What bike and what mileage are you thinking of?
You could do a string of rides on/off the 420 route in the north olympics that are higher-value and less insane than the rest. There’s a bus to/from Port Angeles that would keep you from having to ride both ways.
If you’re on an all-road bike, riding from Seattle to Portland through the volcanoes will get you the biggest mountains and tallest trees by bike.
The bestest biggest trees are in the Gifford Pinchot imo. There are a ton of possibilities riding between Seattle and Portland. Riding from the flank of one volcano to the next, cruising the gorge, and then bolt bus back to Seattle cheap and easy.
This was an SIR brevet so plenty of room to improve the route but something along the lines of this loop might be a nice starting point if you want the full PNW sampler ending back in Seattle. Coming back via the Iron Horse (rail trail) is nice when you’re worn out.
Hep crapbrappers: What should I use to heat water for an upcoming trip?
I value small size and light weight.
I am not really going to be “cooking”, just making boiling water for coffee and to add to some foods one-pot style.
Open fire is not an option. Though there will be plenty of brush so one of those mini woodstoves might work.
I have an MSR Whisperlite. I’ve had a jetboil in the past, was a bit bigger than what I want.
The little $12 AMZN clone hits it out of the park for ease, size, cost:
I’m going to be on my allroad bike, probably Ranger 2.0s, but maybe Reen Hers’ if that’s deemed sufficient. Not really sure or deadset on mileage, as I’m very much in the early planning stages. Basically, work told me I’ve gotta use another week of vacation between now and end of September or I lose the days. Seattle to Portland through the volcanoes sounds preeeetty tight.
I’ve had one of these since 2015 and its never failed me. Incredibly small and lightweight. Carry tiny lighter and the smallest isobutane canister they sell.
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Maple-FMS-300T-Ultra-Light-Titanium-Backpacking/dp/B07DVKZ6W2
That one costs like 3x as much and doesn’t come with piezo igniter tho. I’ve been using one of the $12 amazon jobbers for 2+ years now, love it, no issues.
You can’t trust piezo lighters and should carry a lil bic anyway
although the piezo is nice when it works
either way one of those isobutane jobbers is the way 2 go if you want hot water for not many grams
alternately have you considered soaking your food and drinking cold coffee taking CaFfEiNe PiLlS?!?!
I’ve got a Soto Windmaster (I think) that is fantastic. Boils water super quickly
For weed.
Highly recommend this route: http://www.elephantbikes.com/tourtalk/#/1
Did it last summer end of June/early July. You could possibly cut it down at the end by riding into north bend and taking the bus depending on the day. 40mm+ is definitely a good start, both of us were on 26x2.1
Maybe not quite bikepacky enough but something to consider
Now that I’m posting this here I realize these guys are quite possibly tarckers, thanks if so
So I found this route written by his holy corndoggness JDG wrote that looks pretty cool. Any thoughts or changes any of you would make?
Yeah, that is a fantastic route. Little more all-road fat-tire touring bike friendly than straight up need a MTB Bikepacking
I’d be inclined to catch a train (Link Light Rail, Amtrak Cascades, Sounder for weekdays) as far south along the I5 corridor as you can to cut off the beginning and get to the good stuff ASAP.
This is probably the right call, especially considering the trail along the Columbia was destroyed by the eagle creek fire a couple years ago. We ended up unexpectedly taking a bus to cascade locks and starting there
Thanks y’all. While were at the DQs:
Lightweight camp sandals? No flip-flops, need something with more secure straps.
I used to have a pair of the original Alps that were awesome, but they died.
Vibram Furoshiki!
I have a route where we rode a train to centralia and started there. Did all the modern classic roads in Washington, crossed bridge o the gods and did more shit in Oregon.
The Gifford Pinchot NF has the right combination of deep forest riding and route connectivity. Go there.
That route from JDG is good but has a lot of extra stuff.
I also have a route that starts in Seattle, hits snoqulamie pass, the Yakima river gorge, and then chinook pass with an extra leg to old growth Rainer NP valley. I think I did it with five 80 mile days. Was good, but lots of paved and normie trail routes, very little of the crazy stuff people like to brag about.
the JDG route is closest to what you’re asking after
esp given the state of the Columbia Gorge, you’d probably want to come back to civilization via Lolo Pass or Gunsight Ridge and rack up another volcano
hitting singletrack at Lewis River / Ape Canyon / Falls Creek along the way would be pretty dope too
Rad overnight options in Washington include Big Creek or Ohanapecosh at Mt. Rainier, the riverbed outside Packwood, Taklakh Lake on Mt. Adams, Curly Creek or the horse shelter on the Lewis river, the Plains of Abraham on St. Helens, and Panther Creek or the hot springs hotel in Carson
if my shit is at all together in September I’d be liable to come with you
