Mountain Biking - Rode Ranger Creek and Palisades over the weekend...pics

Hey all,
Check out some pics from our Sunday ride. Four of us went up and rode for about 4 hours. Enjoy the pics.

In the parking lot before the ride. Hard to see but that's my new S-Works Stumpy. In front of me is Wes. He weighs 140 lbs and climbs like a scared cat. I hate him for that!
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4430.jpg

We looked so happy before the climb.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4434.jpg

Only a mile into the ride and I'm ready to head back to the lot.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4449.jpg

Really hating the climb now.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4452.jpg

Trail interrupted...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4458.jpg

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq192/westleymrichards/100_2709.jpg

A break from the climbing to enjoy some beautiful singletrack. I love WA!
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq192/westleymrichards/100_2711.jpg

A break at the first lookout....
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4466.jpg

wth an incredible view!
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq192/westleymrichards/100_2712.jpg

We started down by the river that you can see in the bottom of the pic. Unfortunately the climbing isn't over.
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq192/westleymrichards/100_2713.jpg

Runway in the valley below us. Must be one heck of an approach!
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq192/westleymrichards/100_2717.jpg

Finally at the top. Elevation at this point is about 5000' and from the snow on the adjacent ridges I don't think we were more than a few hundred feet below the snow line. In short, it was frikkin cold at the shelter. Wes beat me up there by about 20 minutes. I hate him!
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/jshueywa/MtnBiking/img_4469.jpg

We don't really have any pics of the downhill ride because the trail was beautiful and fast. No time for pics. I worked my ass off getting up there but coming down was sweet as hell. If you're ever in town you owe it to yourself to do Palisades. This ride is the reason I bought my bikes. It's about 14 miles with about 3700' of climbing to the shelter at the trail junction on top.

BTW...there was a group that we met at the top. So, there's 7 of us guys riding the best dual suspension weaponry money can buy and 1 girl riding a rigid, single-speed, 29'er. If you happen to see this thread, props to you. I wouldn't be able to do half that ride on your bike. You rock! Can I marry you??

Mike

Nice.....

Looks awesome! thanks for the pics!

We don't really have any pics of the downhill ride because the trail was beautiful and fast.

Funny how that works out.

Nice looking trail. :thumb:

mcoomer-

Where is this ride located? Snoqualmie?

I see you work for Boeing- when you're not out on strike.

Ride is out Hwy 410 from Enumclaw. It is just outside the entrance to Mt Rainier as you approach it from the north. If you're in that area you can also ride Suntop and Skookum Flats, which are about a mile down the road from Camp Sheppard (where we joined the trailhead).

As for the Boeing strike sign in my rear window, yep, I'm carrying picket signs right now. Great thing is that the weather has been awesome and I've been riding my butt off. I've got a ride for tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday morning. We can stay on strike until the weather really starts to turn. After that I'll be open to contract offers. I should probably try to sneak a fly fishing trip in before then though :thumb:

Every time I see photos of the woods back home, I'm almost tempted to want to live over there again . . . almost. Thanks for sharing.

that's great - especially the view at the top

Wow, thats some sweet terrain and a butt load of C'dales.

Thanks for sharing pics of the beautiful land and trails. Looks like you need to update your sig now. Also, please give us a review on that specialized fork.

We can stay on strike until the weather really starts to turn. After that I'll be open to contract offers. I should probably try to sneak a fly fishing trip in before then though :thumb:

Ahhhhhh,it's good to see you are thinking clearly. I'm taking the rest of the week off.I'll be drifting a dry fly in the morning and I'll be riding the the P.M..

Go back to work...you're making some of us jealous.

Ride is out Hwy 410 from Enumclaw. It is just outside the entrance to Mt Rainier as you approach it from the north. If you're in that area you can also ride Suntop and Skookum Flats, which are about a mile down the road from Camp Sheppard (where we joined the trailhead).


Hailing from East King County here.

That trail just went into my mental list of nearby trails I have to ride sometime.