escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
We started out with a simple plan -- meet for breakfast and then figure out a route.
Fortunately, the PNW offers some awesome views no matter where we go, which in and of itself, makes the decision even more difficult. After braving dense fog along with temps in the mid 30s, Niehart, Curly Joe and yours truly got together yesterday morning.
Since we're close to the Cascades and the foothills, options abound. Puget Sound and the ocean, foothill loops and even the mountains were easily within reach. Weather was clearing and the mountains were beckoning so the decision was made.
Mountains it was and specifically Mt Baker!
Not a lot of pics on the trip up. Road conditions were decent enough, though at this time of year there is still lots of leaf, pine needle and other debris making cornering lines and tire placement critical in many spots.
Once the snow started to show at roadside, it got interesting and we were reminded many times of this...
Have I mentioned that temps dropped to below freezing, nope didn't think so. Each of us only had a couple slips and slides on the way up. Funny, the downhill side looked to have more sand / crushed shale mixture then the uphill side...great.
Once we get to the top, Niehart informs me that "if" we make it back down [alive] without any mishaps, the route was his idea -- if not, then it was mine. Not quite how I remember the discussion at breakfast...
Curly Joe, glad he made it to the top.
The parking lot was covered with snow.
Where we originally had planned to go -- missed it by that much...
Surrounded by beauty in all directions.
As luck would have it, the trip down was uneventful albeit slow as we tiptoed through the crushed shale.
No ride report is complete without food porn. We rewarded ourselves appropriately and even scored a decent view to finish the day!
Great ride and company, who needs a plan anyway!
FIN
Fortunately, the PNW offers some awesome views no matter where we go, which in and of itself, makes the decision even more difficult. After braving dense fog along with temps in the mid 30s, Niehart, Curly Joe and yours truly got together yesterday morning.
Since we're close to the Cascades and the foothills, options abound. Puget Sound and the ocean, foothill loops and even the mountains were easily within reach. Weather was clearing and the mountains were beckoning so the decision was made.
Mountains it was and specifically Mt Baker!
Not a lot of pics on the trip up. Road conditions were decent enough, though at this time of year there is still lots of leaf, pine needle and other debris making cornering lines and tire placement critical in many spots.
Once the snow started to show at roadside, it got interesting and we were reminded many times of this...
Have I mentioned that temps dropped to below freezing, nope didn't think so. Each of us only had a couple slips and slides on the way up. Funny, the downhill side looked to have more sand / crushed shale mixture then the uphill side...great.
Once we get to the top, Niehart informs me that "if" we make it back down [alive] without any mishaps, the route was his idea -- if not, then it was mine. Not quite how I remember the discussion at breakfast...
Curly Joe, glad he made it to the top.
The parking lot was covered with snow.
Where we originally had planned to go -- missed it by that much...
Surrounded by beauty in all directions.
As luck would have it, the trip down was uneventful albeit slow as we tiptoed through the crushed shale.
No ride report is complete without food porn. We rewarded ourselves appropriately and even scored a decent view to finish the day!
Great ride and company, who needs a plan anyway!
FIN
