northbend
10-11-2008, 08:32 AM
I took Friday off hoping to suprise my wife with a drive to Leavenworth to enjoy the fall colors but she suprised me by having made a last minute commitment to babysit quadruplets for a family in our church so that left me with a free day to enjoy some nice fall weather. I tossed the bike into the car and drove up to the Crystal Mtn turnoff which was my starting point for a 40 mile ride thru the Mt Rainier National Park to Sunrise. At the park entrance, the ranger told me I would be alone because the road up to Sunrise was closed to traffic - fine by me! The whole 10 mile climb was mine alone and I enjoyed every minute of it. The temps started to warm only slightly as the sun poked thru the clouds, there had been a dusting of snow the day before and I was glad to have on my warmest clothes. Rocks were falling onto the road as I passed several sections and I picked up my pace to get clear while keeping an eye on the hillside.. As I neared the top I took this picture at the last hairpin when the road starts to level out.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/sunrise002.jpg
A rocky section
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/sunrise003.jpg
The top
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/sunrise005.jpg
I ate some lunch I had packed for myself at the boarded up Ranger Station before heading back down. A phone started ringing from inside the building, no one there to answer and it got pretty annoying after about the 10th ring. I started to get ready to leave when the ranger drove up. He warned me he had just opened the gate at the bottom and there may be car traffic. As it was, I think I only passed 3 cars coming up on my way down. I was more concerned about the rocks that had fallen on the road and my steadly freezing hands. When the weather is warmer and the road is cleared of debris, this descent is one of the best in Washington State but given the conditions I kept my speed down to the low 30s. By the time I reached the park entrance and my car I could feel my thumbs again. Gotta get some warmer gloves. Anyway, It was a nice ride - one of those late season rides that you stow away as the last of the good ones of the year.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/sunrise002.jpg
A rocky section
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/sunrise003.jpg
The top
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/sunrise005.jpg
I ate some lunch I had packed for myself at the boarded up Ranger Station before heading back down. A phone started ringing from inside the building, no one there to answer and it got pretty annoying after about the 10th ring. I started to get ready to leave when the ranger drove up. He warned me he had just opened the gate at the bottom and there may be car traffic. As it was, I think I only passed 3 cars coming up on my way down. I was more concerned about the rocks that had fallen on the road and my steadly freezing hands. When the weather is warmer and the road is cleared of debris, this descent is one of the best in Washington State but given the conditions I kept my speed down to the low 30s. By the time I reached the park entrance and my car I could feel my thumbs again. Gotta get some warmer gloves. Anyway, It was a nice ride - one of those late season rides that you stow away as the last of the good ones of the year.