backonthebike

Well, we are "locals" who live in Hoquiam, about a 2 hour drive from Port Angeles, in Grays Harbor. We camped at Elwha River RV Park last late winter/early spring and went snow shoeing up on the Ridge. The cool thing about Hurricane Ridge is you can just about see down to the Straits from up there. Within a few minutes you can be up on the ridge, then down on the beach. Now, we both have a history with cycling, but we are well into middle age and would find the climb to be...well... Lascauxcaveman, what exactly do you mean by a tweed ride? And for those who plan on climbing it for fun and recreation, power on dude!

backonthebike

Don't worry about humidity, it is a non factor in Washington, if it is humid it is also cool. Speaking as a person who grew up in Florida. Humidity in Washington is not a problem. Dress in layers that wick moisture. A short sleeved wicking shirt, under a long sleeved wicking shirt, under a good wind breaker that breathes. A light wool sweater and a dry pair of socks for the bottom of the hill.

jeepseahawk

Yea, thanks for the pointers, going up will be fine with my body heat, going down will be cold. Will bring a windbreaker for descent, right now am planning on adding some water bottles just in case my kids flake on me. So far I am bringing front and rear lights, helmet,road id, jacket, cash, and possibly a seatpost rack to carry all the essentials of extra food (gels) and water. I see a nice day for Tuesday and Wednesday weather wise in Port Angeles, 75 and clear, don't know how cold it will be at 5000 ft though. Goal is to take off by 10-11 am considering late days up there now, should make it warmer.
Climbing wise down here has been very little, doing a lot of short 9-14 percent grades to strengthen legs. Guessing 3-4 hours for climb with stops, either from visitor center or from town.

What will help is someone can point me to a good local bike shop in Port Angeles, just in case. I know of the one in Silverdale, where I will be departing from.

Will be in my favorite Air Force jersey and riding a Seven Cycles bike, say hi if you see me.

Forrest Service contacted me back via email, very helpful, 15 bucks for autos and 5 for bicycles. Stated it can be windy, hopefully it is in my back going up, maybe someone can let me know on that.

backonthebike

Windy, gusts up the side of the mountain. There is a good lodge at the top, don't know what seasons it is open, for winter sports it is full service. Had a rack of nicely on sale outdoor clothes there. Downhill is going to be cold even on what we consider a "warm" day, the lightweight wool sweater might be good under the windbreaker, maybe even a light helmet liner. Gravel and grit on the turns. A few really narrow places. Lots of turnouts for viewing, you won't have time for that, but traffic congregates. There will definitely be gradients of temperature, depending on cloud cover, you can spend a good time in a cloud only to burst through to bluebird at the top. Completely unpredictable. Send us a trip report after!

Lascauxcaveman 

On a tweed ride, you wear your wool knickers, a vest and a narrow tie, perhaps a jaunty cap, something that looks 1920 or so. For a nice picnic at the top, stow some cucumber sandwiches and split of champagne in your saddle bag on your vintage randonneuse and watch the roadies gawk at you as they pass you on the way up. (Or even better, as you pass them )

But seriously, on the clothing issue, I don't think anyone should worry too much about being cold on the way down. Sure it's fast (I passed a Camry on the way down last time, #$%*& tourists) but unless its raining or there's a heavy fog, you don't need to dress up at all for it. In the summer you need to think more about getting a bad sunburn than getting cold.

The one particular caution that came to mind on my way down last time is the curtain drain grates as you go through the tunnels: the slots are wide and long enough to give you pinch flat or even break your wheel if you hit them just right at high speed. It didn't happen to me, but I could see how it might have if I was riding my bike with the hard and skinny 23c tires.

Lascauxcaveman 

FWIW, I like to start this ride at sea level (Downtown) to get the full mile of altitude gain. Takes me 4+ hours, so I'm not real fast.

The larger, more established shop is Sound Bikes right downtown, across the street from my hotel, and The Bike Garage is the newer and smaller shop.


If it's windy, you'll likely get it from all directions. It's a winding and twisting road.

Give me a call on mon or tue a.m., maybe I can ride up with you, depending whether one of my employees wants to fill in for me early. Here's the contact us page for my business. Ask for Tim.

Seattle Forrest

This has been on my list for ages, but I don't get to the peninsula very often. It's been a few years since I was on Hurricane Ridge, and I went up by car.

Are there creeks near the road? I tend to get thirsty, and run out of water, and I'll probably do this in the late summer, so I'm wondering if I can fill my bottles on the way up?

Absolutely correct.

backonthebike

Clothing description by female with cold hands and feet if sweatiness not managed properly! Guess it might not apply to testosterone types. Rainy and fog about 50% of the time in Hoquiam, even in summer, marine influence. I would go prepared.

Lascauxcaveman 

The entry station at Heart o' the Hills (~ 4 miles in) has a tap next to a picnic bench there. And there is a seasonal stream near the Switchbacks trailhead (~15 miles in), but not guaranteed to to be free of beaver-fever and could be dried up by late summer, though probably not this year, with our huge snowpack. There might be a few others I'm forgetting. I'm a fairly large (190 lb) and sweaty guy and go through about 40 oz on the way up, all of which I bring with me. On a really hot day, I might double that. Hurricane Ridge lodge at the top has a wide assortment of waters and soft drinks, once you arrive. It's open all summer, but is not open real early or real late in the day.

woodway

Automated weather station up on Hurricane Ridge for current conditions up top:

https://www.nwac.us/weatherdata/hurricaneridge/now/

Seattle Forrest

Thanks!

Drying up is a concern (the road was sunnier than I expected the last time I went) but I'm immune to beaver fever, as long as I bring a purifier. I use a steripen, it weighs about 6 ounces and purifies a cycling water bottle in 45 seconds. I've used one for years as a hiker, and occasionally on long rides through mountain areas that are pretty unpopulated, like the North Cascades Highway.

Also I appreciate the beta on Heart o' the Hills!

Lascauxcaveman 

Well, I took my new touring bike up there for a shakedown ride today, and got some more detailed water reports for ya: After the tap at the Heart o' The Hills entry station (mile 5), I saw nothing until about mile 13.7, where there's a year round stream next to a conveniently located shoulder pull-off. Between that and about 16.5 there are at least eight or nine seasonal streams, and the year round one at the Switchbacks trailhead. So there are plenty of places to refill, if you're OK with surface water.

Gratuitous shot of my brand new 1984 Peugeot Vagabond near the summit; she's a keeper

jeepseahawk

How long to make it up? Getting nervous as Tuesday approaches. You will probably drop me the first mile, lol. And as promised, I brought the sunshine up from California.

backonthebike

GORGEOUS scenery! Oh yeah, nice bike too...tee hee

backonthebike

Steripen? Is that a brand name? I want one

Seattle Forrest

Yeah, they make several different ones, but they're all a little UV thing that you put in the water, and it irradiates viruses and bacteria. Doesn't help with things that aren't alive (so if you were in an area with a history of mining that had traces of arsenic in the water, like Monte Cristo off the Mountain Loop Highway it wouldn't help you) but for giardia and just about anything else you'd normally worry about, it's a very quick and easy way to protect yourself. It's fast enough that the water is still cold after it's been purified.

Here's a picture of mine in action, from a backpacking trip on Mount Baker.

Seattle Forrest

Fantastic scenery! And thanks very much for all the beta you've been sharing with us!

jeepseahawk

Completed the climb today with lauscaveman....no computer (smart phone only) while on vacation but will update with photos and summary later. Laus was a great host and has a very nice hotel, thanks for the great hospitality.
https://app.strava.com/activities/64390644

Lascauxcaveman 

Good riding with ya. I don't see anything on that Strava link that indicates we are King Of The Mountain.

We're gonna have to try harder next time, buddy!

Rider51

Bringing this thread back from the crypt, as I didn't want to start a new one, and this has good info in it.

There's a greater than 50% chance I'll be attempting this climb in about two weeks. Probably Friday, September 8th.

I was wondering if anyone has any updates from when this thread was last active? Anyone been up there this year? Is the toll still $5? What's the water situation like? Any road info? I'm very well familiar with PNW weather, so I'm good there. I would like to ride from sea level up, but am not bent on that. I will not be zooming up it, by any stretch of the imagination. I'm fairly fit, but have reached the personal half century mark in age and like to spin, plus take a break now and then. If I made it up in under 3 hours, I'd be good with that, though I could probably go faster if I wanted to suffer.

Is this still your place, Lascauxcaveman? If so, and if I know I'll make it for sure, I'll reach out to you.

Lascauxcaveman 

Yep. Everything is still the same. If I know you're coming over I can probably take the day off and ride with you. Although if you're really going to do it in three hours you're going to be kicking my ass so hard my momma's gonna say "Ow." From sea level, I'm more like 3:40, at my best. Four hours is more likely, for me. But ya never know, it feels different every time. At any rate, low gearing and spinning is exactly the right idea, IMHO

We did a fun group ride on classic & vintage bikes earlier this summer, if you want to check out the thread and pix on that.

You can PM me here or email me at the Downtown Hotel 'contact us' link on the hotel website if you want to get in touch.

Rider51

Glad you're still there! If I do go, I'll definitely ping you, certainly for the hotel. As long as there's a safe place to put my bike, a bed, and running water, I'm fine. Thanks for that link too. Makes me miss living in the PNW.

My current plan is to be riding at Rainier in the days previous. How those plans solidify, will determine if I make it up there. I won't be riding into the afternoon of the 7th at Rainier, driving straight to Port Angeles, getting up on the 8th, and riding Hurricane. That's for the version of me half a lifetime ago. But I should know if the days will work out better than that about a week before, once my friend knows his schedule, and we get a weather forecast.

Presuming I make it to Hurricane, I have a hunch I will struggle through the first few miles, just past the toll booth, and wonder what on earth I got myself into, then once it eases off a tad into a steady climb, I'll get into a groove and do fine. That's been my history anyway.

I should note this inspiration to ride there goes back to 1986. I was with my family on a camping trip on the peninsula, and we drove up to Hurricane Ridge for the views and some hiking. On the way up, we passed a cyclist with a full load. I couldn't believe someone could ride up that hill, let alone with panniers. Later on, he came up and we talked to him. I recall him saying it took him about 3 hours from the entrance, and he was camping at the top there. There was no "official" camping, but the Park said he could ride his bike up there, hike 50' from the road to any open area, and it was "backpacking", and since he wasn't parking a vehicle there overnight, it was no problem. What a great place to spend the night. I won't be repeating that, but to just ride it would be a great bookend for me, looking back 31 years ago now.

Lascauxcaveman 

Oh yeah! Hot and cold running water, basic cable, free Wi-Fi, queen size beds. Almost like civilization, even, starting at $60/night (summer peak rates). You're welcome to take your bike to your room.

yamsyamsyams

Lascauxcaveman Which hotel is it that’s yours? I’ve had a tradition of going with friends the past few years where every summer, starting from Kingston ferry, we’d ride a century including up hurricane at the end. Typically we stay at the red lion. Would love to change it up and go with a cheaper and bikeforum-friendly place!

Lascauxcaveman 

Man, you guys really know how to do a century!

By all means check us out at The Downtown Hotel. I think you'll prefer our prices over the competition down the street. If you call, I'm usually the guy answering the phone during the day. If you click on the contact us button on the website, I'm the guy answering the email. And by all means plan on joining us for our annual Metric Century ride, first Saturday in May.