Above is a photo of my wife next to our current bike on the road to Mount Rainier in Washington State. If you'd like a bigger view, just click on the photo. This road is an awesome ride, as it is fairly uncluttered except at the height of the tourism season in August.
You can approach Mt. Rainier and the park that services the mountain from many directions.
From Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Oregon, Olympia (where we live), or from the east (Yakima) it is a series of secondary roads off of I-5 and then the last portion inside the park. You need to be ready for temperature changes. The summit of Mt. Rainier is 14,400 ft, so it can be much colder as you ride up to Paradise (the lodge and parking at the peak of motor vehicle accessibility).
There may easily be deer and/or elk along the way, so its a good idea to keep your eyes focused on the road and the points of entry for animals from either side. You will likely see eagles, hawks, and many great birds along the way also.
Several rivers have their beginnings from Mt. Rainier. You will see this as you sometimes crisscross over these 'new' rivers while driving up the mountain. Waterfalls will surround you several times on both sides of the road as you get closer to the top.
It is one of the most beautiful rides that a person could take anywhere in the world. I encourage you all to come and make this ride as soon as you can.
There are also many great eating spots along this route. We are very fond of the hot dog stand in Elbe, Washington at the crossroads of two highways.
You can learn about the area surround Mt. Rainier by going to this website:
http://mytinyurl.net/d0487d
I'd love to hear one of your favorite ride stories that we can share with members from around the world! Please send any story or photos to: rjgrawet@msn.com
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