Seattle area suggestions

SeabeckS said:

For a seriously different activity in Washington State you could try "glamping" (ie., glamorous camping) at Alexandria Nicole vineyards near Prosser. Their website doesn't have all the info available right now as the reservations system is down for a reload...but some of the info and a picture gallery is available at http://www.ancglamping.com/.

I'm not attending the Rally for the whole time, plan on leaving Seabeck (Hood Canal area west of Seattle) on Thursday. Making a quick pass through Tacoma to get out of traffic, then the backroads via Randle past the east side of Mt St Helens to the Columbia Gorge near Hood River, OR. You're most welcome to tag along if you'd like to see some of our paved back country Forest Service roads...that is if you decide NOT to go glamping!

Cheers, Bill J

Click to expand...

I am not sure if I am going to rally from Auburn/enumclaw area but if I have time and weather is good I was going to go south thru windy ridge side of mount st helens and like you along river to hood river. Maybe if circumstances work we could hook up. Iwould be riding a GS and camping all the way if that matters.

coxengr01 said:

I am not sure if I am going to rally from Auburn/enumclaw area but if I have time and weather is good I was going to go south thru windy ridge side of mount st helens and like you along river to hood river. Maybe if circumstances work we could hook up. Iwould be riding a GS and camping all the way if that matters.

Click to expand...

Well, just about the time I really started focusing on making it to this rally...I got an email. Seems the Iowa side of my family decided to have the big family reunion the very same weekend as the rally!

I only re-connected with my Iowa roots a few years ago, so these reunions are sort of important. Darn! I SO wanted to attend my first ever BMW Moto rally!

But, perhaps we could hook up for a "back side of St Helens" tour some other time this summer? I don't moto-camp any more, but it would be nice to ride with another Beemer guy down as far as the gorge, I'd sort of planned to make a one-day loop or perhaps do a bigger loop out to the coast with an overnight motel in Astoria or some such place...

Cheers! Bill J

Dang Dave... You get a 'voice to type' program?

You should mention the Coulee Corridor.

Ride from the Coulee Dam to the Columbia River Gorge is some amazing geological scenery.

Plus the fact that you are in the Evergreen State and there isn't a tree to be found.

FS #25 down the east side of Mt. St. Helens is one of my favorite rides, although the pavement has been getting a little rough in recent years. This is one very curvy road, and the best part is that it's not watched by the Washington Snake Patrol, plus the Forest Service doesn't have any extra money to squander. So, you can really enjoy yourself on this one.

FS 25 heads south of Randle on US 12. Wise riders gas up at Randle. Actually, the road south of Randle curves off to the east and eventually goes to Trout Lake. Turn off at the Y to FS 25 and keep going. FS 25 makes a turn to the west at the south end, but you can continue south to the Columbia River for some additional great riding. Turn left onto Curley Creek Road before you pass the Swift Creek Reservoir. Curley Creek R bumps into Meadow Cr. FS 90. Hang a right, and you'll reach a T with Wind River Road. Hang a left on Wind River, and you'll come out on WA 14 just past Carson.

Now, if the weather is cloudy or raining, it's still a good ride, but probably not a good day to go to the Mt. St. Helens viewpoint. But if the weather is clear and sunny, definitely DO NOT MISS the road in from FS 25 to the viewpoint. It's twisty, and you'll ride by spectacular tree blowdowns and some interesting displays. If the road is open to the viewpoint, this is a spectacular ride, and not likely to have many motor homes in your way.

Note that there is a 4,000ft pass on FS 25, and the snows may not melt before mid June or early July. So, before heading out to ride FS 25, call the US Forest Service office and ask if it's open.

pmdave

It's even more fun on a hack!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_popper/3915716334/" title="Cari. by GrafikFeat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/3915716334_3b69e1556c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="653" alt="Cari." /></a>

Book mark this page...

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/current-conditions/roads.shtml

As the season approaches changes occur rather quickly.

**Update**
03/26/2010: Snow above 2000 feet. From the Randle side, A landslide at Benham Creek bridge area has closed Forest Road 25.
Wakepish Sno-Park will not be opened this season. From the St. Helens side road gated at FR 93

I got to that page from here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/

Grafikfeat,

Thanks for the link to the USFS roads.

www.soundrider.com also has information on WA roads and mountain passes. And, there is the official WA state site for highways and mountain passes:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/travelroutes/

GREAT shot, BTW. That's the type of day when it would be a crime to NOT go out to one of the viewpoints. In the photo, you can see the road along the hill continuing toward the mountain. There are some even more awesome views out there, but you have to climb some short trails.

There is a new access road and fancy viewpoint on the west side of the mountain, too, accessible from Castle Rock or Toledo on I-5. Of course, with the easy connection to the Interstate, that road will be crowded with traffic during the summer months.

If riding FS 25, bear in mind that Mt. Rainier National Park is just to the north, and it's an easy ride from Randle on 12 and 123 to the east entrance. The ride from E to W gives you spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. And, be sure to take the Paradise road up to the visitor center and the old Lodge. Mt. Rainer is 14,000+ feet, and covered by glaciers year-round.

For those camping, there are several somewhat spartan USFS campgrounds just north of the viewpoint turnoff, and some classic National Park campgrounds at Ohanepekosh and Longmire in Mt. Rainier park.

For those preferring lodging with light switches and toilets, best bets would be Morton, Packwood, or Enumclaw. There are a number of motels elsewhere along the highway, but they tend toward "rustic." If you can score a vacancy at the Paradise Inn, that would be special. Anyone stayed there recently?

pmdave

Thanks Dave...

If you are coming from the East this is a must visit on your way to or from the rally.

This is from Windy RIdge parking lot looking East at Mt. Adams... Yet another active volcano. Mt. Rainier, St. Helens and Adams are all active volcanoes.
The spot where the hack was parked in the other shot is just behind the tree.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_popper/3914832066/" title="Mt. Adams. by GrafikFeat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2586/3914832066_cfbd1a881b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="687" alt="Mt. Adams." /></a>

Beautiful shots, GrafikFeat. Would you have some of Mt. Rainier or the Columbia Gorge to share?

And, don't forget that the volcano chain extends down through Oregon, with Mt. Hood just across the Columbia River, and Mt. Mazama (OK, "Crater Lake") at the south end of Oregon.

A few years ago I had a discussion with a vulcanologist, who was reluctant to admit that Mt. Rainier was indeed an active volcano. There's actually a steam vent up on top, where climbers can warm up. He explained that the biggest danger from volcanos isn't a sudden eruption, but the internal steam that causes the sulfurous chemicals in the rocks to form sulfuric acid--eating the rock from the inside out. Occasionally, the weak rock lets go in a monstrous slide called a "lahar" that can travel many miles out from the base of a mountain.

So, Rainier is a spectacularly beautiful mountain, but it's a ticking time bomb, too. Best come and visit before the next lahar--or eruption.

pmdave

2010 Rally

Greetings

Just curious if any one is iterested in joining up for a group ride to the Rally? Myself and a buddy are making the trip and leaving the Seattle/Eastside area around 6:00 on July 15? All are welcome to ride along with us.

We plan on going East on I-90 to Ellensberg, then South on US 97 into Bend/Redmond OR

Any who are interested. Just reply to this post.