800 Bicyclists Expected to Ride Through Mount Rainier National Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: R. Chuck Young, Chief Ranger, X3300

On Thursday, July 30, RAMROD, an organized recreational bicycle ride, will bring 800 participating bicyclists through the roads of Mount Rainier National Park and surrounding areas. This will be the 26th year that RAMROD, sponsored by the Redmond Cycling Club, has been conducted. Due to safety concerns and to minimize impact to other park visitors, the number of riders participating in this non-competitive recreational ride has been limited to 800 pre-registered riders' all rider slots have been assigned and registration for the 2009 RAMROD has been closed. Motorists coming to the park that day should expect some traffic delays, congestion around designated checkpoints and support areas, and long lines of bicyclists sharing the roadway.

The ride originates and ends in Enumclaw, Washington. It will head toward the park through Eatonville, the Alder Cutoff Road, SR 7 and 706 toward Ashford, then travel along Skate Creek Road (Forest Service Road 52) to State Route 12 at Packwood. From Packwood, the ride goes north on SR 12 to SR 123 north. Travelling north on SR 123 within the east side of Mount Rainier National Park, it will then continue north to Cayuse Pass, exiting the park on Hwy 410 at the park's northeast boundary and returning to Enumclaw.

Park roads and facilities will remain open to the general public while the one-day ride is being conducted. Drivers and pedestrians are cautioned that bicyclists in large numbers will be sharing SR 123 and SR 410 in the National Park beginning at approx. 12:00 p.m. Slow traffic along the ride route should be expected as road shoulders are narrow or nonexistent along many sections. Drivers may encounter bicyclists walking their bikes up the long grade or riding slowly to maintain control over sections of the roadway. Motorists are requested to use extra care when passing bicyclists, and to do so only when there is sufficient road clearance and line of sight to do so safely.

Additional information on RAMROD can be found at the Redmond Cycling Club website at: http://www.redmondcyclingclub.org/RAMROD/RAMROD.html

-NPS-