Pacific Northwest - Tour de Blast - Mt. St. Helens - June 21

OK, this is the ride I've been looking forward to:

http://www.tourdeblast.com/

I'll be there on my maroon-and-silver Davidson. Say "hi" and "you look like you might actually make it!" when you pass me going uphill.

One thing I've heard about this ride is that it can be hot at the base but quite chilly (even snowy) at the top. Anyone know a good source for weather at the top of Mt. St. Helen's?

I've found this NWS weather report for a place called "Spencer Meadow", which apparently is quite near the road up Mt. St. Helens, but I'm not sure exactly what point this is measuring the weather for...

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=PQR&llon=-122.693747&rlon=-121.416247&tlat=46.642084&blat=45.367084&smap=1&mp=0&map.x=87&map.y=93

The elevation of Johnston Ridge, where the road ends, is 4225 ft., so you're probably pretty good with that site at 3920 ft. That's an incredible area. We've driven up there a few times, and the scenery is literally breathtaking. And yes, the weather will be colder and more damp at the top. There must be a link for Johnston Ridge weather,yes? That's what I'd check. Have fun!

There must be a link for Johnston Ridge weather,yes? That's what I'd check. Have fun!

That's what I was looking for, but couldn't find it. I checked the park service's Mt. St. Helen's site, and couldn't find it.

I agree, should be spectacular ride -- I've done it in a car, not on bike.

You extrapolate from the volcano cam. If grey, cloudy, if white, snowy, if clear, probably decent.

You extrapolate from the volcano cam. If grey, cloudy, if white, snowy, if clear, probably decent.

If fiery red, volcano erupting?

It mostly spits hot ash, so grey=eruption. Fiery red=ride probably canceled.

I'm planning on doing it but I won't register until the last minute or at the start just in case the weather is nasty. But it does look like a good ride, and good training for Cycle Oregon, for which I am registered. My Specialized Roubaix is black and silver. I'll be the old dude having a coronary at Coldwater.

Well if the weather holds true for this so called Spring take your rain gear and fleece you will probably need it. Man what a crummy Spring its been. Nice for January though

I did it last year (4:45) and it is a great ride - but it was not "hot" at the base nor will it be this year - plan on cold in am and windy. Lots of layers and bring fingered gloves - all the warmth if the sum breaks will happen on the descent and then you are going so fast it feels cold.

I did it last year (4:45) and it is a great ride - but it was not "hot" at the base nor will it be this year - plan on cold in am and windy. Lots of layers and bring fingered gloves - all the warmth if the sum breaks will happen on the descent and then you are going so fast it feels cold.


11 days out from the ride, how do you know it won't be hot this year?????? The way our weather has been in Portland this spring there's a great likelyhood it could be hot this year. Folks said it was gonna be cool and maybe even damp a few weeks ago for Reach the Beach and it ended up being 100 degrees the day before and 97 on the day of the ride. Hardly cool and damp. Tonight'd weather report says it'll be hitting 80 by this coming Friday.

I'd say, watch the weather the night before, bring a vest or jacket you can carry in your jersey pocket for the fast downhills and you should have all the weather info you need but please, don't make your plans based on weather info 11 days prior to any ride.

I've ridden Tour 'de Blast many times and in all kinds of weather, cold and rainy, 100 degrees and everything in between. Each time I watched the weather report starting Thursday, then Friday and then Saturday morning I packed my bag with "extras" for the just in case kind of last minute weather change and each time, except for the hot year I was well prepared.

Good luck and enjoy the ride, it's a special place up on that ridge when you're rounding the corner on a bike and looking at the crater.

KRhea

11 days out from the ride, how do you know it won't be hot this year?????? The way our weather has been in Portland this spring there's a great likelyhood it could be hot this year. Folks said it was gonna be cool and maybe even damp a few weeks ago for Reach the Beach and it ended up being 100 degrees the day before and 97 on the day of the ride. Hardly cool and damp. Tonight'd weather report says it'll be hitting 80 by this coming Friday.

I'd say, watch the weather the night before, bring a vest or jacket you can carry in your jersey pocket for the fast downhills and you should have all the weather info you need but please, don't make your plans based on weather info 11 days prior to any ride.

I've ridden Tour 'de Blast many times and in all kinds of weather, cold and rainy, 100 degrees and everything in between. Each time I watched the weather report starting Thursday, then Friday and then Saturday morning I packed my bag with "extras" for the just in case kind of last minute weather change and each time, except for the hot year I was well prepared.

Good luck and enjoy the ride, it's a special place up on that ridge when you're rounding the corner on a bike and looking at the crater.
KRhea

Does anyone know what the road ( Spirit Lake Memorial Highway ) is currently like. The only information I could find online was they dug it out just before the anniversary of the May 18th eruption. Anyone been up there recently? I have visions of snow pilled up and little rivers running down the hills.

KRhea .. if you want some truly great views. Try the High pass challenge in September it goes up on the other side of the mountain and has several great views of the blast zone.

I will most likely be on my Lemond .... Carbon & cream color. Red Specialized helmet. Judging by the forecast will probably spend a lot of time in the red Gore jacket as well.

Here's a link that has weather forecasts and webcam images of the mountain. I found no mention of snow on the roads.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

It was reported in another thread that the high temp forecast for Saturday is 47F, but that is on the mountain at 6,596 feet according to the National Weather Service.

Here are the current high-temp forecasts for Toutle, WA on Saturday from a few other sources:
AccuWeather: 68F, partly sunny
The Weather Channel: 65, cloudy
CNN Weather: 65, Cloudy

So it would seem that we can expect it to be in the mid-60's by the time we get back to Toutle, but probably in th 50s for most of the early morning ride, especially as we climb to the higher altitudes. Rain showers are also forecast for Friday and Sunday so let's hope the window for Saturday stays as is. I will be packing my rain jacket.

I am really teetering on this one. Is it sold out? It doesn't seem to be...I'd like to go though.

Help me make up my mind, folks!

:D

East Hill

Well, you did handle the 7000' of vertical of the Peninsula Century, right? Piece of cake for you!

I am really teetering on this one. Is it sold out? It doesn't seem to be...I'd like to go though.

Help me make up my mind, folks!

:D

East Hill

Is it sold out?

One way to find out .. hit that register button :)

Toutle overnight low : 55° High: 64° chance of rain. Not bad weather for climbing.
The food stops are pretty good, and the meal after is pretty good as well ... Pull the trigger!

I am really teetering on this one. Is it sold out? Help me make up my mind, folks!

East Hill

It's a hill climb, so you'll bring the Rodriguez, right? I'm soooooo bored of the Sachs (or maybe I'm just jealous).

So, you need to do the ride so we can see your "beater bike." (I wish my beater bike were a Rodriguez...)

looks like a great ride - too bad it's so damn far away from seattle!

i'll be out on the High Pass Challenge, which sounds similar but starts in packwood, north of st. helens.

i'll be out on the High Pass Challenge, which sounds similar but starts in packwood, north of st. helens.

Matt, did you mean that you're doing the HPC route this weekend on your own....or did you mean you're doing the ride in September?

http://www.cascade.org/EandR/hpc/index.cfm

I'm considering the HPC, depending on how much I "enjoy" the Tour de Blast.

I am really teetering on this one. Is it sold out? It doesn't seem to be...I'd like to go though.

Help me make up my mind, folks!

:D

East Hill

What did you decide?

It looks fun! But, if you register late, you don't get a t-shirt. That's one t-shirt I'd want---bragging rights is worth more than the cost of registration. ;)

looks like a great ride - too bad it's so damn far away from seattle!

i'll be out on the High Pass Challenge, which sounds similar but starts in packwood, north of st. helens.


The High Pass as I remember it was much tougher than the Tour De Blast. Could be becouse it was so nasty at the top last year.

What did you decide?

It looks fun! But, if you register late, you don't get a t-shirt. That's one t-shirt I'd want---bragging rights is worth more than the cost of registration. ;)

The t shirts were pretty cheap last year. I think I got to wear mine once. This year I registered without the shirt.

Matt, did you mean that you're doing the HPC route this weekend on your own....or did you mean you're doing the ride in September?

i meant in september.

as it turns out a buddy of mine is doing the Blast ride this weekend, and if i can bum a ride down there somehow i'll be there saturday. blue/white ciocc - holla if you see me!

Is it sold out?

One way to find out .. hit that register button :)

Toutle overnight low : 55° High: 64° chance of rain. Not bad weather for climbing.
The food stops are pretty good, and the meal after is pretty good as well ... Pull the trigger!

Hmmmm.....

It's a hill climb, so you'll bring the Rodriguez, right? I'm soooooo bored of the Sachs (or maybe I'm just jealous).

So, you need to do the ride so we can see your "beater bike." (I wish my beater bike were a Rodriguez...)

Hmmmm...

:roflmao:

What, no love for my Sachs :lol: ?

I think I'd die if I tried to do that ride with the Sachs anyway.

Ok, I'll see what I can do :D .

East Hill

well it turns out i've got a ride down there, so i just signed up! (online reg. closes today a 5 pm btw)

can't wait..

Mattm, great to meet you at the ride today!

East Hill, where you there? I was looking, don't know how I could have missed you.

In any case, I posted ride pics over on the 50+ forum...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=432326

It was a good ride, well organized and supported and with a really decent pasta dinner at the end.

I was over half way to Toutle when I discovered I left my wallet at home. I had not pre-registered. I had no money, no credit card, no checks, no ID. I opted to continue on and throw myself on their mercy. They not only gave me a bib and and meal coupon for my verbal I.O.U. but they even offered to loan me gas money if I needed it! The check is in the mail.

Nice people.

It was a good ride, well organized and supported and with a really decent pasta dinner at the end.

I was over half way to Toutle when I discovered I left my wallet at home. I had not pre-registered. I had no money, no credit card, no checks, no ID. I opted to continue on and throw myself on their mercy. They not only gave me a bib and and meal coupon for my verbal I.O.U. but they even offered to loan me gas money if I needed it! The check is in the mail.

Nice people.

I think I was standing there when you negotiated that deal .. small world.

Mattm, great to meet you at the ride today!

East Hill, where you there? I was looking, don't know how I could have missed you.

In any case, I posted ride pics over on the 50+ forum...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=432326


I am so embarrassed...I thought the ride was on SUNDAY :( . I was finishing up the last day of my on-the-job training for my new job, and could not finagle my way out of it.

If it had been today, I would have been there!

Argh.

East Hill

At about 3:26 pm as I was within a few miles of getting back to the start, I had three and then a fourth aid vehicle with flashing lights and blaring sirens pass me going the other way up the mountain. Of course, I feared the worse.

This morning I found this:

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/06/22/area_news/10296491.txt

I hope the guy doesn't suffer any lasting effects. As the article states, this was the worst year for injuries in the TDB. I imagine the sometimes gusty tailwinds that were blowing us down the mountain had something to do with it.

Thanks for the link. I saw the ambulances just as I was leaving for home.

The pavement was in good shape but there were just enough rocks in the road that I was sitting up, watching the road, not tucked down on the descents. Also, there were some big grates in the road that were worth watching out for.

Congrats, and, great photos BengeBoy!!!


I saw your comment about people wondering about the view---real or photoshopped. :rolleyes: We live in a truly beautiful area, don't we?

I was there, definitely bringing up the rear (got to the pasta feed with about 10 minutes to spare).

I've only been riding regularly (commuting) since this February, it was pretty tough but that says more about my physical shape than the ride itself...

It took me more than 6 hours, my avg speed was 12.4 IIRC; I saw people zipping back real quick, am I just out of shape? I rode my commuter which has Ultragators (28) pumped up to 100psi so I don't think it's a clunker, but I left the rack trunk on which probably has 10lbs of tools, tubes, etc. in it. Maybe leave the trunk rack at home next time?

Mattm, great to meet you at the ride today!

East Hill, where you there? I was looking, don't know how I could have missed you.

In any case, I posted ride pics over on the 50+ forum...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=432326

yeah that was an awesome ride, and good to meet you too!!

we got up to the top at about 11:30, and by 12 the winds had started getting sooo strong! saw one guy walking his bike at the top get blown down, that was a new one.. and the dust hitting my calves felt almost like little bee stings, it was crazy up there. but worth the effort for sure.

on the way down from johnston ridge i hit a new top speed! 87 km/h (54 mph) - must have been a tailwind at that point. =]

thanks for taking those pictures, i forgot my cam so i'm glad somebody recorded those epic views. i'll definitely do this ride again next year.

I did this ride back in 1997 a week after I graduated from high school and a week before the STP (Seattle to Portland) back when it was still in June. It was awesome! The view from Johnston Ridge is amazing and breathtaking. Got sunburned but had a great time overall. Spaghetti feed was very satisfying at the end of such a long day. :beer: