Pacific Northwest - Idaho or Bust

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and new to touring.

I am considering a ride from Mountlake Terrace, WA to Idaho this late Spring early Summer via Hwy 2, I already mapped the route and it is 302 miles to the Idaho Border. No camping this trip, maybe another time, I will have support via a 4 wheeler (wife in car) and staying in hotels. Has anyone gone this route? Or is there a better option? I hope to finish in 3-4 days.

Any thoughts,

Bob

The Redmond Cycling Club routes the http://www.redmondcyclingclub.org/S2S/S2S.html Seattle-2-Spokane ride over Hwy 2, and those riders get done in one day in July ... so, yes, it is eminently ride-able.
I think if you search around here you will find some suggestions for taking the Old Highway 2 route over Stevens Pass - leaving the main road at Scenic, just west of the west portal of the long RR tunnel - cars can't make it, but there is supposed to be a pedestrian/bike bridge there. That section would be interesting, but might not agree with 23mm wide tires very well.
You'll see a really interesting variety of the geography, that's for sure.

How are you planning to split the days up / where in general were you thinking of staying?

Grab a mountain bike and take the Iron Horse trail.

http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Iron%20Horse

Only issue will be the tunnels in the upper Yakima River Canyon between Cle-Elum and Thorp (they are closed), the other closed tunnels are easy to get around.

East of Kittatas you'll need a permit from the DNR, but they are easy to get, and they will send you a series of maps that highlight go-arounds for closed bridges in eastern washington.

Welcome to the forum. I can't give advice about getting to Wenatchee area. But, east of there I have driven, never ridden, to Spokane. It seems to be a nice ride. I would recommend maybe doing an over night in Wenatchee, because after Wenatchee I'm sure where the next hotel along Hwy 2 most likely Coulee City. You might have to pick a stopping point and get a ride to hotel and then go back to your stopping point. A forum member dlester is from E. Wenatchee and a regular poster here. If he doesn't answer up and you have any questions about that area you can PM him.

There are a few of us here from the Spokane area if you questions about a route. Granted it is towards the end of the ride, but Hwy 2 ends there and you can't ride on I-90 in Spokane.
Good luck and keep us posted on dates and any questions you have.

moleman76,

Thanks for your response. I checked out the description of S2S on the RCC website seems a bit to much for me at this time, 1 day Seattle to Spokane (WOW)!

I will examine the alternate route that you suggested over Stevens Pass.

Thanks again,
Bob

woodway,

I like your response but I don't think that Mountain Biking is my forte.

Thanks
Bob

dbikingman,

Your reply is appreciated, I have driven from Spokane to my home in Mountlake Terrace via Hwy2 and it is a beautiful ride, I visit my son and his family in Tekoa when ever I get a chance. I will attach a JPG to this post some time soon of the route I have mapped out.

Agian, thanks to all of you for your advice.

More advice is welcomed,
Bob

Here are some JPGs of my route.

MLT to ID
http://bobk.8k.com/Bicycle/Idaho%20or%20Bust.jpg

Spokane
http://bobk.8k.com/Bicycle/Spokane.jpg

MLT
http://bobk.8k.com/Bicycle/MtLk%20Terrace.jpg

Bob