Whitehorse Trail to Darrington Gravel Ride
High Steady / Mid Moderate Pace
There are two options for this ride, the full (almost) 50 miles and a shorter 35 mile option. Pace on the flats will be high steady to mid moderate gravel pace. The route is straightforward: follow the trail out to Darrington, have a snack (coffee stop), and ride back. There really aren't any hills, just a constant, gentle grade.
Option 1 - the full (almost) 50: Meet at the Whitehorse Trail Trafton Trailhead off of Kroeze Road east of Arlington at 9:45 for a 10:00 rollout. Note that Kroeze Rd has two names and I think the street sign gives a street number and not a name. If you haven't been there before navigation is quite helpful. There is no signage. Park in the small lot near the blue silo.
Option 2 - the 35: Meet at the Miller Shingle Trailhead off of state route 530 just before Oso. IMPORTANT: if you are doing the 35 mile version text me ahead of the ride so we know to meet you on the way. If no text, I'll plan to see you for the full ride. We'll be leaving Trafton at 10:00, going about 7 miles at a steady pace, so expect to roll out about 10:30.
This is a mostly gravel ride. The Whitehorse trail isn't too rough, but it does suffer from budget-based neglect in some areas. Experienced riders comfortable with trail rides on gravel and mountain bikes should be fine. Road bikes and tires are not advised (really, trying to ride this on 25mm tires is a very bad idea).
Bring snacks, water, and lunch if you are not planning to pick something up in Darrington. There are very few options for water and snacks along the way, so plan accordingly. We will stop at the Oso slide memorial in both directions (8 miles from the Trafton trailhead) for bathroom stops. If it's open we'll also stop at the Bluegrass Festival grounds for a bathroom stop. There is a questionable Honey Bucket at the start in Trafton. I'd advise a stop before getting there if in doubt. The bathrooms at Haller Park are right on the way and usually open.
Bring the usual fix-it stuff - especially flat repair type fix-it stuff. There are berry canes along the way. If you have a jersey that you cherish, don't wear it, pick something you care less about. (I've only snagged a jersey once on the ride to Darrington.) All riders should be familiar with the club's Ride Safety Guidelines. In addition, E-Bike riders need to be familiar with the club's E Bike Policy.
Ride Leader: Paul Heydron, + 1 425 344 1543, mailto:paulhh.wa@gmail.com
