Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park

Netnorske · 08-15-2010, 11:18 PM

Sat/Sun Aug 14-15 were spectacular here in the NW! I took advantage by making two fabulous rides...one on Saturday up to Mt. Baker with fellow KawaNOW member Duffy, who lives in Burlington, WA and rides a 1500 Classic....and one on Sunday with my wife out to the northern Olympic Mountains up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.

Both rides reach their culmination 2.5 hours from my driveway! Having been to Glacier National Park for the NW Rally....I can honestly say that GNP has absolutely nothing on the views and terrain you experience at Mt. Baker...it is just spectacular up there!

I tried to get Wandering-Nomad (Rick) to come up from where he is staying in Tri-Cities and ride with us, but he just couldn't make it. After he sees these pics....he's gonna wish he had...

First....I present to you some pics from Saturdays ride up to Mt. Baker....

The road up will challenge to best of riders with tons of tight switchbacks the last 10 miles, with the best of it in the last two! It may not be the Going to the Sun Road....but it don't have the traffic and construction either... ;)!

Have a look.....

The views.....

Duffy with Mt. Shuksan and a clear mountain lake in the background.....

That was Saturdays ride. Rickyboy has a cabin about an hour down the mountain from there where he was working on the place. We planned to surprise him and stopped by in search of a cold one and some shade, but his wife said was off to the dump and in search of more lumber, so we missed our chance to raid his beer cooler... ::)

!

Okay....now for Sundays ride up to Hurricane Ridge. The Olympic Mountains are located on the Olympic Peninsula, so a ferry ride across Puget Sound is your first order of business. While waiting at the ferry dock, a '06 Nomad (Mark) and a '09 Voyager (Steve) pulled in right behind us! Out came the KawaNOW business cards and some great conversation ensued!

Once across...you take Hwy 101 to Port Angeles where you turn south and begin a really nice 17 mile ride up to the ridge. Luckily it was a no-fee weekend at all NP's...so we saved a couple bucks! Some of what you see along the way.....

Here is a shot looking back northeast over the Strait of Juan De Fuca with Mt. Baker in the background....

Shots from the road.....where if you drive off you will be a headline....but only if they find you......

A great shot with Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center on the right....

Tricia......

So there you have it. If you live in the mid-west.....okay...I'll say it...it sucks to be you......

::)

! It may rain a bit up here, but there is absolutely nothing like summer in the NW....

!

rickyboy · 08-16-2010, 12:16 AM

Hey Kris,
Like I said in the PM, I'm sorry I missed you and Duffy. The fridge was full of cold "wobbly pops" as well. My wife Judy, told the "gate people" to let you in if you wanted to come in for a spell. Next time my friend. Give me a call before hand and I'll make sure I'm there.

AlabamaNomadRider · 08-16-2010, 01:21 AM

Great pictures Kris and such beautiful country. Thanks for posting.

**jmorrow** · 08-16-2010, 02:52 AM

WOW! Fantastic. Thats my kind of roads. Maybe someday we will make out that way.

nomad561 · 08-16-2010, 06:28 AM

I'm sorry I missed the rides Kris. I will make it up there in the next cuple of weeks. Beautiful pics, can't wait to see the views in person.
I'm trying to get settled in around here but can't seem to find a place to accomodate my needs. Hopefully I'll have that taken care of this week.
See you soon. First round is on me.

waterman · 08-16-2010, 09:38 AM

Nice pics there Kris. However, the comment about the Mid-West???? I live about 2 hours from the mountains and can drive fast on open roads. Best of both worlds.

**schoeney** · 08-16-2010, 10:26 AM

Wow Kris....Those both look like great rides. Had you been on these rides before?

I will need to add those to my list...sorry I missed them this weekend.

There are many beautiful parts of this country but it is hard to beat the diversity of the great NW....oceans, mountains, lakes, rivers, trees, high desert, waterfalls, little/big towns & cities, volcanoes, canyons, you name it and we have it all within about 150 miles.

Hey CJ...how you feeling about Arizona vs. the NW about now? I know, I know, you will be zapping me in about 6 weeks but I have to get my licks in while I can.

Netnorske · 08-16-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoeney

Wow Kris....Those both look like great rides. Had you been on these rides before?

Mt. Baker I have ridden numerous times...and will gladly guide anyone willing up there again. Hurricane Ridge I have not been to since I was a little kid....so that was a new ride on the Nomad.

Labor Day weekend is coming up....Sept.4-6. If anyone is up for riding up towards Mt. Baker again let me know...I'll lead the way...

!

nomad561 · 08-16-2010, 08:39 PM

I'll see what my schedule is going to be for Labor Day weekend.

pirate · 08-16-2010, 09:05 PM

Fantastic pictures, Kris! The views look awesome.

moloprintz · 08-17-2010, 09:19 PM

Great pics!! Thanks!!

Mike

redryder · 08-24-2010, 10:30 PM

Great pics Kris. I'm new here, but I met you on the ferry on your way to Kingston. I was with Steve, the Voyager rider, and I had a black Suzuki Boulevard C50. Well, I just caved in last week and traded her in for a new 2009 Nomad 1700! I look forward to meeting up with you guys for some rides one of these days.

Jason

elvis · 08-25-2010, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redryder

Great pics Kris. I'm new here, but I met you on the ferry on your way to Kingston. I was with Steve, the Voyager rider, and I had a black Suzuki Boulevard C50. Well, I just caved in last week and traded her in for a new 2009 Nomad 1700! I look forward to meeting up with you guys for some rides one of these days.

Jason

Welcome to the boards, Jason

Wow! Most exciting post today, congrats on the new 1700. I also traded in my black C50 for my '08 Nomad in Feb '09. My wife still rides and loves her black C50.

I'm really curious about the 1700, keep us posted on how things go.

There's nothing like a brand new bike, enjoy it and be safe.

Netnorske · 08-25-2010, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redryder

Great pics Kris. I'm new here, but I met you on the ferry on your way to Kingston. I was with Steve, the Voyager rider, and I had a black Suzuki Boulevard C50. Well, I just caved in last week and traded her in for a new 2009 Nomad 1700! I look forward to meeting up with you guys for some rides one of these days.

Jason

Hi Jason,

PM sent....

**schoeney** · 08-25-2010, 10:11 PM

New bike? We need pics!!

08-15-2010, 11:18 PM	#1
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Sat/Sun Aug 14-15 were spectacular here in the NW! I took advantage by making two fabulous rides...one on Saturday up to Mt. Baker with fellow KawaNOW member Duffy, who lives in Burlington, WA and rides a 1500 Classic....and one on Sunday with my wife out to the northern Olympic Mountains up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. Both rides reach their culmination 2.5 hours from my driveway! Having been to Glacier National Park for the NW Rally....I can honestly say that GNP has absolutely nothing on the views and terrain you experience at Mt. Baker...it is just spectacular up there! I tried to get Wandering-Nomad (Rick) to come up from where he is staying in Tri-Cities and ride with us, but he just couldn't make it. After he sees these pics....he's gonna wish he had... First....I present to you some pics from Saturdays ride up to Mt. Baker.... The road up will challenge to best of riders with tons of tight switchbacks the last 10 miles, with the best of it in the last two! It may not be the Going to the Sun Road....but it don't have the traffic and construction either... ;)! Have a look..... The views..... Duffy with Mt. Shuksan and a clear mountain lake in the background..... That was Saturdays ride. Rickyboy has a cabin about an hour down the mountain from there where he was working on the place. We planned to surprise him and stopped by in search of a cold one and some shade, but his wife said was off to the dump and in search of more lumber, so we missed our chance to raid his beer cooler... ::) ! Okay....now for Sundays ride up to Hurricane Ridge. The Olympic Mountains are located on the Olympic Peninsula, so a ferry ride across Puget Sound is your first order of business. While waiting at the ferry dock, a '06 Nomad (Mark) and a '09 Voyager (Steve) pulled in right behind us! Out came the KawaNOW business cards and some great conversation ensued! Once across...you take Hwy 101 to Port Angeles where you turn south and begin a really nice 17 mile ride up to the ridge. Luckily it was a no-fee weekend at all NP's...so we saved a couple bucks! Some of what you see along the way..... Here is a shot looking back northeast over the Strait of Juan De Fuca with Mt. Baker in the background.... Shots from the road.....where if you drive off you will be a headline....but only if they find you...... A great shot with Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center on the right.... Tricia...... So there you have it. If you live in the mid-west.....okay...I'll say it...it sucks to be you...... ::) ! It may rain a bit up here, but there is absolutely nothing like summer in the NW.... ! __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-16-2010, 12:16 AM	#2
rickyboy Top Contributor Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 108 Mile Ranch B.C. Canada Posts: 5,472	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Hey Kris, Like I said in the PM, I'm sorry I missed you and Duffy. The fridge was full of cold "wobbly pops" as well. My wife Judy, told the "gate people" to let you in if you wanted to come in for a spell. Next time my friend. Give me a call before hand and I'll make sure I'm there. __________________ Nomad'a What ! "rickyboy" Richard Cole Canada West Region 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia Canada Vulcan Bagger Assoc. #00722 Black 2006 Nomad https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/ico...Book_32x32.png
	0

08-16-2010, 01:21 AM	#3
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Great pictures Kris and such beautiful country. Thanks for posting. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

08-16-2010, 02:52 AM	#4
jmorrow Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beech Grove, Arkansas Posts: 1,884	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park WOW! Fantastic. Thats my kind of roads. Maybe someday we will make out that way. __________________ Jim (Dooley) Morrow Stanford, Arkansas 2004 Kawasaki Nomad 1500 VBA #146
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08-16-2010, 06:28 AM	#5
nomad561 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasco , Wa Posts: 1,445	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park I'm sorry I missed the rides Kris. I will make it up there in the next cuple of weeks. Beautiful pics, can't wait to see the views in person. I'm trying to get settled in around here but can't seem to find a place to accomodate my needs. Hopefully I'll have that taken care of this week. See you soon. First round is on me. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-16-2010, 09:38 AM	#6
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Nice pics there Kris. However, the comment about the Mid-West???? I live about 2 hours from the mountains and can drive fast on open roads. Best of both worlds. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16
	0

08-16-2010, 10:26 AM	#7
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Wow Kris....Those both look like great rides. Had you been on these rides before? I will need to add those to my list...sorry I missed them this weekend. There are many beautiful parts of this country but it is hard to beat the diversity of the great NW....oceans, mountains, lakes, rivers, trees, high desert, waterfalls, little/big towns & cities, volcanoes, canyons, you name it and we have it all within about 150 miles. Hey CJ...how you feeling about Arizona vs. the NW about now? I know, I know, you will be zapping me in about 6 weeks but I have to get my licks in while I can. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
	0

08-16-2010, 08:39 PM	#9
nomad561 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasco , Wa Posts: 1,445	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park I'll see what my schedule is going to be for Labor Day weekend.
	0

08-16-2010, 09:05 PM	#10
pirate Sr. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,865	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Fantastic pictures, Kris! The views look awesome.
	0

08-17-2010, 09:19 PM	#11
moloprintz Advanced Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 548	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Great pics!! Thanks!! Mike
	0

08-24-2010, 10:30 PM	#12
redryder Jr. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 14	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park Great pics Kris. I'm new here, but I met you on the ferry on your way to Kingston. I was with Steve, the Voyager rider, and I had a black Suzuki Boulevard C50. Well, I just caved in last week and traded her in for a new 2009 Nomad 1700! I look forward to meeting up with you guys for some rides one of these days. Jason
	0

08-25-2010, 10:11 PM	#15
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Mt. Baker and Olympic National Park New bike? We need pics!! __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
	0

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