Dead Horse Point to Slate Peak - long, steep bike climb (pics)

NorthCascades
NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
edited November 22 in Fitness and Exercise
On Saturday I finally rode NF-5400, the highest road in Washington. I started at Dead Horse Point, a section that's frightening in a car because it's exactly the width of one vehicle, with a couple thousand foot drop off. But it's comfortably wide on a bike, and being on one let me focus on the scenery instead of on the danger.

As for the rest of the ride, it was 4,172 feet of elevation gain over about 10 miles, with a victory lap around The Meadows - a campground in a lovely burn scar.

Fall color in the PNW, the larch takes the crown.

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These last two are from the drive home, from Washington Pass and the Methow Needles.

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Replies

  • katsheare
    katsheare Posts: 1,025 Member
    Well jell! I've only been up that way twice, once for a family gathering where we stayed in one place for two days then went home, and once when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant :) The hikes were great, but now I'm seeing that the rides would be wonderful as well. Fantastic photos, what kind of camera do you use?
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    All the pics are from my phone - S6.
  • gearhead426hemi
    gearhead426hemi Posts: 919 Member
    That's awesome! I live in Washington as well. We should plan a group ride sometime. I plan on upgrading to a full suspension bike beginning of next year.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    WTF is with that front skewer???
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Being on the wrong side you mean?
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    I’m so glad you decided to go for it! That smile and the views are amazing.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Beautiful!
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Amazing pics! Awesome ride!
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    So glad you did the ride.
    Was thinking of you when I was looking out the kitchen window this weekend. Clear sharp Olympic Mts visible across the water.
    (I know that wasn't what you were riding- just mts in WA made me wonder if you'd gone :) )

    Cheers, h.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    Fantastic! And terrifying!
  • CarlydogsMom
    CarlydogsMom Posts: 645 Member
    I always check out your posts, @NorthCascades, love your photos. I've NEVER been to the Cascades, but now it's definitely on my radar. These are stunning.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    @CarlydogsMom Thanks! If you ever come this way, drop me a line and I'll help you figure out where to go. I think the Cascades tend to get nicer as you go north.

    The yellow trees are alpine larches, aka tamarack. They're a deciduous conifer (I thought those were opposites), the needles turn gold and then fall off, then grow back in June. They usually go off the second weekend in October, early this year. We have big leaf maples in the rainforest too but the larches are my favorite. :smile:
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    So glad you did the ride.
    Was thinking of you when I was looking out the kitchen window this weekend. Clear sharp Olympic Mts visible across the water.
    (I know that wasn't what you were riding- just mts in WA made me wonder if you'd gone :) )

    Cheers, h.

    You gave me wise advice. I started where the scenery I wanted to enjoy began, then rode up until I ran out of up. It was challenging, I felt like I accomplished what I really set out to, and I'm happy with that. The road was incredibly rough and most of four hours of bouncing around kind of hurt, and I can move on to other challenges now.

    Thank you for the sage advice and for the push.
  • nomorewombat
    nomorewombat Posts: 25 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    Being on the wrong side you mean?

    No I think he means that should be clamped in line with your forks - how yours is would be easy to catch on something and loosen.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Huh. I didn't think of that. But the front axle was a little loose and you just told me why. Thanks for the tip!
  • Catawampous
    Catawampous Posts: 447 Member
    My home state. I live in Florida now but your pics bring back wonderful memories. The beauty that is in the PNW is sometimes indescribable! I miss it!
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    mph323 wrote: »
    Fantastic! And terrifying!

    ^This!
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    nomorewombat wrote: »
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    Being on the wrong side you mean?

    No I think he means that should be clamped in line with your forks - how yours is would be easy to catch on something and loosen.

    Yea, I can overlook it being on the wrong side, but line it up with the forks for security or horizontal for max aero benefit.

    But I was mostly just giving you a hard time. Great post, as always.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Really beautiful!
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    Great pictures. Worth the climbing effort!
This discussion has been closed.

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