Coulees & Scablands Sojourn 2024

We don’t need to travel far in Washington to find awesome geographic features.  If we drive a few hours east, we can see coulees and scablands that were shaped in just a few days by gigantic floods during the ice age thousands of years ago.  Other famous canyons and natural monuments took millions of years.  This bike tour is an opportunity for active senior bicyclists interested in an adventurous 5-day bike tour to explore a unique part of our Washington state.

The Coulees & Scablands Sojourn 2024 is planned for overnight stays in motels with most meals in restaurants to minimize weight and bulk on the bikes.  No camping gear required.  You will need to carry your gear and clothing on your bike for 5 days of riding.  We’ll make use of commercial services enroute for food, water, and lodging.  Every day has long ride segments with no services and no shade, so you must carry sufficient supplies including enough water.  Bike shops are scarce around here – your bike and associated equipment must be reliable, and you must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat tire repairs, and maintenance.

The route is something like 96% paved and 4% gravel.  Gravel capable bikes are recommended.  The routes involve mostly country roads, highways with shoulders, and a few trails.  The pace will be a moderate road pace effort slowed down by a touring load of gear, gravel riding, uphills, headwinds, etc.  Frequent regroups.

Daytime only riding is expected.  White front and red tail lights are recommended for daytime road use to improve your visibility to motor vehicle drivers.  A really good white front light is required in tunnels to help you see your way around potholes, debris, and sleeping bears.

Schedule: Not locked in yet, but which Sunday to Saturday week in September works for you?

Contact the ride leader Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net as soon as possible before the end of May 2024 if you are interested.  This is a cooperative endeavor, where riders help plan logistical details.  The maximum number of riders is tentatively set for 8, but lodging availability in some locations may reduce this number.  The tour will be posted to the Calendar page for rider registration after further development and dates are set. 

The Plan:   Details here are estimated.  RWGPS routes for each day with suggested lodging are under development.  Participants will be responsible for making their own lodging reservations.

• Sunday:  The tour will start with a 3 hour drive from Snohomish County to Moses Lake for a night in a motel where cars will be left during the bike tour.  The last night will be at the same motel.
• Monday – Ride Day 1:  50 miles with 1,300 ft gain and 1,200 ft loss from the Moses Lake motel to a motel or resort in the Sun Lakes / Coulee City area.
• At least an hour can be expected at the Dry Falls Visitor Center near the end of Ride Day 1 or shortly after starting Ride Day 2 depending on lodging location.
• Tuesday – Ride Day 2:  55 miles with 3,700 ft gain and 3,600 ft loss from Sun Lakes / Coulee City area to a motel in Chelan for 2 nights.  A long early climb and most of the day with no shade and no services.
• Wednesday – Ride Day 3:  An easy day with a loop ride of about 23 miles with about 1,500 ft up and down between the Chelan motel and Willow Point Park near Manson.  Stay at the same motel in Chelan.
• Thursday – Ride Day 4:  42 miles with 1,700 ft gain and 2,200 ft loss from Chelan to a motel in East Wenatchee.
• Friday – Ride Day 5:  67 miles with 2,400 ft gain and 2,000 ft loss from East Wenatchee to the motel in Moses Lake.
• Saturday:  Drive home the day after the last riding day.

Checkout the linked map.