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.