Any other unemployed peoples wanna go bike camping next week? I want to do some kind of 2-3 day trip to train for my weeklong peninsula trip in late June, but it looks like neither of these weekends is gonna work for me. Sooo I’m thinking of doing a midweek trip, maybe June 9-10-11 (or just two of those days) ... anyone wanna?
Actually Sat. the 13th is open; could do Friday-Saturday. but not that Sunday.
Thinking somewhere in or near Mt. Rainier, or the Middle Fork Snoqualmie, or whatever. Open to ideas/suggestions.
ethan
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:36 am
Joined: 21 Jan 2008Posts: 920Location: Maple Leaf
OK, this coming Monday, Ryano and I are gonna ride from Seattle up to the Carbon River valley of Mount Rainier NP and camp and then ride back the next day… come join if you like!
The road is washed out, and so blocked to cars, at roughly the park boundary. Five miles past that, the road ends at Ipsut Creek campground. The tentative idea is to camp there. But, depending on various factors, we might just set up camp in the USFS land just outside the park, and then go for a pannier-free ride for the last five miles to Ipsut Creek just for the hell of it.
Actually, if anyone wants to go who’s got narrow-ish tires (like <35 mm) we’ll definitely camp outside the park. The road is paved till roughly the boundary/washout but is apparently gravel, and nasty in places, after that.
Question: anyone have any recommendations for a good route thru the Sumner / Lake Tapps area? From looking at the Pierce Cty bike map, that was about the best I could come up with. Apparently taking the roads along the east side of Lake Tapps cuts off about 5 miles, but the PC map doesn’t give those roads any colors, so.
joeball
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:13 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
Ipsut Creek Campground has no toliet or water supply, has tons of windfall and no Fires are allowed. Wouldn't be my first camping spot choice in the area. The road out there is a real easy ride, only a few sections to push a bike.Costs 5$ to get in the park.
I'd find a spot along the river outside of the park and camp there and have a fire and be by the water. Lots of "River Folk" down there on Memorial Day weekend, don't get hit by any stray shots from some yahoos.
Once you turn off 410 the riding will be great. Sounds like you are looking for miles but you could hop the sounder from DT to Summner to bypass the boring part or on the way home.
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
scott, joeball, and i went up carbon a couple weeks back. we were there on memorial day weekend and there were quite a few people both camping outside the park and hiking in.
there are sections that aren't easy (and one or two that are walkin') on 35mm tires but they're relatively short. the road is in surprisingly good condition. you do have to pay to go up there since you're entering the park.
ipsut creek itself was a nice little campground, but not deserted like suiattle or anything. it's backcountry camping and fires are prohibited.
lantius
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:33 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
d'oh, let that post sit too long while office ranty old guy office ranted at me.
ethan
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:38 pm
Joined: 21 Jan 2008Posts: 920Location: Maple Leaf
Thx for the info guys ... huh no toilets at Ipsut Cr huh? Or maybe some old ones but they’re locked up?
Yeah I did know about the no fires thing ... but that’s much less of a bummer with a trip of just 2-3 people than it is with, say, 10+ people. For anyone who wants to go but considers a fire as a crucial part of camping (and I know a lot of people do), just say the word and we'll camp outside the park.
joeball
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:45 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
Yeah locked toilets. Basically there are no additional amenities beyond some tables and flat locations.
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Joined: 21 Jan 2008
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