January Ride Report

Time for the January ride report. Finished the first month of the year with a total of 187 miles, many of which were from the last two days. As the weather warms and we get more sunlight, I need to pile on the mileage to be ready for the cycling season. So far, so good with the Livestrong fundraising, with almost $1,200 raised, the latest flurry the result of Susan's emails to Tony's friends in LA. Now that I've made the pledge, it's time to make sure that I'm in shape for the ride.


Saturday turned out to be a harbinger of spring, warm, sunny, not windy, boats on the sound with spinnakers in the south breeze. Highlights included crossing the locks while the Coastal Navigator was entering, crossing the salt water barrier.



Coffee at Zeitgeist was marked my indecision over treats and espresso (Do I regret my decision now, or later was the question posed to the barista.) and then Chinese New Year as the Dragon blessed the headquarters of some fraternal organization with the booms of firecrackers.

Other noteworthy events from January include getting in touch with Speedo and Greg from NHHS after almost 40 years. Both seem well, and it was great to reconnect through the magic of the internet.

Sad to learn of the closing of the Iron Horse Trail tunnels, including the Snoqualmie Tunnel, for repairs. One of my best rides of the summer was the warm September day that I passed up the Headwaters Century to climb to the pass. Maybe the funds for the upgrades will be included in one of the versions of the stimulus packages to help the economy. For the matter, maybe the Civilian Conservation Corps will be revived, and needed investment in national parks, forests, trails and campsites will be made, creating jobs, making the outdoors more accessible and easy to enjoy, providing healthy opportunities, and making this a better world for all!

Iron Horse

Rode the Iron Horse Trail from Cedar Falls to Hyak on a beautiful early September Sunday. 50 + miles on a gravel road, a former railroad right-of-way with a relatively easy climb along the north side of a ridge.

The trail crosses a series of ravines and creeks over old railroad trestles. It being a Sunday, the trail was well populated with mountain bikers of various experience levels, many traveling without helmets in early preparation for organ donations or at least testing their chances for a Darwin award.


The clear highlight of the trip is the 2.5 mile trip in total darkness through the Snoqualmie Tunnel. Dark. I mean, real dark. And damp. And cold. Water dripping at both ends. Can't tell if you are going straight. An occasional rider coming from the opposite direction provides some light, but difficult to tell if they can see or know what they are doing...

Once on the other side, at Hyak, the air is drier, the sky more blue, and an overriding sense of relief at having made it to the top.

Interesting to poke around Snoqualmie Summit during the off season. We haven't boarded there for a couple of years, although it's where we all learned. Looks like new activity at the Silver Fir chair. Rode over to the base of the trail to the Mountaineers Lodge, where Cub Pack 144 held Sno-Camp for the years we were members. The Lodge burnt to the ground a couple of years ago, and hasn't been rebuilt. The trail to the lodge site was blocked off and No Trespassing signs warned against the hike up. I was in cleats and pushing the bike, so didn't venture up.

The return trip was much quicker, totally downhill!

Others have blogged about the trail, including Biking Bis and Keith.

My photos are here.