I’d been planning this ride for months ever since reading about the climb to Babyshoe Pass in BQ. The climb from Highway 12 to the summit at the intersection with FS 2150 has an average grade of 6% and a max grade of 20% with soft, loose gravel and rough washboard making it tough to keep traction and rhythm.

The tour ridden clockwise ascends gravel and descends a near-perfect paved road.

This year’s edition of Ride the Hurricane had two great changes from last year:

An abandoned forest service road, a beautiful river, great views, and a mac & cheese lunch. Pretty perfect ride with Kid.

Finished up back in Quilcene.

We’d been waiting anxiously for the weather to be favorable for an attempt at cycling to Bon Jon Pass for a few weeks. Kiel Reijnen’s posted a ride on Strava going over the pass so we decided it was high time we gave it a try.

A great day of riding with E. among the forests, over the hills, and along the coast. A really enjoyable ride and one I would definitely repeat.

My fifth trip up to Lake Angeles, but first time in the summer, did not disappoint. A beautiful lake view rewards this steep Olympics climb. Unlike my typical winter foray we left the lake behind us and climbed the Klahhane Ridge Trail to an exceptional lunch spot with clear views to Mt Olympus and its glaciers.

I had been wanting to ride this event for a long time but the timing never worked out. Finally this year the dates aligned and I was able to ride it.

Hiked the loop clockwise through the woods and down to the impressive, fast moving Gray Wolf. The trail is in great shape and the numerous river and creek crossings were made uneventful by the bridges. There were a few blow downs but nothing requiring significant effort.