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Dam, Pass, and Peak - Traffic Changes

Initially I was blind sided by Alpine daisiesinto the mountains. They do what they do
and Digitalis (foxglove) passing themselvesfor more than exercise and health. Funding
off as wildflowers, much less the othergood causes comes into play.Covered with
fabulous scenery on the North CascadesDouglas fir, many of the surrounding peaks,
Highway, and then they showed up again. Isuch as Liberty Bell Mountain, Ruby Mountain,
turned the tables on them though and made aand Early Winters Spires tower in the high
pass. I don't commonly make passes at7,000 elevation range. My first time in
bikers, but in this case, it was a must. Inorthwestern Washington and writings stating
went around them. Bikers. The non-motorizedEuropean images came to light. It is truly
kind.I hit the brake often for restingawesome. Bicyclists benefit from
bicyclers and continued searching, as Iunobstructed views and find safety quickly
drove, for the perfect shot of wildflowers.even from wild drivers like myself.The humid
My "kill two birds with one stone" mentalityside of Washington was about to end when Dry
needed Ross Lake as a backdrop.I ducked outFalls appeared. The eastern leg of northern
of traffic last spring when I got off theWashington is dry, flat, agricultural land
ferry and dipped onto South Chuckanut Drive.stirred up by high winds that creates "dust
For approximately twenty-five miles I was indevils". They are ultra-mini tornadoes that
another world with narrow, winding roadswhip the land into some sort of shape. The
under a canopy of trees and there I wanted toforeboding look of three or more can be seen
stay. I passed under Highway 5 near exitat any given time throwing a fit on the
231, hung a right onto Burlington Boulevardhorizon blending yellow, brown dust with
and left on Avon Avenue (Highway 20), headedcerulean blue sky.According to Washington
east, back to Colorado. No traffic, feelingState Parks, Dry Falls is one of North
a bit lost even with a map, another sixtyAmerica's geological wonders. Dry Falls is a
miles and I slowed down even more. I was incliff over three miles long and 400 foot high
the Cascades.My mind filled with a flash ofand was once ten times larger than Niagara.
Concretia from the Flintstones movie alongThe Colombia River used to rush through
the way, when I passed through the town ofhere.On one free-fall, in neutral down a
Concrete. There is not much to it butsteep, winding grade on the North Cascades
history, folklore and a garish cement stackHighway, there they were. And again, when I
with bold lettering no one can miss.rounded a corner at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State
Concrete sits below Baker Dam and the base ofPark, and once again before I crossed into
Lake Shannon. The bikers were beginning toIdaho. Still headed eastbound on Highway 20
add up as I passed more and drove anotherjust leaving Coulee City headed to Spokane,
twenty-six miles, through Marblemount,on the flat, dry plains, faces of the bikers
climbing, climbing. Gorge Dam and its long,were becoming recognizable. I filled up
narrow Gorge Lake, then Diablo Dam createdevery two hundred miles or so from Washington
more than fifty-years ago, and Diablo Lake,to Colorado and began to think my speedometer
and further on and above, Ross Lake, all awas broken because the same bikers were
sparkle of deep blue.A labor of love goeseverywhere I was. Were they following me?
into building our roadways so travelers likeMy curiosity was piqued, because I just
me can see the grandeur of our country.couldn't shake them all the way through
North Cascades Highway was completed in1972Washington.I began to hallucinate seeing
after twelve years. Down one particularlybikers in Montana, thinking, they were still
steep grade around a switchback the view offollowing me. So, here it was ten o'clock at
Ross Lake takes your breath away. It spansnight, I pulled off at a state campground,
into Canada for a mile and a half. Access isplopped ten dollars in an envelope, pitched
only available on the U.S. side.Six passes onmy tent, and dreamed of bikers.This link
and around this route reach elevationscovers a bike tour that lasted 71 days and
between 4,000 to 5,500 feet. Sherman Pass is4,224 miles starting at Anacortes, Washington
the highest, followed by North Cascade, Loupand  ending  in  Bar  Harbor,  Maine.
Loup, Wauconda, Rainy, and Washington.
Passes are monitored for weather changes, butaccount of one of the bikers who took the
expect Loup Loup Pass to remain open yearWashington  route.
round. Like Ross Lake, Loup Loup Pass goes
into Canada. From Marblemount to the end ofin biking across the entire United States
the Cascades on this highway fifty-six morecontact:
miles awaited as I continued to dodge
bikers.I recommend springtime travel, more
tourists and travelers flock here in the
summer. Mid-April through late June is theState  only:
time to reduce distractions, catch craggy
peaks, and glimpses of passing wildflowers,
but watch the road, too. Bicycling is a
springtime fancy that brings hoards of themto Mt. St. Helens?



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