2011 Northwest Crank

Thursday  Quincy and Beyond

Routes

Thursday Routes (Excel format)

Description

Thursday is a great warmup day since it’s one of the flatter days. From East Wenatchee the route heads south and east for an out-and-back to Quincy and Ephrata along SR-28 and then some backroads. While there is only one stairstep climb on the way out, there is always the possibility of wind along the Columbia River to contend with.

All routes have a about half of the day on SR-28 which has wide shoulders and good surface for almost all of it.

Support

There will be support available at the intersection of Baird Springs Road and SR-28. This is 23 miles from the start and depending on how long you ride will determine what mileage you hit on the way back. This stop will be open from 10:30am  3:30pm.

Routes

Short

Medium

Long

Long (semi Adv)

NOTES:

• This route has an extended stretch on Baird Springs Road with no services.
• This route has 16 miles of gravel. This is doable with 27s, but 30s would be better.

 

 

Adventure 2 - 102 miles. Est. 3500-4000 feet of climbing.

Distance	102 miles
Climbing	Est. 3500-4000 feet of climbing
Description	East Wenatchee up through the Palisades valley to Sagebrush Flats, then Ephrata. Return up Sagebrush Flats to Baird Springs Road and finish on SR-28.
Climbs	Palisades Valley is a gentle uphill with 2 steep parts on the gravel section. Sagebrush Flats also has some climbs returning to Ephrata. From Ephrata you will climb back up Sagebrush Flats and to Monument Hill. And finally a climb on Batterman Road.
Support	Mile 75 10:30am - 3:30pm
Services	Mile 15 at Palisades Road, Mile 50 at Ephrata, Mile 85 at Palisades Road.

Notes:

• This route has an extended stretch through the Palisades Valley and again on Baird Springs Road with no services.
• This route has 23 miles of gravel. This is doable with 27s, but 30s would be better.

 

 

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Friday - The Cursing of Stemilt

Description

Roads south of Wenatchee have very little traffic as the southern roads all turn to gravel. There’s a reason there’s not much that way - along the Columbia River the road rolls along, but heading away from the Columbia it’s all about climbing. This will test your legs!


Support

There will be support at the turnaround on Colockum Road around mile 20. There will also be support somewhere along Stemilt Hill Road.


Routes

Friday Routes (Excel format). Short

Distance	45 miles
Climbing	Est. 2000-2500 feet of climbing
Description	Out along Malaga Highway to the end of pavement on Colockum Road and back.
Climbs	Rollers on the Malaga Highway and then a steady climb up to the end of pavement.
Support	Mile 22 10:30am - 12:00pm
Services	Mile 7 at Malaga Store, Mile 36 at Malaga Store.
Streets and Trips	Short , Short- Hard


Medium

Distance	62 miles
Climbing	Est. 5500 feet of climbing
Description	Out along Malaga Highway to the end of pavement on Colockum Road, return to Malaga and then up Stemilt Hill Road into some of the vineyards.
Climbs	Rollers on the Malaga Highway and then a steady climb up to the end of pavement. A strong climb up Stemilt Hill Road.
Support	Mile 22 10:30am - 12:00pm Mile 51 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Services	Mile 7 at Malaga Store, Mile 36 at Malaga Store.
Streets and Trips	Meduim ,


Long

Distance	75 miles
Climbing	Est. 8000 feet of climbing
Description	Out along Malaga Highway to the end of pavement on Colockum Road, return to Malaga and then up Stemilt Hill Road into some of the vineyards. Finally a ride up to the Mission Ridge Ski Area.
Climbs	Rollers on the Malaga Highway and then a steady climb up to the end of pavement. A strong climb up Stemilt Hill Road. A final climb up to the Mission Ridge Ski Area.
Support	Mile 22 10:30am - 12:00pm Mile 51 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Services	Mile 7 at Malaga Store, Mile 36 at Malaga Store.

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Saturday - Up, Up and Away to Badger Mountain

Routes

Saturday Routes (Excel format). Most routes will include Badger Mountain.


Description

Getting to the top of Badger Mountain is the feature of the day. There are multiple ways up (and down). The views make this a worthwhile climb!


Support

There will be support at the top of Badger Mountain. Other stops TBD.


View the cue sheets here–  most will include Badger Mountain.





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Sunday - Lake Chelan

Routes

Sunday Routes (Excel format).

Description

We head north today to Lake Chelan and try to see as much of this beautiful lake as we can. If you’re up for it, the long route for the day will be 200km/125mi.


Support

TBD


Routes

Cue sheets are available here.


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Monday - Ahh, an easy day!

Routes

Monday Routes (Excel format).

Description

We head up to Plain and Lake Wenatchee and wonderful return on Route 2 through Tumwater Canyon and Leavenworth.


Support

Since the short and medium routes start in Cashmere while the long route starts in Wenatchee, there will be support in Cashmere. For the medium and short routes, there will be support near Lake Wenatchee.


Routes

Short

Distance	26 miles
Climbing	Est. 1000-1500 feet of climbing
Description	Cashmere to Leavenworth and back.
Climbs	Lots of rollers, some steep on the way out to Leavenworth.
Support	None
Services	Mile 13 in Leavenworth.


Medium

Distance	66 miles
Climbing	Est. 2500-3000 feet of climbing
Description	Cashmere to Plain, Lake Wenatchee. Return via Tumwater Canyon and US-2.
Climbs	Lots of rollers, gentle climb on Chumstick Highway and a good climb into Plain.
Support	Mile 33 11:00am - 1:30pm
Services	Mile 13 in Leavenworth. Mile 46 in Leavenworth.


Long

Distance	95 miles
Climbing	Est. 4000 feet of climbing
Description	Wenatchee to Cashmere to Plain, Lake Wenatchee. Return via Tumwater Canyon and US-2 to Cashmere and back to Wenatchee.
Climbs	Lots of rollers, gentle climb on Chumstick Highway and a good climb into Plain.
Support	Mile 14 9:00am - 9:30am Mile 33 11:00am - 1:30pm Mile 80 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Services	Mile 28 in Leavenworth. Mile 72 in Leavenworth.




Adventure Routes No Adventure routes today.


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Other Routes

During the course of Northwest Crank we cover most of the best roads around Wenatchee to make loops. There are miles more of roads we haven’t covered. Here are a few other routes you might consider if you want more miles. Some of these do involve driving to a starting point. If you want more details, please ask.


• An out-and-back to Blewett Pass.
• An out-and-back to Old-Blewett Pass.
• There are a number of really nice canyons (dead-ends) along Highway 2 and near Wenatchee.
• Orondo, Beebe Park, up McNeil Canyon, Waterville, and back to Orondo.
• Chelan with a loop over Loup Loup Pass and back.
• Chelan, up McNeil Canyon, Brewster, and back.
• Up by Chelan and Manson around a number very nice roads.

 

 

 

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Volunteer Opportunities

• While this year NW Crank is only 5 days, it is expected some riders will extend their base even further with rides on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be several extra routes included; you are invited to use these routes and hook up with other riders for additional rides, though they won’t be supported or part of this years event.
• If you have any suggestions for alternate routes or roads, with or without reasonable gravel sections, please send them along.
• While weve done a lot of work regarding the routes, not everything is finalized. If you were there last year, the format and routes will be similar.