andy scholl, justin matthews, and myself went on an epic bike ride on the north cascade highway. we started in newhalem and biked up over rainy pass and on the top of washington pass. we then went down the other side to mazama, turned around and biked back up over washington pass then up to the top of rainy pass. all total it was an 80 mile bike ride and 9,800 feet of climbing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we started out at a reasonable pace and even stopped ten miles in to enjoy the view at ross lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

terry matthews, justin's dad, was kind enough to be our support crew on this big adventure. he met us at different spots throughout the day providing water and food then the all important ride back when we were done. here we are at our first water stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

here is andy pulling up to the top of washington pass..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and justin not far behind. it was over 40 miles and more then 5000 feet of climbing to this point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at washington pass trying to catch our breath before we head down the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

had to get a picture of us by the sign to prove we weren't making it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is the road down the other side of washington pass. we head 16 miles down this road to the bottom before turning around and coming back up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

here i am arriving at the bottom of the descent. andy is catching a quick break and snack before we head back up. so now it was 16 miles and about 3000 ft of climbing to top of washington pass, then down three miles and up two more to the top of rainy pass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

finally arriving to rainy pass after a long day of biking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i didn't exactly have a smooth finish to my trip. when andy and i were almost to the top of washington pass i dropped my water bottle (and ran over it). i figured i had better not leave it there so i went back to get it. so andy slows up and waits for me and after picking up my water bottle i bike hard back to andy.

the problem was that after such a hard day, my body didn't like the effort i put out to bike hard to catch back up with andy. so when i catch him i am panting like a racehorse and all wobbly on the bike. we are still going up hill at this point so we are only traveling at about 9 mph. well i cant get my bike under control and i just fall over. andy is riding along and all he hears is me falling over behind him. but i survived and managed to still claw my way to the end after getting up (and putting my chain back on).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

nothing hits the spot after a long day of riding like a nice greasy hamburger dinner. we stopped in marblemount on the way for a nice dinner.

 

 

of course our day wasn't done. we still had to go to justin's parents and build a toilet for our tonasket property. those pictures are on the next camping page....