Rainier Challenge June 2017
You may have heard of "Everesting", meaning biking up and down a grade for 20+ hours straight until you total more than 29,100 vertical feet of gain (8,848 meters) - the height of Mt Everest above sea level: http://www.everesting.cc/the-rules/ Tim Cronk reported on his attempt at this in mid 2016, which got me to thinking about it. I concluded I was past my prime for making that effort. At the same time, I learned that the US Park Service plows the road up Mt Rainier to Sunrise in mid June, but does not open it to cars until 4th of July, On the weekdays, they keep it closed for maintenance work but on weekends, it's open to cyclists (and hikers) from White River Campground to the top. I did that ride a couple of times last year, and wondered how many loops up and down it would take to Everest: about 12, at my uphill speed, maybe 24 hours to cover the 220 miles. Even with the long northern summer days, a bit too much.
But wait! Mt Rainier is 14,410 in elevation; 6 x White River to Sunrise Ridge viewpoint would make 14,650' of elevation gain. I made that round trip in 1:38 of biking time, meaning I could "Rainier" on Sunrise Road - Rainier on Rainier - in under twelve hours. It's 110 miles total.
Thus is born the Rainier Challenge. There are at least 8 ENers I know of in the general South Sound region (Doug Sutherland, Phill Mills, Brian Gaffen, Robin Sarner, Scott Imlay, David Glenn, Mark Mauer, Jenn Edwards, me...) and probably others in the neighborhood of Puget Sound. This road is literally in our back yard - we look at it every (clear) day.
So I'm throwing down the gauntlet to tackle this volcano on either the weekend of June 17/18 or 24/25. This thread is to discuss feasibility, interest, logistics, and smack talk.
Comments
Here's the Strava segment:
https://www.strava.com/activities/632663246/segments/15452681111
The bad news - this is "only" 2150', meaning one more lap (7) to get 15,050'. The good news - it took me 1:01 (at an IF of 0.734, HR 109) to get up. 22' (@ 20 mph) to get down, so twelve hours seems generous. Distance: 103 miles.
what a great place to "Everest". I live in the Yakima Valley and ride this route often. Pretty sure I don't to need to join in this fun, but it sounds awesome! Good luck. Maybe we'll see you you there and cheer you on you in your attempt.
Sid
Justin - I was thinking about doing Coeur d'Alene 70.3, but it falls on June 25th, so Chelanman is probably what I'll be aiming for - cheaper, I've never done the course, etc. If that is your A race, then doing 100 miles with 15,000' of climbing 2-3 weeks ahead might not be the *best* idea. Otherwise, I think doing something fun like this just adds money in the bank for race day, as long as you take a day or two off afterwards to absorb the work.
Sounds like a great ride. I will be doing IMCA in July and don't want to jeopardize health, training targets, etc...
Maybe I could join for a quarter climb? Also Jorge Duque is a fellow EN'er in Gig Harbor. Dude is a monster climber.
I'll have to start work on the SAU's for this one.
"The mountains are calling and I must go." John Muir
BTW, WSDOT also does the same thing on the east side of the cascade crest on SR 20, aka the North Cascades Highway. The opening date is usually earlier in the season though.