Hyak to Ellensburg Steady Pace Ride
It may be October already, but the weather is still looking promising for a gravel ride on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail on October 6th from Hyak near Snoqualmie Pass to Ellensburg. The course would be something like this: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38041413. It will be a steady pace, A terrain, ride downhill and (usually) with a tailwind.
Meet at the Hyak trailhead near Snoqualmie Pass for a 10:30 departure.
There are options to ride the whole distance, or part of the way. Feel free to sign up for any section that you are interested in riding. Convenient options are from Hyak to:
1) Lake Easton - 16 miles around the south side of Keechelus lake and the Yakima river. This is doable for most people as a round trip. I'll be headed one way so someone else would need to sign on as a ride leader. The elevation change stays the same every day, but the ride back can be highly variable depending on the wind.
2) Cle Elum - 29 miles the 13 additional miles parallel I-90.
3) North Thorp Highway - 48 miles and in my opinion the most scenic part of the ride is Cle Elum to the old Thorp Mill along the Yakima River. For reference the North Thorp Highway option ends at the Thorp Fruit & Antique Mall right off of I-90.
4) Ellensburg - 58 miles to The Tav and a Super Mother burger.
As of the last time I rode it, the trail was a similar surface to the Snoqualmie Valley trail between North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass. I do the ride on a mountain bike, but gravel bikes with 35mm+ tires seem to be the most common on the trail lately.
There are two options, ride downhill with a tailwind and then back uphill against a headwind, or have someone park a car at the end of the ride to transport people back to pick up the drop-off car at Hyak. A Discover Pass is needed to park at the Hyak, Lake Easton, and South Cle Elum trail heads.
If you are interested but need a ride, please contact me and I can put you in touch with others to see if something can be arranged.
There isn't a bike shop close, so bring the Joining us for a ride basics along with plenty of snacks and water. Be sure to check the forecast and plan on dressing in layers. The Hyak trailhead has a bathroom and there are options at each of the potential stops listed above.
Paul Heydron, + 1 425 344 1543, paulh.wa@comcast.net
