Valley Extension Rd., then on to Mountain Hwy to the Eatonville Cutoff, then returned on the same route from Eatonville.  At Camp 1 Road, the group (sans Rob who went back on Hwy 161 with time crunch), divided into two groups.  Leon (Mr. Hill) along with David and Scott W headed up the hill; and Scott L., Nick I, and Kurt M., headed back to Orting with time issues.   Sadly, the God Father of the Cyclopaths, Mike Hassur, was having some neck problems that prohibited riding with us.  At the start, it did not take too long for Rob and David to fail to restrain themselves, and take off ahead of

the group.  We regrouped at the turnoff for Orville Road.  

Before long, part of the group needed a nature break (there is a bathroom on Lake Kapowsin).  Kurt and I had kept our coffee intake down before the ride and knew that we would be struggling to keep up.  We kept riding.  We rode at our own pace and discussed travel, airplane sales, and the weather; but not politics.  Soon the Peloton arrived, and Kurt and I survived until we arrived at the Mountain Hwy.  There the climbers were off, leaving Kurt and me in the dust.  They waited at the Alder Lake Overlook in order to get the obligate photo.

Alder Lake Dam Overlook (photo by Nick Iverson)

Leon gave Kurt some Goo which kicked in after a while, and he survived to return to Orting.  We rode in a quasi pace line to Camp 1 Rd where the hill climbers continued up the five mile climb (THE CLIMB) at a remarkable pace, then returned to Orting. Leon, not to be outdone, rode to the start from his house, and rode back home to get in his 111.6 mile ride, and climb 5,259 feet.  The sun was beginning to burn through the clouds, at the photo op, making for a perfect day to ride.

The only incident of note was David, riding ahead with Scott W. and about 100 yards ahead of Scott L and meon Orville Rode on the return, suddenly went down.  “What happened?” Scott L asked.  David’s response, after first checking out his bike as a true cyclist:  “I was messing around, and went off the road.”  I am not sure if he was texting while riding, as he had his cell phone in his hand, but we decided not to report the incident to the State Patrol.  Next was a

quick check on David’s condition, and he had a little shoulder pain, but seemed not to have suffered any life threatening injuries.  Except for the inability to ride as a group and complete the ride together, it was a perfect day for riding.  Thankfully, we all survived to tell about it.