This looks pretty feckin' awesome. Not sure of the mileage between Vantage and North Bend, but probably 2-3 days is a safe bet. It is all packed gravel, but because it's an old rail line there are no steep hills.
Happy Stick Person
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:43 am
Joined: 20 Sep 2006Posts: 1168Location: Leschi
Quote:
There are no fees associated with the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, but to cross the Yakima Firing Range, you do need to sign in at a kiosk on each end.
we hope can't we?
mike.hahn
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:47 am
Joined: 20 Jan 2006Posts: 203
Two days should be more than enough. I rode it from Easton to Carnation with my kid in 2 days and we had more time at camp than we knew what to do with. Being railroad bed, the up-grade is almost nonexistent and you will be flying down from Hyak to North Bend. Can't speak for the scenery east of where I started, but the piece we rode was cool.
henry
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:00 am
somewhat piggishJoined: 05 Aug 2005Posts: 5415Location: on porch with shotgun
mike.hahn wrote:
Two days should be more than enough. I rode it from Easton to Carnation with my kid in 2 days and we had more time at camp than we knew what to do with. Being railroad bed, the up-grade is almost nonexistent and you will be flying down from Hyak to North Bend. Can't speak for the scenery east of where I started, but the piece we rode was cool.
Cool thanks! This will be a fun weekend sometime this summer.
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
henry wrote:
It sounds like if we got a ride over to vantage on a friday night, slept over there, we could be back in Seattle in time for Desperate Housewives.
Midnight ride, during a full moon, when the weather is warm. With stimulants.
pete jr
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:29 am
Joined: 13 Dec 2005Posts: 1930Location: balls deepx
sounds completely fantastic. i take it you're finding a use for the rock hopper? :)
jeff
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:32 am
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
henry wrote:
It sounds like if we got a ride over to vantage on a friday night, slept over there, we could be back in Seattle in time for Desperate Housewives.
I like the way you think. Count me in, we could probably get my roommate to drive us over in the Van, maybe pick up some teenagers along the way.
Translation: None of this well ever take place.
Last edited by jeff on Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:45 am; edited 1 time in total
henry
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:35 am
somewhat piggishJoined: 05 Aug 2005Posts: 5415Location: on porch with shotgun
pete jr wrote:
sounds completely fantastic. i take it you're finding a use for the rock hopper? :)
No, no. The new bike will fit up to 45mm tires, so it will suit me just fine.
That Rockhopper has been seeing some action though. It took Amanda to Volunteer Park with me for morning coffee just today! But I'm not about to ride it 100 miles.
That raises a good question though. From what i've read online the trail is a no go for little tires. How wide do you need to plan on? 35s? 38s?
yes. i'm up for a bike camping weekend on it any time.
Quote:
2) How long should one devote to it? I'm thinking maybe get a ride out to Vantage and ride back, is it doable in two or three days?
I've only ridden to Easton and have heard that the trail is a lot less fun beyond there.
It's an easy day ride from North Bend to the tunnel and back, or a nice two day ride if you camp somewhere around Easton or if you start in Seattle and camp near the pass.
It's gravel, but you don't need a mountain bike. I've mostly ridden it on bikes with 32mm touring tires.
joeball
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:17 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
Dave Hale and I took this route the last weekend in October which was the last weekend before the tunnel closed for the season.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=518738
We left Seattle at 6:45 and got to Hyak around 1:00. We stopped at Snoqualmie falls for about 30-minutes and maybe took a few other short breaks. We were on the shady side of the valley, the sun was only on the trail about 3 times.
The tunnel is freaking dark too, it seemed to suck the light out of my 1watt LED, in part becasue it is all dirt and soot covered walls probably.
I had about 28mm tires, I was nervous about pinch flats but I should have run them a bit lower pressure. I felt kind of beat up at the end of the ride in part because of this. The trail surface seems to get coarser as you get further East. It's a rail grade so I was in a middle gear the whole way.
MikeOD and I took mtn bikes out part of it a couple months ago just for change or scenery, we only went out about 7 miles of the trail from Rattle Snake Lake. The fat tires were nice but pudgy touring tires will still be fine.
The trail is pretty but again since it is rail grade lots of the stretches look alike. The talas (sp?) field was amazing. I like the idea of climbing up the old highway lower in the valley for a more scenic summer ascent. I-90 might be less noisy too if you are below it.
I'm up for a weekend trip out to vantage. I make sure to add it on the summer to do list. Reading up about pass hunting makes me want to head to the other passes in Washington as well.
henry
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:21 pm
somewhat piggishJoined: 05 Aug 2005Posts: 5415Location: on porch with shotgun
joeball wrote:
I like the idea of climbing up the old highway lower in the valley
I'm so down for this, one of my goals is to go on a weekend bike camping trip.
I've got a gti w/ a bike rack that will fit two. Actually, I could technically fit two bikes on the back, fold down one seat and cram another bike in the back and then have seating for three people.
I may even be able to con the GF into loading up the SUV... Hmmmm
the dreaded ben
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:51 pm
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
henry wrote:
joeball wrote:
I like the idea of climbing up the old highway lower in the valley
That road is really cool, i've driven it before.
So many things to do!
what old highway?
gimme maps goddammit.
and as long as we're talking about this shit, i plan on riding the middle fork mtb trail one of these weekends (perhaps this saturday before shithead's party). who's with me?
TrikerTrev
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:55 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
yes and yes...kinda a no-duh at this point.
My kids teacher did the loop in a weekend, no problem. The tunnel is freaking COOL once you turn OFF your lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Took a class of 5th graders thru it and back...no lights! (played my didgeridoo in there too...fucking out of this world sounds!)
I was gonna do this solo this summer...maybe go as far as Soap Lake for a good stinky soak, but Vantage is sweet camping if ya find a good place with water (like next to the river about 1/2 mi up stream from the boat launch).
I was gonna pack the burley with supplies for me, but hell...if a safe triker can come i'm down for hualing. I could even get the misses to use the truck to bring shit up to (or back from) rattlesnake.
Either way, i'm going east this summer.
langston
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:07 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
TrikerTrev wrote:
Either way, i'm going east this summer.
This is my goal as well. I don't think I'm going to get an vacation time, but I may not have a job, either. Who knows. We could do a bunch of cool trips in a 60 time frame.
joeball
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:11 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
the dreaded ben wrote:
henry wrote:
joeball wrote:
I like the idea of climbing up the old highway lower in the valley
That road is really cool, i've driven it before.
So many things to do!
what old highway?
gimme maps goddammit.
and as long as we're talking about this shit, i plan on riding the middle fork mtb trail one of these weekends (perhaps this saturday before shithead's party). who's with me?
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
the dreaded ben wrote:
and as long as we're talking about this shit, i plan on riding the middle fork mtb trail one of these weekends (perhaps this saturday before shithead's party). who's with me?
well shit, maybe. i need to figure out my shit with putting gears on the karate monkey but i could be up for this. what's the trail like?
jeff
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:20 pm
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
lantius wrote:
the dreaded ben wrote:
and as long as we're talking about this shit, i plan on riding the middle fork mtb trail one of these weekends (perhaps this saturday before shithead's party). who's with me?
well shit, maybe. i need to figure out my shit with putting gears on the karate monkey but i could be up for this. what's the trail like?
Gravel-y and extremely mellow with almost no incline.
Check the pics in the link above. This would be a fun trip. There's prolly not a lot of traffic on that trail, so we could be total responsible adults the whole time.
henry
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:22 pm
somewhat piggishJoined: 05 Aug 2005Posts: 5415Location: on porch with shotgun
joeball wrote:
the dreaded ben wrote:
henry wrote:
joeball wrote:
I like the idea of climbing up the old highway lower in the valley
That road is really cool, i've driven it before.
So many things to do!
what old highway?
gimme maps goddammit.
and as long as we're talking about this shit, i plan on riding the middle fork mtb trail one of these weekends (perhaps this saturday before shithead's party). who's with me?
I've been thinking about doing an eastward trip along the trail towards Ellensburg sometime this spring, possibly catching a ride back west via Stampede Pass :)
~Owen
Aaron
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:08 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
You will need a light and a warm jacket anytime of the year thru the tunnel. It is pretty fun!
TrikerTrev
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:22 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
Aaron wrote:
You will need a light and a warm jacket anytime of the year thru the tunnel. It is pretty fun!
ya dont need a light you big pussy...just keep rolling towards the light at the other end and your eyes WILL adjust. Plus it's cooler in the dark!
you're right about the jacket...it's about as wet as you mommas hoo-hoo in there!
Alex
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 1:47 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
TrikerTrev wrote:
Aaron wrote:
You will need a light and a warm jacket anytime of the year thru the tunnel. It is pretty fun!
ya dont need a light you big pussy...just keep rolling towards the light at the other end and your eyes WILL adjust. Plus it's cooler in the dark!
I've done that when going west. Going east there isn't much light at the end of the tunnel since the tunnel has a dogleg at the eastern end.
TrikerTrev
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:57 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
Alex wrote:
TrikerTrev wrote:
Aaron wrote:
You will need a light and a warm jacket anytime of the year thru the tunnel. It is pretty fun!
ya dont need a light you big pussy...just keep rolling towards the light at the other end and your eyes WILL adjust. Plus it's cooler in the dark!
I've done that when going west. Going east there isn't much light at the end of the tunnel since the tunnel has a dogleg at the eastern end.
It's a tunnel...just how lost do you think you're gonna get? The biggest concern might be a puddle or the Mountain Loins that live in the deep crevases waiting for stoned and drunk bikers....wait, my bad.
rlotz
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:18 pm
Joined: 23 Jan 2006Posts: 311Location: Capitol Hill
TrikerTrev wrote:
It's a tunnel...just how lost do you think you're gonna get? The biggest concern might be a puddle or the Mountain Loins that live in the deep crevases waiting for stoned and drunk bikers....wait, my bad.
I suspect Alex is more worried about hitting something then getting lost in a tunnel. If this is the tunnel I'm thinking of (just off I90?) then I'd be more concerned about running into a dead raver than a mountain lion.
TrikerTrev
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:22 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
i know...just fucking around
work is a bitch and at least i can come here to be an ass!
henry
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:25 pm
somewhat piggishJoined: 05 Aug 2005Posts: 5415Location: on porch with shotgun
rlotz wrote:
I'd be more concerned about running into a dead raver than a mountain lion.
I rode my bike to a house party on the hill a little while ago and ran into a mountain lion, and while i was there i met this nice korean guy that was going to school in Virginia.
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
henry wrote:
rlotz wrote:
I'd be more concerned about running into a dead raver than a mountain lion.
I rode my bike to a house party on the hill a little while ago and ran into a mountain lion, and while i was there i met this nice korean guy that was going to school in Virginia.
are you ishmael?
Alex
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:07 am
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
rlotz wrote:
TrikerTrev wrote:
It's a tunnel...just how lost do you think you're gonna get? The biggest concern might be a puddle or the Mountain Loins that live in the deep crevases waiting for stoned and drunk bikers....wait, my bad.
I suspect Alex is more worried about hitting something then getting lost in a tunnel. If this is the tunnel I'm thinking of (just off I90?) then I'd be more concerned about running into a dead raver than a mountain lion.
Richard has it. I don't want to hit stuff.
I've done it with and without lights. I think I've gone through it 7 or 8 times. I like lights.
It's still fun.
alex
TrikerTrev
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:54 am
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
Alex wrote:
rlotz wrote:
TrikerTrev wrote:
It's a tunnel...just how lost do you think you're gonna get? The biggest concern might be a puddle or the Mountain Loins that live in the deep crevases waiting for stoned and drunk bikers....wait, my bad.
I suspect Alex is more worried about hitting something then getting lost in a tunnel. If this is the tunnel I'm thinking of (just off I90?) then I'd be more concerned about running into a dead raver than a mountain lion.
Richard has it. I don't want to hit stuff.
I've done it with and without lights. I think I've gone through it 7 or 8 times. I like lights.
It's still fun.
alex
I know, I know...just fucking around
Aaron
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:56 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
I turned off my light going west just for fun. You CAN actually use your ears so you don't bump into the walls. It is a rush, the only problem are the hikers also in the tunnel and not all of them have lights! Luckily when I had my lights ON, I came across a family that had no lights. Mom, Dad and 2 kids. Their batteries had run down! The tunnel is 2.5 miles long.
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