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Tour de PNW Mill Creek - Columbia River REVISED

  • 04 Jun 2023
  • 8:00 AM
  • 08 Jun 2023
  • 6:00 PM
  • Mill Creek Sports Park
  • 6

Registration


Registration is closed

Tour de PNW Phase 2: Mill Creek - Columbia River REVISED

Note: a phone call on 26 May 2023 to the ranger office for Lake Easton State Park and the Palouse to Cascades Trail State Park indicates the trail and Snoqualmie Tunnel now bike rideable.

  • Phase 2 of the Tour de PNW is now scheduled for June 4 - 8 starting at Mill Creek as previously planned, and end in Vantage instead of Beverly.
  • A rest day of June 9th for those riders continuing with Phase 3.
  • Phase 3 will start at Vantage on June 10th and continue the rest of the way as previously planned to Wallace, ID on June 15th.

Here’s an opportunity for a few good riders interested in an expeditionary bike tour to explore a slice of our Pacific NorthWest region in a unique adventure.  This tour is designed for active senior bicyclists to ride their bikes eastward in a series of 5-day tours, or phases, across Washington and Idaho.  Riders may do 1, 2, or all 3 phases.  This tour is for Phase 2 from Mill Creek Sports Park (close to home) to near the Columbia River at Vantage, WA.

For more general information for this tour series, refer to the initial Tour de PNW announcement: https://bikesclub.org/memberforum/13034453,

Ride leader: Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net, 425-293-3153.

Register:

  • By Thursday, June 1st, 2023
  • Group size limited to 8.
  • Riders must make their own lodging reservations.  

Routes: 

  • Links to RideWithGPS routes for each day are in the attached spreadsheet.  There have been significant updates to lodging suggestions.  You must make your own lodging reservations soon. 
  • Tour de PNW is planned for overnight stays in motels and most meals in restaurants to minimize weight and bulk on the bikes.
  • This Tour de PNW does not require camping equipment, but the routes have sections with many hours between restrooms or porta-potties.  Riders must be willing and able to “go” outside.

Pace: 

  • The moderate “effort” pace of this tour is intended for riders who regularly ride paved roads at a moderate pace slowed down by a touring load of gear, gravel riding, uphills, headwinds, photo stops, etc. 
  • Routes pass through sections with wild areas, opportunities to get lost, and sometimes no cell phone service.  The plan is to keep everyone within line of sight and frequent regroups for safety. 

Equipment:  

  • Your bike must be in good condition and ready for the route. 
  • Before the tour starts you should test ride your bike fully loaded for the tour to make sure everything fits and will stay where it belongs on the bike when riding on rough surfaces such as gravel and rough pavement.
  • You must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat repairs, and maintenance.

Drivers: 

  • Riders doing both Phase 2 (June 4 - 8) and Phase 3 (June 10 - 15) will have 1 rest day (2 nights) in Vantage with no need for pickup or delivery drivers at Vantage.
  • For riders NOT continuing with Phase 3:
    • Someone will need to drive to retrieve you at the end of this tour to take you home.
    • Sufficient public transportation is not known to exist to the Vantage area, so creative bribes may be needed to stimulate willingness from family and/or friends to drive a motor vehicle(s) to Vantage to bring you and your bike home.

The Plan:  The tour schedule and estimated costs, including links to RWGPS routes for each day and suggested lodging for each night are in the attached spreadsheet.  Bad weather or smoke could cause a reschedule.  Check with Ride Leader if in doubt.

  • Sunday, June 4:  Ride bikes from the Mill Creek Sports Park to lodging in North Bend.  49.2 miles & 1,945 feet of gain.  Several miles of gravel.
  • Monday, June 5:  Ride bikes from North Bend to lodging at Snoqualmie Pass.  31.3 miles & 3,300 feet of gain.  This includes the 2.3 miles long, dark, cold, possibly wet and probably noisy Snoqualmie Tunnel.  This day will be mostly gravel.  Carry a picnic lunch.
  • Tuesday, June 6:  Ride bikes from Snoqualmie Pass to lodging in Cle Elum.  33.2 miles & 536 feet of gain.  This day is also mostly gravel.  Carry a picnic lunch.
  • Wednesday, June 7:  Ride bikes from Cle Elum to lodging in Ellensburg.  28.3 miles & 380 feet of gain.  This day will also be mostly gravel.
  • Thursday, June 8:  Ride bikes from Ellensburg to Vantage near the Columbia River.  36.4 miles, 1,515 feet of gain, and 2,339 feet of downhill!  This day has about 11 miles of gravel and has many miles of no shade and no services.  Carry a picnic lunch and plenty of water. 

MidWA Phs 2 rev 28-May-2023.pdf

E-Bike Riders Read This:  E-bike riders and Ride Leaders should understand the BIKES Club e-bike policy.


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