[Daboo]

I plan to ride the "3 Pass Blast" as it is commonly referred to around here on Saturday, May 4th. The route will go over Snoqualmie, Blewett and Stevens Passes. With no breaks, the trip will take 6 hours of riding time. I'm anticipating another hour or more for breaks and a food stop in Cashmere. So it'll be a full day of riding.

Please PM me if you're interested and we can work out the details.

Chris

 

[knucklehead]

Rain or shine? Or snow?
One thing you can count on with the weather - it most likely won't be what you were asking for. I've done the ride over Stevens Pass then north to Winthrop and the North Cascades Highway back - that too is 3 passes IF you count Rainy Pass. Another good ride from your area is to go over 410 then head south and go back over White Pass. CHINOOK PASS - SR410 - won't be open for a month or so however. Usually by Memorial Day. North Cascades is open. Kind of early for that pass but not unusual.

Enjoy your ride Chris.

 

[Gbjbany]

Sounds like fun sorry your a bit too far north for me . Ride safe.

Saw this posted on another site, seemed relevant north cascades hwy opened.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=879580

 

[Daboo]

Hwy 410, Chinook and White Passes are beautiful too. Maybe I'll add those to the list of rides for this summer. About the furthest south I usually head for, is Mt. St. Helens and Windy Ridge. Since I live up by Everett, I tend to gravitate towards rides in the North Cascades.

I'll often do the North Cascades Highway a couple times a summer. I rode Artist Point on Mt. Baker twice last summer and took the family there too in between. The scenery up there is just jaw-dropping spectacular and I wanted to take in the autumn colors before the snows hit. I walked out to this one point on the trail and just sat there for almost an hour.

Here's a couple pics from that trip. I just love it there.
[attachment=1:8uwsamif]P1040127.JPG[/attachment:8uwsamif][attachment=2:8uwsamif]P1040133.JPG[/attachment:8uwsamif][attachment=0:8uwsamif]P1040137.JPG[/attachment:8uwsamif]

I don't have any good pics from this ride...yet. But any ride in the mountains here is great.

Chris

 

[Daboo]

The North Cascades Highway is open...now that's cool! :cheers: That might be my next ride then. I did it one year and stopped to turn around just short of Liberty Bell mountain. The red in the picture below are the avalanche zones.

Here's a picture of that same area without the red showing how the avalanches cover the road.

When I went that time, the snow on the side of the road was still about 8 feet deep. There was an outhouse off the paved portion of the road in a roadside stop and the snow was up to the roof still.

If you leave early in the morning, it is a very enjoyable ride. Sleep in and leave later, and the road up is a parking lot.

I'm getting excited! I ride all year, and like I tell people around here, this time of year that's coming around is the payback for the cold rainy days that I ride in so much of the year.

Chris

 

[Dave_J]

As Chris and I have chatted in PM, I am going to try my best to do this run. Lunch at Country Boys BBQ in Cashmere is on the top of my list for lunch. http://www.countryboysbbq.com/ :thumbup:

If we can get a few riders, fine. But Not sure if I will go if more than 10 bikes sign up.

The local "Meet Up" group does this run with like 50 bikes and most times there is a major mishap. Year before last a rider was injured in a single bike crash and later died. Too many bikes and Testosterone flowing on those BIG group rides. Always too slow then WAY TOO FAST and the cage drivers get REAL MAD.

 

[Daboo]

I've got one other person so far who might go. It could very well be just you and I, Dave.

The weather forecast keeps getting worse by the day. They are now forecasting morning showers. Once we get over the first pass though, we'll be on the east side of the Cascades and it should be drier.

It could easily be this...

Or this...

Dave, do you have any preferences for which direction to take? In other words to ride Stevens, Blewett and Snoqualmie? Or to ride it Snoqualmie, Blewett and Stevens? Either way, you have a hefty ride back to your place.

Chris

 

[Dave_J]

I could easily meet up in Monroe, Go over Stevens (Hy -2), do lunch in ether Leavenworth or Cashmere, Blewett Pass (Hy-97) and then Snoqualmie Pass (I-90) and for me a 4th and final pass of Tiger Summit (Hy-18). Or meet up at North Bend and go the other way around. If I meet you all in Monroe or North Bend, I will be going over Tiger Summit twice, once going and then the return, so for me it will be a 5 Pass Blast.

I wonder if Brian650 wants to meet up? I sent him an Email. Do you think you could put up with two retired ARMY dudes? Both on 650's?

Both on DARKSIDED 650's????? :twisted:

 

[Daboo]

I'd probably have to have someone else lead the ride. :lol: Everyone knows a 400 can't keep up with a 650. :roll:

I can see us now going up the first hill. Each of the 650's with their Army dude riders will be saying, "Grunt, grunt, grunt...". My 400 will be singing, "I think I can, I think I can..."

Chris

 

[Coz Boogie]

Coming from the Tri-Cities I would love to meet up with y'all and at least have some lunch....but I have waaaaaay too many things on my plate that weekend and most of May for that matter.

I hope to get up to the Methow Valley later this summer and up to Priest Lake in Idaho as well.

Enjoy the ride boys!

late,
Coz

 

[Dave_J]

Coming from the Tri-Cities I would love to meet up with y'all and at least have some lunch....
<<<SNIP>>>
Enjoy the ride boys!

late,
Coz

Dang,I was buying, oh well. :twisted:

 

[Dave_J]

I'd probably have to have someone else lead the ride. :lol: Everyone knows a 400 can't keep up with a 650. :roll:

I can see us now going up the first hill. Each of the 650's with their Army dude riders will be saying, "That dang pesky 400 anchor is slowing us down......". My 400 will be singing, "Oh, Ohhhh, I think I can, I think I can...HEY GUYS, WAIT UP A SECOND."

Chris

:roll:

 

[Daboo]

The weather isn't cooperating. The forecast initially was for temps in the high 60s and lots of sunshine.

East of the Cascades, here is what they are forecasting now. Note the low. Maybe we'll be lucky and it'll be up to 40F by the time we meet up in Monroe.
[attachment=4:34y7sat0]Capture - Monroe.JPG[/attachment:34y7sat0]

We'll hit Stevens Pass first.
[attachment=1:34y7sat0]Capture - Stevens Pass.JPG[/attachment:34y7sat0]

Once we get over that pass, it'll be decent weather. Not warm, but at least dry.
[attachment=2:34y7sat0]Capture - Leavenworth.JPG[/attachment:34y7sat0][attachment=3:34y7sat0]Capture - Ellensburg.JPG[/attachment:34y7sat0]

Then going back over Snoqualmie Pass.
[attachment=0:34y7sat0]Capture - Snoqualmie.JPG[/attachment:34y7sat0]

As much as it has changed, I can only hope it changes again. I'm not hoping to experience one of these like Dave_J and asolof did.

Chris

 

[Dave_J]

And that was late May when Asolof and I did that up to Mt St Helens.

 

[Coz Boogie]

Dang,I was buying, oh well. :twisted:

That's right.....rub it in!

late,
Coz

 

[knucklehead]

As Chris and I have chatted in PM, I am going to try my best to do this run. Lunch at Country Boys BBQ in Cashmere is on the top of my list for lunch. http://www.countryboysbbq.com/ :thumbup:

Thats a great place to eat! I had dinner there just last month with some friends. The ribs are outstanding. Good luck getting a spot to sit in the evenings They are very popular. They've opened another restaurant on Orondo Ave in Wenatchee but I don't see any mention of it on that web page. Same great food from what I've heard but haven't tried it yet. That'll be 'cured' the next time I have to go to Wenatchee.

If the weather looks good on the 4th I might venture out long enough to meet up with you guys and ride some miles to the top of one of the passes. I don't ride in weather under 50 even if it is sunny. My weather forcast here shows the temps near 70 for that weekend. Lets hope it happens.

 

[Gbjbany]

Apologies for keep posting other sites ride reports but the photos in this report made me want to come ride the north cascades even more :thumbup:

http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.ph ... de-report/

Hope you guys get time to take a bunch

 

[Dave_J]

Apologies for keep posting other sites ride reports but the photos in this report made me want to come ride the north cascades even more :thumbup:

http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.ph ... de-report/

Hope you guys get time to take a bunch

Its rides like that I keep riding for.

 

[Brian650]

Would really like to make it but I've already got the day committed.

Did the Tullip Run yesterday. Probably 200+ bikes. Not well organized as it was one pack and the leader apologized ahead of time for not knowing the route or destination. Kind of fun at first. The most fun was the pre-ride hang out at Tulalup Casino. One other Burgman and one BMW650GT.

Wanted to celebrate my 67th with an Iron Butt however due to company travel that didn't happen so next opportunity will be last Saturday in May.

Sorry I can't make the Three Pass with you guys!

Brian

 

[Dave_J]

OHHHH, may have to postpone. Chris has some long ride plans that just come up for this Friday that will have him in the saddle for 7+ hours and may be just too tuckered out. I think a 5 hour car ride, followed by a 7 hour bike ride on Friday and then to try a 6 hour 3 Pass Blast would be too much. I'll let him explain if he wants too. :twisted: