DRIVE UPDATE
The details have been finalized, a big thank you goes out to Dean for writing the instructions!
You can print out the following schedule, but we will also show up with the instructions and some printed maps.
Time schedule as follows.....
6:45-7:00am Arrive at NE 70th Pl park & ride in Kirkland (exit 17). This is located on the east side of I-405.
7:00am Leave for the Smokey Point rest area (coffee break) on I-5 north bound, set your tripometer to 0 before leaving the P&R.
Arrive at rest area located after exit 206 @ mile post 207.
Estimated travel time 35 minutes, tripometer @ 38.9 miles.
20 minute stay.
8:00am Leave reast area and head north on I-5, take next exit (208), turn right and head east on HWY 530 for about 3.5 miles and turn left onto HWY 9 north, tripometer @ 44.2 miles.
When entering the town of Sedro Woolley turn right onto the
North Cascade HWY (HWY 20 east), tripometer @ 71.4 miles.
Turn left back onto HWY 9 north @ the intersection of Arco-am/
pm and Dairy Queen, tripometer @ 72.7 miles. (Regroup at the school on the right hand side)
9:00am Arrive at photo-op @ tripometer setting of 84.1 miles, there is no landmark at this spot, lead car will stop. 15 minute stay.
9:15am Leave photo-op spot and head to Nooksack Casino. Follow HWY 9 north til it intersects with HWY 542, tripometer @ 95.5 miles, at this entersection turn left (heading west) for about a mile.
We will enter the casino area from the back and stage parking on HWY 542 (east bound). This will be a place for bathrooms or fuel and to meet the Canadian crew.
This will be a 15 minute drive from photo-op. 30 minute stay.
10:00am Leave casino and head east on HWY 542 (Mt Baker HWY). Next stop will be 15 miles east of the town of Glacier, tripometer @ 130.1 miles. This is the DOT Hwy garage. 45 minutes from the casino stop. 15 minute stay.
11:00AM LEAVE DOT Hwy garage and continue about 6 miles to enterance
of the White Salmon Lodge parking area. This last leg of the drive
is over rough roads, but they are paved.
We should arrive at the White Salmon parking area by 11:30, the gate to the parking area is usually closed, but will be open for us between 11:30 and noon. It will be important to arrive by these times. The gate will not be open after noon.
There is plenty of parking (paved) at the lodge. We should have some access to the lodge for bathrooms. Estimated time at the lodge about 1-2 hours. If at all possible would like to leave as a group so we do not have to open the gate to many times when leaving.
For those attending this drive, I recommend a packed lunch (no food service at lodge during summer months), sodas, water, digital cameras, and cam-corders, hiking boots, sunscreen, windex and papertowels for the bugs on your windshield, and a garbage bag.
This drive will happen rain or shine, be prepared.
We will have the opportunity to stop in the town of Glacier on the way back for dinner at "Milano's pasta fresca" or those that wish can continue home. If we leave the lodge by 2:30 pm, we should arrive home in the Bellevue area by 5:30pm, some of you may need to adjust your schedules accordingly for your trip home.,
*****important note from Dean*******
There has been some concerns regarding speeds on this drive, this will be addressed at the park and ride before we leave. I believe we can find a happy medium for everyone. Remember we will stick out like a sore thumb.
The main concern will be to behave ourselves on the Mt Baker Hwy and at the lodge.
We are lucky to have this opportunity (e-mail & thank the g.m. at Mt Baker Ski Area, Duncan Howat, he also has an S2000) to use the lodge area, since it's usually closed during summer months to the public. I don't want to be a hard ass about this, but please respect this request.
I hope all those who attend have a great time...
