Originally, this ride was created to simulate/replace the Death Ride because I could not go in 2001. Due to popular demand, it's back as a 'training' ride. Depending on popularity and fitness, perhaps this will become an annual event...?

Date:
Monday, 21 July 2003

Start time:
9:00 AM
read: show up at 8:30 so we can roll at 9. If you are leaving from Seattle, do so at 7 so you can be at the start at 8:30... Whatever, I just want to ride at 9.

Start location:
Gravel parking lot at the base of the Crystal Mountain Road (also known as the RAMROD 'deli' stop)

NOTE - There are no public restrooms or water here, just so you know.

Route:
We start from the parking lot at the base of the Crystal Mountain road, head up Cayuse Pass, down the south side of Cayuse, turn right to enter Rainier National Park, climb up to Paradise via Steven's Canyon all the way to the Paradise Lodge. Here we'll take a break to regroup and nourish ourselves. Then it's back the way we came with options of climbing all the way up to Chinook Pass from the top of Cayuse and possibly also climbing up to Sunrise before returning to the car.

You can check out my long-winded route description from last year here if you like.

Mileage:
If you do it all, it comes out to about 125. Just like the Death Ride - what a coincidence... If you don't do Chinook (6 miles) or Sunrise (28 miles) you will still get in about 85 miles of fantastic riding with THREE mountain passes. The last of which is the same as the last climb in RAMROD. Bonus!

For park facility status, go here http://www.nps.gov/mora/ and click on the 'Facility Status' link under QUICK LINKS.