Last week, I rode through a bit of history and came out thinking of the future. I rode over Old Blewett Pass, which used to connect the Washington towns of Leavenworth and Cle Elum. Old Blewett Pass was decommissioned in the 1950s and a new road (US 97) was built through Swauk Pass — now referred to as Blewett Pass. The old road is still there (mostly), paved (enough), and maintained (somewhat) as USFS road 7320. It is, quite possibly, the best climb I have ever ridden.
I climbed from the North side, after an approach of about 25km on US97. Once on the old road, the climb is 730 m over 16km, with grades from 5 to 8%. The interwebs tell me this is a category 1 climb. My legs tell me it was perfect. After a summer full of riding and with a mojo still glowing from the joy of my new carbone, I spun uphill steady and fast. Hands on the bar-tops, eyes forward, face relaxed– a pro in my own mind, the mountain laying down before me.
I rode alone, and I saw no one– car, bike, or otherwise. My own private mountain stage to the past. And now I think of the future. What other roads await?
Photo and information from
http://oldblewett.blogspot.com
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We did this route last year from the south out and back. You are exactly right on all accounts - no traffic, maintained just enough. Quiet, gorgeous. Thanks for sharing and reminding!
Great article. The photos on the linked blogspot site are fantastic. Did you look at them before riding, and try to spot features on the way? The last photo suggests time may be running out for this ride. Beter get there soon ...
@Ron I believe this might be the new steed Jim's talking about
http://www.velominati.com/the-bikes/a-new-decade/
Beautiful post Jim, we're pretty lucky in Adelaide with something similar as one of the main climbs just outside the city.
When there was a re-development of the main Adelaide-Melbourne Freeway that goes out through the hills they kept the old road & set up a purpose built bike path that goes along both the new & old roads all the way up to the highest peak overlooking the city...voila, instant 12k climb, which happens to start basically right outside my front door.
Aesome, Jim! Thanks for the post. That's the dream to me: spinning up your own private mountain. Very cool.
*Awesome
What a great concise post .... some of the best rides are ones that Ive had where the route is unplanned and solo. The mind is void of all such nonsense as cadence and heart rate and strava points and I just ride..... average K's per hour are a distant memory and I just ride..... we have a few such roads down south such as Pambula loop and Crows nest just out of Port Elliot and Victor Harbor .... awesome scenery and very few traffic hindrances...
@Barracuda not to mention Old Willunga Hill now that the Victor road has taken all the southbound traffic away.
Amazing! I find that my most memorable rides are the solo ones that the only company I have are the ghost of myself when I was 18 years old and the spirits of all my cycling heros surrouding me. Beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing.
@mcsqueak
Yeah, and it seems the Cascades are virtually littered with them. I'm really excited to take the cross bike out on these rides as having the option to ride long sections of gravel will open up even more routes.
But to your point, the real trick with this stuff is finding these rodes; even in Seattle itself, finding great routes takes a long, long time...its a lot of fun, though, and its very exciting as you figure out little back roads or discover a great new climb.
Who doesn't want to point their front wheel up this thing?