2015_07_03 Whidbey Island Ride - Jim Wilcher and Chris Fox (The rogue, northern Cyclopaths)

Author:  Jim Wilcher

As an alternative to the Triple-By-Pass ride that many of the Cyclopaths rode, Chris and I decided to seek cooler temps by escaping to the Puget Sound islands. Chris Fox is an expert guide of the back roads of Whidbey Island, and he loves to share them so off we set at 6:00AM towards the Mukilteo Ferry landing. We parked the car and boarded with our bikes and big smiles. Oddly, there were only a few cars on the ferry which bid well for our plans to ride car free (carefree) roads.

Chris prepared his GoPro, and we set off with a quick left-hand turn just off the ferry dock. The high-bank island provides an immediate climb up to commanding views, a cool breeze and vacant roads. I remembered the first time that Chris had invited me to ride with him on Whidbey — assuming the island was flat. I was unprepared for the steepness and number of climbs — a mistake I hope not to repeat. This time I loaded my jersey with road snacks and prepared myself for some steep hills.

“Watch for deer” Chris barked as he hooked a right turn that dove under tall alder trees and onto a narrow path lined with stinging nettles. Soon, we returned to the quiet roads where we pedaled steadily and spied views of the Sound between cottages and beach homes. We saw a few runners, just a few cars, and – yes - we saw a deer. A short stop at the coffee shop had a deadline of just a few minutes to get coffee, use the bathroom and remount in order to catch the ferry for the return trip. No more lolly-gagging, we had an agenda, we were going to be riding fast from here on out. We reached the Three Bitches, a series of hills that lived up to their name in terms of steepness - then the forested ride up the long track dubbed the Cathedral — an inspiring climb through an enchanted island forest and dappled light streaming though the semi-old growth Cedars.

The last few miles were an all out push in pace line formation to catch the ferry, zipping over the dock just in time. On the front deck of the ferry, we basked in cool breeze, rejuvenated, all of it punctuated by the morning sun glinting off the Puget Sound. On the way back to the mainland, we turned our thoughts to our cyclo-brothers as they would soon be chomped down on the hot tarmac of Cayuse Pass in what was sure to be a bit warmer temps.

Link to Chris Fox's short video of the ride: https://youtu.be/mVDMzloM9WQ

Chris and Jim on the ferry...

2015_07_03 Triple By-Pass

Author:  Conor Collins

Over the past four years I have participated in twenty Puyallup Cyclopath rides.  Yet this was my first time doing Triple Bypass. Quite possibly the most original of all the names us Cyclopaths give for our rides; and the longest, most self-dependent ride we do as a group.  It’s shameful that it took me this long to add it to my list. Regardless of my greatly postponed Triple Bypass introduction, this ride was nothing short of what one should expect for a Puyallup Cyclopath undertaking.

I would assume a good blog post would document the span of the whole riding experience, so that’s what I intend to do. After the usual pre-ride day chat with Mike the night before, I jokingly questioned his logic behind starting the ride at 5:15am; our meeting place would be the Cayuse Pass junction, (an hour and twenty-five minute drive from Puyallup) and the thought of waking up earlier than the roosters earliest crow (3:15am) seemed absurd - yet that’s exactly what we did. My alarm rang at 3am, and I was out the door to meet up with Leon and Mike by 3:30.

For those of us willing to venture on the road at such an early hour, I think we can all agree there is a distinct reward for our efforts (besides the lack of traffic on the roads). The pureness of the cool morning air with nature’s light show just beginning to cusp the horizon redefines any pre-existing delineations of natural beauty. One case in specific is the sunrise we witness while driving up Cayuse Pass; the sun’s morning rays illuminate only the upper body of Mt. Rainier’s east face, a surreal sight that is only fully appreciated first hand.

We reached the designated starting area of the ride right on time - with the fourteen others arriving just after. The temperature at Cayuse was 50°, a fairly comfortable temp for a day that was forecasted to reach the 90's. Just like every ride, at least ten minutes are spent pondering the optimal amount of clothing to keep one’s self “comfortable” throughout the ride. Most of us went with a vest and some thin arm warmers, aside from Leon who sported his thick mountaineering mittens for the early parts of the ride.

Cayuse Pass (5:25 AM) ready to go...

The first four miles are spent on the scenic, gradual grade of Chinook Pass (the first pass in our Triple Bypass journey). The sky was perfectly clear, not a single cloud obscured our view. Mt. Adams stood tall in the distant southern horizon, along with a magnificent view of Mt. Rainier as we turned onto the only western facing switchback on eastbound Chinook. The group stayed together for most of the short initial climb, with a brief re-grouping at the top. I managed to catch a glimpse of a young buck walking through the meadows right past the top of Chinook, just as the morning light was beginning to strike the slopes of the canyon.

Chinook Pass at 6:00 AM...

After a quick re-group we began the twenty-mile descent to Whistling Jack’s Lodge, our first scheduled stop of the day. Rob Critchfield and a few buddies of his that were joining us for the ride bolted down the eastern side of Chinook. I remember Mike saying, “Look, there goes Rob!” Naturally, I took that as a cue. In my highest gear I still found myself spinning out, especially when my pace was higher than 40mph. I never managed to latch onto their tails, and decided it would be wise to let up on the pursuit and fall back to the main group for some fun pace-line work to the first rendezvous.

Once back in the group, and with an eased heart rate, I began to notice the significant drop in temperature. I remember Les Becker saying the temperature had dropped “13 degrees” from what is was at the top of Chinook Pass—funny how the temperature dropped the lower we rode.  Although averaging a high rate of speed wasn’t difficult on a downhill grade, there was one unusual challenge:  the sun. Kind of like how Stonehenge focuses the light depending on the time of year, the trees on eastern Chinook must do the same during the first week of July. The light was right in our eyes -making it extremely difficult to focus on the road and the person’s tire in front of you.

Cruising down the road at speeds around 30mph, I remember, for the briefest of moments thinking to myself: “This ride is going to be a breeze.” For the typical, superstitious cyclist, those thoughts are unwelcome in the mind, especially when there’s over seventy miles to go. After about an hour of speedy downhill riding, we rolled up at Whistling Jack’s Resort (in Cliffdell).  There, we met up with Rob’s group. Leon and Kurt decided they would rather keep riding to find some sun, and the rest of us took a quick break to get food and answer nature’s call.

Bathroom break at Whistlin' Jack Resort... we were so early that Whistlin' Jack's general store wasn't open yet... fortunately, the bathrooms were outside and available...!!

After a short break, we were ready to get into another groove for the next twenty miles to the junction of highway 410 and highway 12 – the point where the long White Pass climb begins. Rob’s speedy group that dropped us all on the Chinook descent pulled out first and took most of our fifteen man group with them except for Mike, Les, Mark, and a few others who decided it wouldn’t be in their best interest to burn all of their matches quite so early. They may have been right (see addendum)… We were flying down the road, averaging at least 30mph, for the whole stretch.  Although not smartest of choices for an endurance ride, it’s really hard to pass up such a thrill! We passed Leon and Kurt so quickly during their sunbath they didn’t even notice Mike, Les, and the rest were still far back.

Heading up toward White Pass...

We reached the turn onto U.S. 12 in no time and rode for about a mile until we reached our next re-grouping location.  After re-filling our bottles and waiting for a few minutes Leon and Kurt rolled up.   We decided it would be best to continue to the store a few more miles up the road, where we could wait for the rest while re-stocking our food supply.  Using those miles as a “recovery” from the high intensity of the rapid pace-line, it was nice to have a slight break after fifty-five miles of riding.  We reached the store… and no lights were on… we realized we were a bit too early.  It didn’t open until 9, and we were there at 8:45!! Leon and John decided they weren’t willing to wait for water and tapped the sprinkler in the adjacent yard to suffice their water needs.

To our surprise, Dr. Nick was the first to roll up, beating out Mike and Les.  Although Nick can be speedy, we didn’t realize he was that close to our lead group. When I asked him how he managed to make up so much ground so quickly he replied: “I hitched a ride with a gentleman in a truck.” I didn’t believe him. That sounded like a classic Dr. Nick joke that needed a photograph to be even mildly believable.  Sure enough however, when I asked Mike how Nick managed to be so close to us, he seconded Nick’s story… So, Dr. Nick, kudos for your resourcefulness! When Mike asked the store manager if the sprinkler water was safe to drink, he was told it was a mix of unfiltered river water and brown water from the store… it was too late for Leon and John, but they seemed to manage just fine the remainder of the ride!

A few of us decided waiting three more minutes for the store to open wasn’t worth our time, and we continued up to Rimrock Lake. The climb’s pitch increased slightly along the way the closer we got to White Pass, but leveled off for a few miles as we paralleled the shoreline of the lake.

The second-to-last stop came at a small café along the lake, where Rob was generous enough to buy us some cold water that would keep us refreshed for the real climb to White Pass. While getting ready to finish the climb, Mike’s group had just appeared and was rolling around the bend; we hitched with them until the pitch increased for the final four miles to the top. I pulled off the front to scratch the itch I had left in my climbing legs (even knowing we still had the massive Cayuse Pass to climb). Regardless, it was great enjoying the beautiful vistas around White Pass.

When I reached White Pass, Leon had already arrived having declined the stop at the café and was looping back to ride with the others. I was told to stop at the summit store where I got some great chicken strips and a Gatorade to refill and replenish my nutrition. Over the course of twenty minutes we regrouped and rested in the shade before beginning our final descent and climb to the finish.

Typical expressions after the White Pass portion of Triple By-Pass... John, Scott, Mario, and Les...

Chris and Aaron at White Pass...

Lanny (walking) and Rex (on bike) - White Pass...

Aaron, Rob, and Chris...

White Pass was the last real time I saw everyone in a group; a few appeared to be on the cusp of bonking at the top and took their time on the descent, while others had mechanicals or no interest in going fast.

As always, the climb up Cayuse was Nature’s reminder of her ultimate power… and my ultimate “highway to hell” as I decide to sit back and finish off the ride in a peaceful state of mind. As for Mike, Leon, Les, Mario, and the others who finished with or around me, I think it’s fair to say Triple Bypass was as challenging as it was fun. For the rest who were behind us, hopefully you will all be back for our next ride as a team; it’s not as great without you!

** To see all of the photos associated with this ride, click on the following link:  https://picasaweb.google.com/103821724300588557330/2015_07_03TripleByPass#slideshow/6168177839958658898 

Addendum (by Mike Hassur):   I think that it is fair to say the following about Triple By-Pass and the final (Cayuse Pass) portion of Triple By-Pass:

1.       This is a long, difficult ride.  Even for the best of riders, it can be exhausting…

2.       The enthusiasm and vigor with which you start the climb up Cayuse is seldom found by the time you reach the top…

3.       The decisions that you make earlier in the Triple By-Pass ride can play a major role in how that final, brutal climb up Cayuse Pass plays out…!!  

Two County -- (By Dwaine)

The timing, terrain, and proximity of the Two County Double Metric Century organized ride fell perfectly into our STP training schedule. Organized as a fund raiser for and by the Capitol Bicycling Club, it promised lots of scenic roadways with little vehicular traffic. Les floated the idea that we complete the 127 mile loop as our final big training ride. Scott and I both bit.

Les and I were a bit surprised to see riders already on the course before the scheduled 7 a.m. start. Scott, having arrived early, helped us assemble the bikes quikly and kept us on task. We hit the road just a few minutes after seven. Three Puyallup Cyclopaths proudly flying our colors.

The weather on previous days had been record setting hot. The day of the ride was originally forecast to be a bit cooler with some high clouds. As the day grew close NOAA updated that forecast to include the possibility of dry lightning and/or a thunderstorm with 'non wetting rain'.

The early part of the ride was flat and shared by all six routes. Within about five miles we were passing Millersvania State Park and already commenting on how quickly we were out of town and into some beautiful country. We kept the speeds reasonable and chatted for that first hour or so.

When the route turned West at about 15 miles we picked up a local Olympia rider. The pace picked up and we formed our first paceline into the light Westerly wind. The local rider, I didn't get his name, helped with some navigation and took a pretty hard pull when his number came up. Not long after picking up our fourth rider we started to see some lighting! We witnessed multiple lightning bolts. Most of the roads seemed safe in that there were tall trees on both sides of the road. But we still discussed the electrical conductivity of carbon and aluminum bicycles as we observed the light show.

Not long after the light show came the 'non wetting rain'. And it seemed pretty wetting when it soaked through my jersey. It was also about this time we turned onto Michigan Hill road. When the climbing started the local rider said 'This is where you drop me!'. I thought he was kidding, but he fell back pretty quickly. Did he read all the rides listed on our Cyclopath Jerseys and psyche himself out? Either way our group was back down to three.

We kept the pace up until we reached the rest stop placed at mile 62. Almost. I had a flat at 61.5 miles. We quickly swapped in a new used tube with all three riders helping. Then a chatty local sauntered up and started asking us this and that. We excused ourselves as politely as possible as we were afraid he was about to invite us in for a cup of coffee and maybe breakfast.

Getting to the halfway point Scott did the Lion's share of the work at the front keeping us moving nicely. During one of these pulls he even snapped a 'selfie'. He was pulling the three rider train, holding his phone out front, and directing Les and I into the frame for the best photographic composure. Les even had the forethought to smile!

Scott says: 'Just a bit to your left Les. Ok, Dwaine, close
the gap. Got the shot!'

After the rest stop at mile 62 our pace slackened. We had bellies full of food and took some time to let it digest. Then we encountered a few climbs. None were Cyclopath quality. What they lacked in length they made up for in steep. We were all quietly hurting. Until Scott said 'My legs are burning'. And we all admitted to feeling the same. So, actually, we weren't hurting all that quietly.

The last climb ended at about 102 miles into the ride. We had dropped the pace a bit to let our legs recover and were moving well enough. Scott's dad called and Scott announced he would be meeting us at the finish area. This helped us stay motivated to keep moving forward. As we approached the final rest stop our eyes had lost their hang-dog look. A quick group inventory showed we had adequate food and hydration to get us to the finish. Les said 'But those orange slices are so good!'. We all agreed that we would stop for orange slices only and then get right back on the road.

I led into the stop, unclipped one foot, located the last five orange slices, stuffed one in my mouth, remounted, and started soft pedalling up the road. After a few hundred feet I did not see any Cyclopath jerseys following me. I circled back to find both Les and Scott feasting. I asked 'What about the orange slice only stop?' They responded between bites about how good the cookies were, and then about the bananas. And then this. And that. So much for 'orange slices only'. And since I did come all the way back I figured 'When in Rome...' and had a few cookies too.

These guys are happy (to be done!)

With just a few miles to go we could already smell the barn. I had been watching our average speed all day. It was above my goal most of the day but had fallen to exactly my goal after those last hills. When we were eight miles out we made a left onto a seven mile stretch of Littlerock Road. With a slight headwind. I really wanted to make sure our average didn't fall. Not even a tenth. So after about a mile of Littlerock Road I went to the front and set a pace just a skosh above my goal speed. This pull took a lot out of me. I think I'm pretty good at emptying the tank near the end of a long ride and I was definitely burning matches over those six miles.

At the finish line we realized that we missed the 'Finish Line Celebration'. By hours. Instead, Scott's family warmly greeted us. The cameras were not unholstered until we recovered enough to smile. Which, after completing 127.3 miles in 7.7 hours, we felt obliged to do.

2015_07_01 Mount Fremont and Berkeley Park Hiking Report

Author:  Conor Collins

** This is a blog post that Conor Collins wrote for the Washington Trails Association Blog regarding a recent hike in the Sunrise area (Mt. Fremont and Berkeley Park).  Conor was kind enough to share his experience on our blog as well. **

Rolling out of bed around 5am with a plan to hike up around Sunrise is enough to stimulate one’s self; taking note of the complete absence of clouds in the sky, that’s enough to bring goose-bumps to the skin.

Arriving at Sunrise around 8:45am we had the better part of the best parking spots at our unrestricted selection. After gathering the gear we set off for a leisurely 6-mile hike, an out and back to the Mount Fremont Lookout. Shortly after commencing the hike we began to realize how arid most of the Sourdough Ridge truly was; the main, highway, of a path was dust covered, and the lack of trees only supported the sun’s unrelenting heat. The first section of the hike, to Frozen Lake, reminded me of the hikes I’ve done in Bishop, CA and the northern sections of the Mohave.

Once we reached the Frozen Lake junction we realized the plethora of opportunity to explore the Sunrise area. To the south we could’ve explored the Burroughs, to the southeast we could’ve trekked down to the White River Camp Ground, to the west, Berkeley and Grand Parks, and to the north, Mount Fremont. We went north. Soon the dusty trail turned to rock, and eventually shale that sounded like crackling glass with every step. Our foot placement was important, as we grew closer to the lookout and the trail’s pitch increased. Shale slides quite easily when loosely placed on top of other loose shale. To our delight the last 0.1 miles to the lookout the trail returned to its dirt pathway, with a small snow patch that arched over the Fremont lookout ledge. I decided to venture out on the snowfield for a better look of Grand park and Huckleberry Basin below.

Lookout tower on Mt. Fremont...

The view was beyond spectacular, with view of Glacier Peak and Mt. Baker in the distant horizon, even better was the lone Mountain Goat that jolted across the steep ridgeline. I attempted to get a photo of the goat after a quick change in camera lenses, but his agility and swiftness, while quickly maneuvering on the shale cliff, put him at least a third of a mile away in a matter of seconds. Even the 200mm lens required significant digital zoom to frame the goat as the subject of the photo.

We took a good break at the lookout, and after realizing how great of time we made on the ascent, we decided we would venture down the Berkeley Park trail. We would’ve spent more time admiring the vast beauty of the lookout’s vista, but the bugs and mosquitoes were pushing our limits.

A quick side note: before you decide to add a significant amount of miles to an initial determination of six, make sure to have plenty of water. It is always safe to carry much more than you anticipate using, but especially at Sunrise on a hot day. There are no water re-fill stations anywhere along the trial, so you could find yourself very dehydrated by the time you make it back to the visitor’s center. Always prepare for more than what you would expect.

After meandering back to the Frozen Lake junction we took a right turn and headed into the most luscious, green, blossoming valley I have seen in the park (even over that of the thriving Paradise meadows). Berkeley Park was incredible. Ribbons of vibrant pink and purple cascaded off of the higher ridgelines. Succulent smells of diverse wildflowers overwhelmed the air with even gentle blow of the wind. A small creek gurgled near the side of the trail with water that was as clear as the sky. I think it’s a fair judgment to say Berkeley Park is a physical example of nature’s heaven on Earth. For those of you who have read this far into my hiking review, you are deserving of the astonishing experience that is, Berkeley Park.

Berkeley Park Meadow...

Low on water, but high on spirit, we worked our way back to the Frozen lake junction with amazement of what we had witnessed in the valley below. The dryness of the Sourdough Ridge returned as we made our way back to the car under the beating light and heat of the sun. We took a detour from our initial course and wandered along the Wonderland Trail back to the parking lot junction. Very hot, but very worth the extra time we got to spend in the mountains and each other. The Sunrise snack bar was a great place to sit and relax before sending off on our journey home.

In all, the hike finished out at around eleven miles and 4,000 or so feet of climbing. Between the six Mountain Goats, two Marmots, a bunch of mountain Chipmunks, the almighty magnificence of the Berkeley Park meadows and luscious subalpine forest, and company that shows as much appreciation for nature’s beauty as I do, I find myself lacking in words to describe how great this hike was.

 I highly recommend it to anyone willing to go the distance.

2015_06_27 Hike to Camp Muir (Mt. Rainier) and Back

Author:  Conor Collins

** THIS IS THE “WRITE UP” THAT CONOR COLLINS DID FOR THE WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION BLOG REGARDING A RECENT HIKE UP TO CAMP MUIR ON MT. RAINIER **

Camp Muir Hiking Detail. This message will be divided into three parts: 1) The Essentials 2) What to bring 3) The schedule.

 The Essentials:    Camp Muir is perched on the south side of Mt. Rainier and is nearly surrounded by glaciers: the Nisqually Glacier to the west, the Cowlitz Glacier to the north and east, and the Paradise Glacier to the south and east. 2.2 miles of the 4.5-mile ascent is unmarked and has a section that traverses 884 meters over the Muir snowfield. The 9-mile round-trip hike gains 4,680 feet with a max altitude of 10,100 feet. The National Park Service rates the hike “Strenuous”, breaks for altitude adjustment along the way are recommended.

  

What to bring:  1) Sunglasses and sunscreen (MUST HAVE for snow hiking) 2) Hiking boots or shoes that won’t give you blisters 3) Preferably non-cotton clothing (bring your most athletic clothes) 4) Sweatshirt or warm jacket 5) A hat 6) A pack with: a) a change of clothes (at least socks and underwear) b) WATER and a lot of it (at least a gallon) c) FOOD (Including snacks for the hike and a sandwich to eat at the top) d) Some cash ($x≥$20) e) hand towel 7) Ski or hiking poles (If you do not have some let me know and I’ll find a pair) 8) A charged phone or camera (And a charging cable) 9) A plastic bag to store garbage or dirty clothes 10) A positive attitude.

 The Schedule:  (Saturday the 27th) I will be picking each of you up rather early (Daniel: 0400, Sergii: 0405) I apologize for the very early start, but the early morning is the best time to hike. We will be on the road heading for Rainier no later than 0410. The roads should be free and clear in the morning so I am planning on starting the hike no later than 0550. The average round trip hiking time is roughly 6 hours, putting us back to the parking lot around noon. The forecasted high for Muir is 55° (by noon) with increasing clouds in the evening, so we should enjoy the best conditions the mountain has to offer. For the drive home there is a great ice cream shop in Ashford and a Subway in Eatonville if we’re hungry.

If you have any questions or concerns please let me know as soon as they arise. Share this information with your parents so everyone is clear on what we’re doing. This link (http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/camp-muirroute-with-get-your-bearings-map-oct11.pdf ) will take you to a PDF that describes the hike in greater directional detail. On a clear day this is a specular hike and a mecca for aspiring summit trips and day hikers.  Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit.

 Hiking Detail General Overview:

When: Saturday, June 27th 2015

Where: Paradise to Camp Muir and back (Mount Rainier National Park)

Timeline:

• Pick up- 4am (Daniel), 4:05am (Sergii)
• Arrive at Paradise parking lot- 5:30am
• Begin Hike- 5:45am
• Reach Camp Muir- ~(general approximation)~ 8:20am
• Begin return to Paradise- (at most) 45min after reach time
• Leave Paradise parking lot- ~(general approximation)~ 11:30am
• Stops along the way- Ice cream in Ashford, Subway in Eatonville
• Arrive back home- ~(general approximation)~ 1pm

What to bring:

1) Sunglasses and sunscreen (MUST HAVE for snow hiking)

2) Hiking boots or shoes that won’t give you blisters

3) Preferably non-cotton clothing (bring your most athletic clothes)

4) Sweatshirt or warm jacket

5) A hat (wide rimmed preferred)

6) A pack with:

a) Change of clothes (at least socks and underwear)

b) WATER and a lot of it (at least a gallon)

c) FOOD (Including snacks for the hike and a sandwich to eat at the top)

d) Some cash ($x≥$20)

e) Hand towel

7) Ski or hiking poles (I will supply those)

8) A charged phone or camera (And a charging cable)

9) A plastic bag to store garbage or dirty clothes

10) A positive attitude

(A gratuity of $5 for gas fees would be nice.)

Camp Muir Hiking Report (WTA Hike write up)

When the five-day forecast calls for a week of consecutive sun and warm temperatures in the highlands, the alarm is set for 3:00 AM (on a Saturday) for a spectacular day in the mountains. Camp Muir was this Saturday’s spectacle.

Arriving at the Paradise parking lot at 5:40, we gathered our materials and were venturing up the grand John Muir steps toward Camp Muir not later than 5:50. There was little discussion about clothing for the hike, as the Paradise temperature had already reached 63° F. The sky was incredible, mostly clear with a few wisps of thin clouds just above the rising sun’s horizon. We took the Skyline trail for the first half of the hike, experiencing stunning views as the light of the new day slowly ventured down Rainier’s glaciered slopes. Small Paradise deer were roaming through the meadows along the early paved portions of the trail, adding some great company to an otherwise deserted path.

After reaching the On valley lookout and the junction between the Skyline and Alta Vista trail the path takes a new look as it turns to gravel and shoots skyward. The snowfield gets closer (although much higher than it should be at this point in the year) and a few minor patches of snow cross the trail to give the unprepared hiker an idea of what is to come on the 4.4 miles of snow hiking ahead (2.2 miles one way of snow hiking to Muir, 4.4 round-trip).

Upon reaching Pebble Creek and carefully traversing the hopscotch rocks that divide the trail the edge of the snowfield, you get a glimpse of the immensity and uniqueness of the Camp Muir hike. I highly recommend you bring hiking poles and a great pair of waterproof hiking books for the snow portion. Gaining traction, even in the morning when the snow was refreshed from the nightly temperature was a chore, but undoubtedly fun. Many hikers completed the hike in their tennis shoes, something I would not recommend; it adds difficulty to the hike that a boot would alleviate, but no trouble a will to seek the destination won’t overshadow.

If you pause for a moment about halfway through the snowfield, in the absence of any wind or ambient human-caused noise, you will most likely hear the ominous cracks and rumbles of the nearby glaciers. As the sun and the rising temperatures reach the glaciers the crevasses open wider and create those precarious tremors through the air.

After at least an hour of probing, sliding and stabilizing your steps on the snowfield you gain a glimpse of the camp. Perched on a ledge between the exposed south face of Rainier and an inner “protected” bowl of the high Cowlitz Glacier, the fatigue of hiking on snow is surpassed by the motivation to rest on such a spectacular ridge.

I suggest you spend at least 45 minutes enjoying the amenities of the camp (don’t sit by a solar toilet… you’ll know what I’m talking about when you get there). The temperature at the camp was rather chilly, but nothing a tough dayhiker can’t handle after the rigor of the 4.5-mile ascent. I managed rather adequately with a basic T-shirt and athletic shorts, and a buddy of mine did just fine with an open tank top.

The descent off of Muir adds the fun to this hike. As you will probably notice during the ascent people quite literally slide down the mountain back to Pebble Creek. Bring a plastic bag, or at least a change of pants, as you won’t want to miss out on the thrill of sliding 2.2 miles down Rainier. A fair warning though, some of the slopes have very steep downgrades and drops, as well as drifts that can send you into rocks or dangerously close to the edge of the snowfield. If you’re sure-footed and comfortable with sliding you can gallop down the slopes as well—equally as fun!

The descent speeds by, you’ll be down the 2.2 miles that seemed endless as you hiked upward in no time at all. Once you get back to Pebble Creek the hike will seem practically over. Just make it back to the parking lot and you’ve hiked over half to the summit and back and maybe, if you’re like me, you’ll get the itch to go all the way (one of these days).

A notice for all: There are no places to fill your water bottle along the way, a filter or boiling water is recommended for using stream water or snow along the way. The only toilets are those up at Camp Muir, and I’m warning you, hold your breath (no offense to the maintenance people at Muir, but the smell is horrible).

Don’t forget to appreciate the utter beauty of Mount Rainier, I’m not sure if there’s something in the world that parallels it’s stand-alone beauty.

2015_06_20 Leon's Ride

Author:  Mike Hassur

Well, it’s Father’s Day (5:30 AM), and my family has said that I am to be "ready to go” at 7:00 AM – not sure what they are planning.  Anyway, this seems like a good time to get a blog post started about yesterday’s ride (Puyallup Cyclopaths’ “Leon’s Ride”).

The ride is named after Leon Matz.  Last year, because Leon didn’t get into RAMROD, and I was less than enthusiastic about doing an altered course; we just decided to do our own ride on the day of RAMROD.  Leon proposed the following ride:  Longmire (Mt. Rainier) à climb to Paradise à descend to Reflection Lake à descend Stevens’ Pass à climb Backbone Ridge (west side) à descend east side of Backbone Ridge à exit Mt. Rainier National Park at east gate à climb Cayuse Pass à retrace our route back to our vehicle at Longmire.  The ride covered about 85 miles and included about 9500 feet of climbing.  It was sort of a “RAMROD lite” (i.e. all of the climbing in the mountains of RAMROD – and then some, but none of the slog to the mountains and back out).  The weather was great, and our ride was wonderful.

Yesterday (Saturday, June 20^th), we repeated the ride; but we had a larger group this time.  The plan was to meet at Longmire and be on our bikes by around 6:00 AM.  That sounds pretty good in the planning stage, but it required me getting up at 3:30 AM.  Leon showed up at my house at 4:15 AM (we had loaded up the bikes and gear the night before), and we headed over to Conor Collins’ house to pick him up.  Everything went as planned, and we arrived at Longmire at 5:45 AM.  Shortly after our arrival, Les Becker and Tom Peterson arrived followed almost immediately by Mark Delrosario and Kurt Maute, Scott Wagar and Kevin Vilhauer, John Winter, and James Kressler.

Our group at Longmire - ready to go...

We were on our bikes and heading out of the parking lot by 6:15 AM.  It was sunny, and the temperature was around 50 degrees (though it felt chillier in the shady areas).  The ride up to Paradise went smoothly.  On the way up, Kurt and Mark decided to take the “cutoff road” over to Reflection Lake.  This meant that they would not ride up to Paradise, but it would give them a head start on us going up Backbone Ridge.  The plan was to meet them at the top of Backbone Ridge.

Mt Rainier as seen on the final portion of the climb up to Paradise...

After a short break at Paradise to take a couple of photos, we descended on the Paradise Valley Road (it had just been resurfaced which made the descent easier, faster, and more fun).  We connected with the “cutoff road” that Mark and Kurt had taken earlier and headed past Reflection Lake.  From there, it was the Stevens Canyon descent.  I had the GoPro video camera going and had hopes of getting video of the group on this wonderful descent.  Unfortunately, Les had a mechanical at the hairpin turn just above Stevens Canyon.  I stopped to make sure that he and his bike were okay; and, by the time we got going again, the group was long gone.

 

Les at hairpin turn above Stevens Canyon...

Mike - same place as Les...

Les and I had a blast on the Stevens Canyon descent (as usual).  We passed Box Canyon and headed toward Backbone Ridge.  Before long, we were at the top of Backbone Ridge and reunited with the rest of our group.  

Backbone Ridge summit...

From there, it was the twisting (and exciting) descent of the east side of Backbone Ridge.  Our group stayed together for this descent, and there were smiles all around as we exited the east gate of Mt. Rainier National Park.

Next up, the climb of the south side of Cayuse Pass.  We were in the shade for most of this climb which kept our temperature nice and cool.  At the top, we regrouped and headed down.  The speeds coming down the south side of Cayuse Pass can be pretty high (my Garmin topped out at 46 mph), so there wasn’t much sight-seeing on the way down – just concentrating on the road ahead and checking to see if any cars were behind us. 

The descent of Cayuse Pass went fine, and we soon found ourselves in a line of cars waiting to get into the national park at the east gate.  We had never seen a line this long before (it extended all the way back to highway 123).  We just enjoyed visiting as we made our way to the gate/Ranger Station.  Once we made it through the gate, we headed up the east side of Backbone Ridge.  This is just a constant, moderate grade for about 4-5 miles.  We just rode a smooth pace and visited; and, before we knew it, we were back on top of Backbone Ridge – what a view!!

Second time over Backbone Ridge (this time heading west)...

We descended the west side of Backbone Ridge (high speed – quick descent) and were soon pedaling past Box Canyon and onto the lower portion of the climb back up Stevens Canyon.  By this time, the day had started to get pretty warm and all vests, jackets, and arm warmers had been shed.  The climb back up to Reflection Lake through Stevens Canyon is a long, demanding effort – especially when you have already done about 65 miles and about 8500 feet of climbing.  We rode up at different speeds, depending on each person’s level of fatigue; but everyone made it.  We were soon hurtling down the descent back to Longmire and our vehicles.  This last descent has lots of curves and could be enjoyable, but there was quite a bit of traffic by this time and the road surface was rough; so just getting back to Longmire without mishap was the main focus for most of us.

Everyone made it back safely.  All done – except for the stop at the Subway Sandwich Shop in Eatonville.  That 12 inch sub and a Coke sure hit the spot.

Can’t wait for our next ride…

To see all of the photos associated with this ride, click on the following link:  Puyallup Cyclopaths: "Leon's Ride" Photos

2015_06_13 The Climb To Sunrise (Maiden Voyage)

Author:  Mark Delrosario

Since there was no scheduled group ride Saturday June 13th, I sent a message out to my fellow Cyclopaths to find out if anyone was planning a ride. Heard Les and Dwaine were doing a 125 miler in preparation for STP, but they were doing it on Friday.  That was a no go since it's hard to play hookie from work. James Kressler said he was planning to do repeats on Chinook.

Then I got to thinking of doing Sunrise since I spent the last two Saturdays climbing Mt. Rainier. Why not a third Saturday in a row, and why not a different ascent by bike?  Kurt replied he'd give it a go even after his 14 hour flight from the Middle East. Leon and Mike said they were going Sunday, which wouldn't work for my schedule.

Saturday morning picked up Kurt in Edgewood. As we were nearing Crystal Mountain, Kurt noticed the car's outside temperature was reading 39 degrees.  I hadn't given any thought of the weather conditions. I assumed we'd be climbing and plus we were starting later with the sun already up.

Kurt had felt cold from the get go in the car. I was thinking it might be because he just came back from the desert climate. He was smart and wore our long sleeve club jersey and vest. I was only planning to wear sleeves meant for the sun and our vest. Luckily, I had left leg and arm warmers in a bag in the car.

We weren't the only cyclists at the Crystal Mountain turn off. There was one race team, another set of recreational riders that left before us, and down the road there was the Seattle Randonneuring group we saw making its way out of Enumclaw. We started our ride at 8:15, much later than our usual group start times.

It was a steady 4 mile climb to the Sunrise turnoff. Mostly in the shadow of the trees with a wind in our faces, which wasn't helping to fight off the cold.  I noticed that, when we saw the color of a red jersey up the road, Kurt's cadence tempo started to pick up. I was thinking there was no way it was one of the cyclists that left ahead of us.

The cyclist disappeared around the bend but we later caught up at the park gate. At this hour, there was a Park Ranger manning the gate. Flashed our new annual pass, and we were in. We caught up with the other cyclist within a minute. Since his pace was similar to ours, we kind of invited ourselves. Rick was wearing a 2012 Ramrod jersey so the obvious question was to ask if he got in this year. Nope. I happened to be wearing the 2014 Ramrod jersey.

He said he would usually ride Sunrise in preparation for Ramrod. For Kurt and I, this was our maiden ride. Kurt was riding stronger than me, and he lingered slightly ahead of us. I stayed back with Rick. There was a time we could've dropped him but we eased our pace. Rick's competitive juices kicked in and I think he made an effort to drop us. Half way up I started to tire, while Kurt could have maintained his distance ahead of Rick. We stopped at a bend for a break about 2/3 the way up. Rick continued on and a few other groups of cyclists passed us on the way up.

As we got to the lookout point, low and behold - James Kressler was coming down from the Lodge!  He chauffeured us up the remaining distance. Kurt was still riding strong.  No apparent effects of jet lag from what I could tell. Cool to have a big ring type stretch at the very top.  I was rather enjoying having this different viewpoint of Mt. Rainier. Don't recall seeing any snow on the side of the road, just green alpine valleys and pine trees with our grand mountain as the backdrop. I imagine it would be an awesome area to hike.

The descent after the long straight-aways was crazy with the bends, banking roads and decreasing radius turns. We could tell James was comfortable descending.  Speaking for myself my hands were on the brake levers. Having ascended on this same road earlier proved to be no help in determining the line through the many twists and turns on this road on the way down.

We departed from James at the campgrounds turn off since he was going to repeat the climb.  The remainder of the ride back to the car was uneventful with the exception of a large RV. Thankful he was a patient driver. We completed our ride by noon.

It was a nice Saturday morning. The weather was beautiful, roads nice and shared the experience with good company.