Chinook Pass, Cayuse Pass & Hwy 410 — Friday, May. 18, 2007

With Highway 410 closed to traffic, it seemed like the perfect time to get the bikes out and ride. We parked at where Hwy 410 and Crystal Mr. road meet, the Silver Creek Sno-Park. Sure enough, Hwy 410 is closed at the entrance to Mt Rainier National Park. We had the entire highway to ourselves. The flowers are out at the lower elevations. But deep snow begins around 4000 feet. At Cayuse Pass and Chinook Pass there is 15 feet of snow on the shoulders. There was no snow on the roadway, just some rocks here and there. It was a very long and slow uphill grind. But it was all downhill on the way back down to the car. Only really needed one gear today, low to go uphill and coast to go down hill. We had a little rain, sun, clouds, and wind.