We woke up around 8, but were very reluctant to get out of bed because of the bitter cold… About half an hour later I emerged, and sure enough, our tent and bikes were covered in ice crystals… It was officially freezing, not making this stuff up! Fingers hurt as I set up the cooker to make the much needed hot drinks. Eventually Tanguy emerged and the sun came out, making it much nicer. We dried the tent, packed up and rode down the road through the east side of Mount Rainier. We did a short detour to ride Chinook pass, which was stunning and twisty as predicted. A short hike around a mountain lake near the top and we carried onto Packwood for lunch.
Distant views of Mt Rainier from Chinook pass
Lunch stop in Packwood
Next up was the Windy Ridge road on the east side of Mt St Helens. A much longer ride than the West road, but also much nicer views near the end. We had stunning vistas of bright red brush amongst the stark dead trunks, as well as huge Spirit Lake still half full of logs from the eruption. A short hike up the ridge, then back down the one way road to find a place to camp.
Fall foliage along Windy ridge road
Dead trees floating in Spirit Lake since the 1980 eruption
Stairs to the Spirit lake viewpoint, Mt St Helens in the background
Aptly named “Windy Ridge” road
After roughly an hour we came to a fork in the quiet twisty road offering camping/pizza half a mile away. We immediately took it as we were far from the nearest town. Pizza place was closed, but we were able to Camp at Eagle Cliff among tall cedar trees. Seems warmer than last night…
Zoe
Waauw !!! Amazing pictures ! Such beautiful colorful views and what a blue sky !
There are so many National Parks, National Forests and State Forests, in the US … there is not end to it.
It takes a lifetime to visit them all…but you both still have a life time indeed. En tout cas tu as déjà fort bien ratissé le coin 😉
The weather is getting colder so I assume you will be driving down from now on…to more enjoyable temperatures especially during the nights and the early mornings. Must be hard to get up, wash and dress at
minus 0 C.
So back on the saddle while we wait for your extra-ordinary views and pictures 🙂
xxx Mum
Migrate South!
Scenery is certainly worthwhile and the photographs are magnificent.
But freezing tent and bikes …?
Baci on a Saturday