A Quick Ride On Some New Roads

A weekend without plans quickly became a weekend with one plan: to ride without a plan. I got together with some ADV Riders and explored some old and new roads.

August 4, 2007
Total Miles: 138 miles, 1 day
Seattle, WA to Index, WA

There wasn't much of a plan for today's ride other than to see where we'd end up. A few riders from ADV met up at the Krispy Kreme in downtown and decide to visit the twisty roads north of I-90 that go through Fall City and north towards Monroe and Hwy 2. It started out well on nice twisty pavement and then I took up the lead from Steve to where I knew of a gravel road. The first turn off led us on a useless but not unpleasant ride around Lake Joy, an-out-of-the-way vacation home area in the hinterlands. The speeds were kept low and a good thing, as one corner surprised me with 8 or so neighbors walking their donkeys and pony down the side of the road. Nothing like variety to spice things up.

Eventually I found the turnoff for Stossel Rd, an easy gravel road that meanders above the Snoqualmie River valley. The dense forests didn't allow for much of a view and the low clouds kept the temperatures down. One of the riders, Dan, had an FZ6 (street bike) that he managed quite well on. The group would take off down the gravel and then we'd stop at a nice spot and take pictures until Dan showed up. I think we were all surprised when he kept showing up.

A quick stop on Stossel Rd	Dan's bike - not set up for dirt roads

Stossel Rd	I shot a picture!

Waiting for Dan	The road not taken

Dan made it!!!	Steve shows his stuff

Rallye time!	Steve thinks about going around

Overcast day in the Pacific Northwest	Another bridge on Stossel Rd

A nice bridge over a river had intriqued me last March and this time the weather was more cooperative for a stop. The rocks had erroded in an unusual way and it was interesting to check out the various pot holes and arches left behind. The dense greenery surrounded the crevass only lent a more surreal look to the area.

Unusual erosion	Steve looking for trouble

Where the river drops down	Lunch in Index, WA

By the time we reached pavement again we were on Hwy 2 and heading west into the mountains. We cut out from the main road at Sultan and hit the back roads, following a particularily interesting stretch past Reiter and into Index. I find this road interesting because it is barely wide enough for two cars but yet it's frequently traveled because of an off road vehicle park that it goes past. There is usually a mud-spattered jeep coming around the blind corner and its a good idea to keep to your side of the road.

Lunch was at the only place to eat in Index, the Index Cafe right on Hwy 2. The food was good and the service was even better. Here we decided to check out the washout less than 7 miles further up the road. The storms from last November washed out the road and the DOT didn't foresee any repairs for a couple of years. Apparently the river changed course drastically and the road will have to be re-routed, not just repaired. We wanted to see if we could pass through on our bikes.

Health food	Check out the boots!

The road starts out easy: simply submerged under some fast-flowing water forming a small waterfall as it dropped off what used to be the left lane. But further ahead the entire road bed had been lifted up and dropped down onto the other lane. This would still be passable by bike. A few more yards along and the road bed disappeared completely. What used to be the road is now simply river rock. Lots of river rock. However the water did not appear to be too deep and with the proper care not to dump the bike I didn't see any reason why I shouldn't try it. Except that I was running out of time. I was due back in Seattle in an hour and I'd need all of that time to get there. The guys didn't seem too intent on going for it and we all returned to our bikes and with a smile I took off for home while they meandered their own way.

Index-Galena Rd washout	Index-Galena Rd washout

The power of Nature	Looking back toward the bikes

North Fork Skykomish River