Trip around the backside of Mt. St. Helens

Discussion in 'USA - Pacific Northwest' started by DfnsMn69, May 14, 2014.

  1. DfnsMn69

    DfnsMn69 New Member

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    Took a run with some of the PNW Rider today around the east side of Mt. St. Helens. Ended up with over 2 hours of video footage and that is missing the entire first hour of the ride due to a camera operator malfunciton.. Had it set for stills rather than video so I got some great pics of my gloves.

    [video=youtube;NmC8eo8kBkc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmC8eo8kBkc[/video]
     
  2. zombie

    zombie New Member

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    Wow! looks like you had a great time. Those roads look amazing. I'm not jealous at all... really... not at all...:thumb:
     
  3. DfnsMn69

    DfnsMn69 New Member

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    Personally Zombie I wish I was riding over to London as I type to watch my Winterhawks beat the hell out of the rest of the CHL for the Memorial Cup but alas the hockey gods did not smile on Portland this year. But theres always next year.
     
  4. cosmo

    cosmo New Member

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    Mount St. Helens is a little to far for a day ride for me. I've been in the area and the roads are spectacular. Looks like you hit the weather and the traffic just right. If you venture further north, Mount Baker is a nice ride as are many of the side roads of north western Washington.

    Great Video.
     
  5. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Yeah, windy river is an awesome road. Really can't go wrong with any of the roads to Mt. St. Helens. The run to Johnston ridge observatory on the west side is a blast. So is windy ridge observatory on the east. If you've got the time, cougar to Carson and then out to klickitat canyon is one of the best rides in the area.
     
  6. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Chomper, Jasonsmith, Kingsley and I did that last September as part of a two night three day ride. Those roads were absolutely awesome. I don't really know what roads I was on. I just followed Chomper who is our usual Lead Navigator. He knows the roads so well. We did get up past Spirit Lake to the Observatory though.

    I can vividly remember riding that road as hot as I have ever ridden. (the boys gave me some great pointed on control). Came around one left hand tight curve in the road and right these in front of me was a depression in the road about 8 feet long, and likely about a foot deep. All I could do then was to hit that sumbich and ride it out. Definitely bottomed out the suspension, and put some unwanted pressure on the boys when hitting that one. But no damage fortunately, me or bike.

    Great trip.
     
  7. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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  8. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Maryhill Loops
     
  9. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    I almost agree, if it were only longer.
     
  10. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Best to look up the details on the Maryhill Loops Road before thinking it's open to the public. It's private and rented out to insured groups holding events there.

    See: Wikipedia or Google

    Probably the most technical stretch of asphalt in the US.
     
  11. VF1000Fe

    VF1000Fe New Member

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    Didn't realize a volcano had a Backside (and Front?). How'bout Left & Right?
    We approach from the East, so, um, the "front" is,,.. good thing we have GPSs,,..
    Best time to be there is early in the morning,,.. no one there and low light gives the Warp Drive Effect;
    [​IMG]

    Morning Side Lighting makes better photos than mid-day looking into the sun.

    [​IMG]

    I know that dip in the road,,.. buddy in front of me hit it and his Center Stand came down, drew sparks,,..
     
  12. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Yes.. sorta, I mean it's okay, been on it once, didn't strike me as over the top, Wind river is as good in places and a longer. other than it's always fun to ride on slightly new asphalt, that and knowing no one is coming the other way is cool. . If one notices a lot of car commercials are filmed on it.
     
  13. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    I still have a place in my heart for that year Vf1000s, That's a nice looking bike there .
     
  14. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    We could say the same for 77 miles of Lolo Pass or the Tail of the Dragon or any number of short and long sections favored by riders hither and yon. Are your sure you've been on Maryhill Loops? Any vid or still with any detail will show it's two way, of a given length and was designed to illustrate for its time, all the types of roadways that could be accomplished in the State of Washington.

    It is rented by SCCA, Downhill luge groups, SoundRider for all comers to SportBike NW and for riding clinics. Going up hill there ain't a hell of a lot at the top except a bigass tree and a turn around area.

    The more accurate historical version of the road is on WIKI. Tons of other stuff including all of the above on Utube and SoundRider archives going back ten or so years.

    The vantage points for ads is spectacular and not a thing in the way from most film and video set ups. In Summer, when the Eastern Washington Desert turns almost monochromatic,a brightly colored vehicle of any type stands out.

    Otherwise the Loops is privately owned and not open to the public. Washington State does not require motorcycle insurance. To ride the Loops it is mandatory.
     
  15. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Yep yep and more yep, I rode it way back when, as it was just had new asphalt, I was part of a invited group where we got to check it out. IMO it's great just leans more towards more on the side of a track. yes the history of the area is pretty rich. crazy what some folks do, you check out that mansion down below. I'll see what I can come up with, this was pre digital so it would be on film.
     
  16. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Yep, the first new asphalt was 1911 and was pre digital. Maybe D.W. Griffith or Cecil B DeMille have some footage. I would venture that the times in both directions is a lot faster. Those old Harleys were not known for being all that quick, unless they were flattrackers from the HD Wrecking Crew. Then again those bikes didn't have brakes...
     
  17. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    other than the fact you have to do a "track day" of sorts to ride it, it's definitely a road. There's no comfy runout. You miss a corner there you're going to be in for some pain. The scenery and the fact there's no trees for deer to be hiding behind and no traffic is a huge plus.

    Maryhill reminds me of a condensed version of Old Spiral Hwy. Which could easily qualify for best WA road, but unfortunately it's a few feet away.
     
  18. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Now there's a road I haven't heard about in quite a while. Know some folks I rode with back when that lived back there, they talked it up being as good as it can get , I've never been on it, does look like a good one though. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nevagirl/540023459 which reminds me when I've been down rattle snake grade a couple times, now that's another one that a hoot. but man talk about being out in the boonies. On this side in NW Oregon, almost Washington Rd47 to Mist. 111 turns in 11 miles.
     
  19. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    We did that one this past September. We did it a couple years ago too when one of us got a "Welcome to Idaho" brochure. No. It was not me. Its a great ride for sure.

    This year we overnight it in Lewiston. Don't remember where we stayed last time.
     
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