I've biked over Washington and Rainy passes before, but never with fully loaded panniers and never at age 69. I had a lingering question: would I be able to do it? These are the first 2 passes in the west to east Northern Tier and they are early in the trip—within days of the start—so you can't count on 'training while biking' to prepare.

I decided to find out.

On April 13 the North Cascades highway was open for bikes from the Ross Lake gate on the westside to Rainy and Washington passes. I got up very early, loaded my bike in the car and drove to Newhalem which is the beginning of the ascent to the top. I started at 9 am. Though the road was closed to cars after Ross Lake, there was still car traffic even though it was far less than when the pass is open. I took off in the cold and biked to the gate and then to the pass, with loaded panniers almost as heavy as those I'll use on my trip. It took me 6 hours with breaks and lunch but I made it! Elevation gain: 6437' Distance round trip: 75 miles.

The next week with the pass open, I drove to Mazama and on Saturday biked from Mazama to Washington Pass, down to Rainy Pass, then back to Mazama. Elevation 4695' Distance round trip 45 miles

So I can do it! It is nice having the granny gear for steeping grade with a full load.


Diablo Lake overlook


Zip traffic


Rainy Pass—signed covered by snow