WA-410 & Crystal Mountain Blvd
WA 98022
6th Annual Sunride, a Summer Solstice Hillclimb: Sunday, June 30, 2019
How about a solstice-welcoming spin up to Sunrise Visitor Center at Mt. Rainier?
> Why isn’t this happening on actual solstice weekend? a) Avoid stepping on the – er – toes of the Fremont solstice parade cyclists (nudity mixed with bikes aligns with Willy Nilly spirit), b) Greater chance the road up to Sunrise Visitor Center will be open to riders
> Registration/fees: Nope
> “Ride your ride”: The total number of Sunriders on the road that day historically ranges from 50 to 250, with varied start times and/or start locations
> “Standard” refers to popular options…
> Standard ride start time: 7:00am (suggested wee-early start is for minimizing vehicle traffic conflict & maximizing sunrise lighting splendor)
> Standard start/finish: SR 410 & Crystal Mtn. Blvd. (some do a shorter route, parking/starting close to the road access gate near White River Campground)
> Standard route map: (see web site)
> Standard ride profile: 40 miles up/down (20 mi climbing about 4,800′, then zooming 20 mi back down to start/finish)
> Enticing post-ride hydration meetup: Naches Tavern in Greenwater
> Campout: On Saturday night some of us will be snoozing at nearby campgrounds such as The Dalles, or Silver Springs
Access/Route Details
> Road access details are subject to change per the whims of the rangers and/or maintenance personnel
> Around solstice time, the road up to Sunrise from the gate near the White River Campground intersection is typically closed to all public traffic during the week, however…
> Sometimes the gate/road is opened up for hikers and bicycles (not cars) during the weekend
> That said, maintenance crews may decide at any moment to close the gate to all traffic for any timeframe of their choosing
> Thus, while the standard plan A is to ride up to the gate from the start/finish listed above, if the gate is closed to bicycles, then a Plan B option is to turn around and ride to Chinook Pass, and from there down to Skookum Falls Viewpoint on hwy 410, from which we’ll return to our original starting point (see web site for Plan B route map).
> Plan B results in about the same total elevation gain as the standard Sunride route, and the distance is 6 miles longer
Sign up for Willy Nilly ride updates: https://bit.ly/2IZeC1A
Leave a Reply