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Mt. Baker Hill Climb Challenge

Old 08-23-22, 09:45 PM
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NoWhammies
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Mt. Baker Hill Climb Challenge

Anyone here signed up for the Mt. Baker Hill Climb challenge in mid September?
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Old 08-26-22, 03:32 PM
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That is a fun ride event, I have done it several times in the past (although one year it was snowing at the top and shortened, and the ride up was among the coldest, wettest, and most miserable rides I have ever been on). This year I'm domestique-ing my wife's ride on that weekend (Bike MS Deception Pass ride) by staying home with our 5 year old.

Have you done this climb/event before, or climbed similarly long, sustained grades? Below is a photo looking up to a switchback from a previous year. The views are amazing and its nice to have the road closed to cars for the event.

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Old 08-26-22, 09:01 PM
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I did the event maybe a decade ago, when it was part of whole weekend event run by the coach of the female ski team. Everyone was given socks and there were many many prizes given out at the end of the event. Plus fun things like "anyone wearing pink and runs to the stage gets a water bottle". I am looking forward to doing the event again, even though i know it will be different.
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Old 08-26-22, 11:52 PM
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Originally Posted by imakecircles
That is a fun ride event, I have done it several times in the past (although one year it was snowing at the top and shortened, and the ride up was among the coldest, wettest, and most miserable rides I have ever been on). This year I'm domestique-ing my wife's ride on that weekend (Bike MS Deception Pass ride) by staying home with our 5 year old.

Have you done this climb/event before, or climbed similarly long, sustained grades? Below is a photo looking up to a switchback from a previous year. The views are amazing and its nice to have the road closed to cars for the event.

mt. shuskan!
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Old 08-28-22, 09:05 PM
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Nice! Gorgeous views.
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Old 09-01-22, 10:03 PM
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We did this ride back then too when it was called Ride 542, still have the socks. We camped just outside Glacier and had terrific weather the day of the ride.

We rode again in 2019, completely different experience, cold rain almost the entire final climb. Going up wasn’t bad but the descent was horrific. Hands were numb and we were shivering by the time we got to the lodge, people were trying to warm up and the organizers were trying to shuttle people off the mountain. We decided to carry on and it wasn’t bad below that, rain let up and it got warmer. I enjoy riding without cars on the road and scenic climbs but not if you’re cold, wet and can’t see anything it’s not much fun.

We’re watching the forecast and if it still looks good next week we’ll sign up and head up there. It’s not the cool festival it was but it’s still a great ride and atmosphere. Fingers crossed this good weather holds.
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Old 09-02-22, 02:56 PM
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Be aware it's pretty smokey up there. The entire Hannegan area, which the ride goes right by, is closed due to wildfire.
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Old 09-02-22, 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
Be aware it's pretty smokey up there. The entire Hannegan area, which the ride goes right by, is closed due to wildfire.
https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

https://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/hrrr/HRRRsmoke/
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Old 09-02-22, 04:42 PM
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Thanks for the heads up. Temperature cooling in coming days with some possible rain hopefully helps with that.
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Old 09-02-22, 05:06 PM
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I was thinking of signing up, but didn't.
I did camp at Mineral Springs along the US 97 close to Cle Elum and rode close to Leavenworth.
On the way to Leavenworth I took the Old Blewett Rd and coming back all on US 97.
Around same distance coming back from Leavenworth to Blewett Pass, but 3k elevation instead of 4.4k for Mt. Baker.
I only had a bottle of water and around 11 AM the sun started to get warmer and I was running out of water, but got up there and then had a nice downhill to the camp site.
I think it took me 2hr20min for that and was kind of ok-ish. Adding an extra 1.4k elevation should be at next level.....
Have fun.
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Old 09-02-22, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by busygizmo
Thanks for the heads up. Temperature cooling in coming days with some possible rain hopefully helps with that.
I'm about to swim for a couple hours, I will try to dig up more resources tonight. Here's a webcam showing the ski area, it gives a look at the air.

https://snow2day.com/en/usa/mount-baker

Here's an air quality map.
https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10...8112/-122.0982

You can check the morning of and decide. 🙂
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Old 09-04-22, 07:34 PM
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busygizmo The last time I did the ride/race was when the event was called Ride242. Great event. And like you, I still have the socks. I have signed up twice since the ride was re-established but both times I have not shown up to do the ride. As you alluded to, the weather was nasty and I did not want to drive down just to ride in the rain and cold. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the ride this year will have nice weather.

Seattle Forrest Thanks for the tips on the smoke. Good to know. Hopefully the air quality improves before the day of the ride.
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Old 09-06-22, 12:45 PM
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https://mappingsupport.com/p2/gissur...dland_fire.txt
These fires are getting bigger. I haven't been up that way in a bit personally, what I'm hearing is that it's pretty smokey. Forecast is for the winds to shift on Friday and possibly clear it out a bit.
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Old 09-07-22, 08:24 PM
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Well for anyone who is doing the ride if you see someone riding a black BH G7, wearing a BH kit, pop over and say hi.
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Old 09-08-22, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by NoWhammies
Well for anyone who is doing the ride if you see someone riding a black BH G7, wearing a BH kit, pop over and say hi.
We went ahead and signed up today. I’m riding in the recreational category. Not sure what jersey I’ll wear but will be riding an older black Scott road bike. Supposedly the smoke will clear Sunday according to NOAA. Hope it’s a pleasant day and ride for all. Looking forward to beer, pizza and football at Chair 9 after the ride.
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Old 09-11-22, 10:03 AM
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Canceled due to unhealthy air, they’re hoping WDOT will let them reschedule later in the month but then the chance of rain increases. Bummer.
Fires got real bad this week.
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Old 09-11-22, 10:28 AM
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I'm glad you'll all be far from this danger. Highways 2 and 12 are closed, they've been doing air rescues all day yesterday and they haven't all been successful. Fuel moisture levels are exceptionally low, existing fires have been spotting great distances, it's a bad time.
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Old 09-11-22, 06:57 PM
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Whoa. Crazy times. After a summer without a lot of fires (mostly) now that summer is coming to an end the air quality takes a nose dive. Yikes!
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Old 09-12-22, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by NoWhammies
Whoa. Crazy times. After a summer without a lot of fires (mostly) now that summer is coming to an end the air quality takes a nose dive. Yikes!
​​​​​​It's like we paid it all off in a few days.
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Old 09-25-22, 03:06 PM
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Two weeks ago we optimistically went ahead up to Glacier since we’d already booked a room at the small hotel next to Chair 9 and would have lost one nights cost to cancel. They were hoping the ride would go but got the no go early Sunday morning. We stayed Sunday night and were going to ride on our own if the air cleared but that was to no avail.
They rescheduled for this weekend and the situation couldn’t have been any different, weather was perfect and the ride went off without a hitch. Glad they were able to reschedule and the WDOT let them close the highway.
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