Mount Rainier
Well-known member
After looking at the forecast earlier in the week, I think it was Wednesday, it was clear the weather was changing rapidly in the Cascades. With freezing and snow levels dropping, I felt a bit of urgency to get one more Cascades Pass ride in. The first objective was the North Cascades and Chinook Passes due to their hgher elevations.
Thursday was the obvious clear weather day but even that had it’s concerns. My planned route was growing into an all-day event :yahoo: and soon reached 750 miles and 10 passes. (some visited twice) Funny how things like that happen........
The challenge of course was the morning temperatures at both the North Cascades Rainy and Washington Passes at 5477 ft and Chinook Pass at 5430 ft..
The second concern was the possibility for congestion in Seattle coming south on I-5 Thur. evening. I wasn’t sure what time the “Occupy The Freeway Median” group would be leaving the "Come as you are potluck" at the mayor’s office and finding their way back to the new designated holding pen.. “Did I say that?!”
As any LD Riding enthusiast can appreciate, I opted for the counter clockwise direction (kind of - which put Chinook first and would eventually bring me home via Snoqualmie Pass, a mere 50 miles from where I started. Imagine that. Jim – Fontanaman and I did his 8 Pass Blast a couple months ago, clockwise.
So the plan was to leave a bit later than what I'm accustom to doing, to avoid arriving at elevation in the dark in case of icy roads.
A pleasant surprise at my 6am departure was the brilliant full moon that accompanied me to the Crystal Mountain cut-off.
From there the cloud cover was complete, albeit at 20k ft. which did little hold the temperatures in the low 40s. Instead of dry roads, the wet roads and low temps would prove to be an issue.
On up to a point just above the White River turn off, watching the temps drop into the mid 30s I stopped for this, a rare occurrence, me taking photos. That will be obvious in terms of the quality of same.
As the elevation increased, and temps dropped I experienced rear wheel spin on icy patches. Rear wheel spin on mountain passes in temps now in the mid 30s, leaves one to reconsider the original plan. As I reached the junction of Hwys. 410 and 123, it didn’t take long to decide to bag Chinook Pass nearly 800 ft. higher over 3 miles.
and continue to inch across Cayuse Pass (4675 ft) knowing the elevation dropped drastically on the south side. With that most welcome descent, things were back to normal.
The expected 40 min construction delay on White Pass which is now a beautiful Moto experience.
The rest of the day was just plain Great. I was hopeful of seeing Panman up north, however, it looks like he did his ride counterclockwise.
A few construction delays on US-2
Running up 97 North was special due to the mighty Columbia and it's dominance on the landscape. One would think there would be a photo here. Not!
Saw really big elk on Loup Loup. Not!
And of course the fall colors are impressive. Not!
My turn around point was Rainy Pass at 4:30 where I made the fast dash for home 270 miles away.
Darkness settled in leaving Chelan and talk about the moon, I hope you folks in the Wenatchee area saw it last night. Huge Autumn moon just above the tree line. It made Blewett Pass even more special. Oh and BTW, again for you Wenatchee/Chelan folks, You Got Apples! Geez those trees are loaded....
No traffic delays over Snoqualmie and I was home by 9:15.
It was a great day to be outdoors on this fantastic machine.
Keep Going!
Thursday was the obvious clear weather day but even that had it’s concerns. My planned route was growing into an all-day event :yahoo: and soon reached 750 miles and 10 passes. (some visited twice) Funny how things like that happen........
The challenge of course was the morning temperatures at both the North Cascades Rainy and Washington Passes at 5477 ft and Chinook Pass at 5430 ft..
The second concern was the possibility for congestion in Seattle coming south on I-5 Thur. evening. I wasn’t sure what time the “Occupy The Freeway Median” group would be leaving the "Come as you are potluck" at the mayor’s office and finding their way back to the new designated holding pen.. “Did I say that?!”
As any LD Riding enthusiast can appreciate, I opted for the counter clockwise direction (kind of - which put Chinook first and would eventually bring me home via Snoqualmie Pass, a mere 50 miles from where I started. Imagine that. Jim – Fontanaman and I did his 8 Pass Blast a couple months ago, clockwise.
So the plan was to leave a bit later than what I'm accustom to doing, to avoid arriving at elevation in the dark in case of icy roads.
A pleasant surprise at my 6am departure was the brilliant full moon that accompanied me to the Crystal Mountain cut-off.
From there the cloud cover was complete, albeit at 20k ft. which did little hold the temperatures in the low 40s. Instead of dry roads, the wet roads and low temps would prove to be an issue.
On up to a point just above the White River turn off, watching the temps drop into the mid 30s I stopped for this, a rare occurrence, me taking photos. That will be obvious in terms of the quality of same.
As the elevation increased, and temps dropped I experienced rear wheel spin on icy patches. Rear wheel spin on mountain passes in temps now in the mid 30s, leaves one to reconsider the original plan. As I reached the junction of Hwys. 410 and 123, it didn’t take long to decide to bag Chinook Pass nearly 800 ft. higher over 3 miles.
and continue to inch across Cayuse Pass (4675 ft) knowing the elevation dropped drastically on the south side. With that most welcome descent, things were back to normal.
The expected 40 min construction delay on White Pass which is now a beautiful Moto experience.
The rest of the day was just plain Great. I was hopeful of seeing Panman up north, however, it looks like he did his ride counterclockwise.
A few construction delays on US-2
Running up 97 North was special due to the mighty Columbia and it's dominance on the landscape. One would think there would be a photo here. Not!
Saw really big elk on Loup Loup. Not!
And of course the fall colors are impressive. Not!
My turn around point was Rainy Pass at 4:30 where I made the fast dash for home 270 miles away.
Darkness settled in leaving Chelan and talk about the moon, I hope you folks in the Wenatchee area saw it last night. Huge Autumn moon just above the tree line. It made Blewett Pass even more special. Oh and BTW, again for you Wenatchee/Chelan folks, You Got Apples! Geez those trees are loaded....
No traffic delays over Snoqualmie and I was home by 9:15.
It was a great day to be outdoors on this fantastic machine.
Keep Going!
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