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Day 78: Cascading to Marblemount

There can always be one more mountain pass when biking across the country, but what a joy it was today to tick off not one but two more passes in the fine state of Washington. We woke up in the night at 4 am and had the sky transform from hundreds of stars (by the way finally got to have a good look at the Milky Way) to a bright crisp morning. We scurried all over the Outward Bound base camp before finally congregating to get our bikes together with some shred of daylight. As sweep for the day Katelyn and I’s demand was the creation of a new deity for our NUS pantheon - something or someone we regularly owe our little rider selves to. Before turning onto the pass a curious bearded man yelled something at us about riding “those silly things with two wheels”. Indeed we do. Objective 1 today - climb up to Washington Pass, a cool 5500 ish feet above sea level. We winded our way slowly up Highway 20, but after several days of long climbs, it’s becoming second nature. There were some hairpin turns and long upward slogs, but the rising snow-dusted peaks along the way were breathtaking.



The overlook at the top opened up to a near 360 view of the valley we came up from. It’s always surreal looking down at the tiny cars below and realizing we just did all of that on a bike. Hopefully that feeling never gets old. Then we had a sweet 3 mile downhill before the road started going up again because why do one pass when you can do two! The ascent to Rainy Pass was much shorter and we almost didn’t realize we had made it (granted there was no sign with an old b&b sticker on it for closure). Putting on a windbreaker, we began a very long descent straight to lunch at a campground. Maybe it was the two massive climbs, but nearly everyone today decided lunch time warranted a nap as well (myself included). The forest, rushing river, and mountains were too good to pass up as a snooze spot, but we had to forge on eventually. Luckily we had more downhill, thanks Cascades! There was a bit of construction we had to shuttle across and we got to ride in the pilot car which was like a little treat. However we were rewarded even more by the landscape. Each lookout never disappointed as we descended, perhaps the most notable was the Diablo Lake lookout where we saw insanely turquoise water! It was pretty busy with all the North Cascades National Park visitors but the ride was phenomenal nonetheless.




We rolled through more construction and were finally down in the Skagit Valley where the road finally turned into smooth pavement and we sailed on to Marblemount. Unfortunately upon arriving to the community center (our host for the night), we realized we missed the Marblemount Sasquatch Festival happening not two days later. Might have to turn around after wheel dip to attend. Regardless, we were warmly welcomed by Mina who gave us heaps of fresh vegetables and fruit and a freezer full of ice pops as well as a fantastic taco bar, because there’s no better way to end a day of climbs than with good food. A few of us went off after to enjoy the river nearby and watch the sun set behind the mountains. Now we’re less than 100 miles from the end, and that makes me want to ride very very slow.





With all my mole heart,


Masha


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