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Oly Loop GPS Tour
Latest Info and Updates
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Important Updates!!
Here's where you'll find any last minute info, addendums to the tour or any temporary or permanent road closures or other events that impact the tour after the current edition's publish date. Please read thoroughly and print out this page and take with you on your tour.
Waypoint names are from the most current edition of the tour.
Some of the tracks may not display on your GPS, even though they were successfully downloaded to your GPS.
The reason is that the default setting for some GPS receivers and/or software is
not to have individual tracks "Show on Map". It is a good idea to
check to see if they (the tracks) are all set to "Show on Map" after you download the
tour, and to manually change them if necessary. Different models do this
differently so check your instructions, but here's how to do it on the 376C (and may be the same or similar on your model):
Press Menu button twice from "Map" screen.
Scroll down to "Track".
Scroll over to "Saved" tab.
Scroll down to select the first track and press "Enter".
Confirm that there is a check mark in the box next to "Show on Map". If not, check it by scrolling down until the box is highlighted and pressing "Enter" button.
Repeat for the other tracks by scrolling to and pressing "Enter" button on the "Next" box and repeating.
Road Washout on Route A.
The road at Fulton Creek on the 2510 road between the Hamma Hamma and Duckabush watersheds is currently
impassable and awaiting repair. For the meantime, you shoulld not turn
left off Hamma Hamma Rd (NF 25) at waypoint RA12TL onto dirt, but instead continue straight on the paved road down to
highway 101. At that point you
will turn left and continue 4.6 miles to Seamount Drive. Turn left here
and travel approximately 2 miles to and beyond the pavement's end, rejoining Route A
at a 4 way intersection at waypoint RA21KS. Turn right and continue on
your journey.
Washout on Route D.
There is still a washout on Route D south of Forks on the north side of the Hoh
river. It is on a section of road built on a very steep slope. A
very large section of the hillside and road has dropped several feet, and at one
end of it a large portion of the road slid down the mountain, leaving absolutely
no room to get past it on. To bypass
this section, you can do so by continuing straight instead at waypoint RD26TL and continuing down Hwy 101 and rejoining the route farther south at waypoint
RD37TL where the north shore of the Hoh river road joins Hwy 101, except you'll
just continue straight on down the highway to the final waypoint of Route D at
REXOTE. Here is where you'll turn off the highway and activate Route E
before continuing on.
Tree blockage on Route F.
There was an area on Route F between RF13XX and RF14KL, high on a ridgeline,
that had a lengthy area of multiple blown-down trees blocking the route.
It is likely that they have since been cleared by firewood gatherers or other
outdoorsmen since then, but just a head's up. Please let me know if you
pass through that area and confirm that it's now clear.
Route G River Ford
It seems that the Forest Service has decided to shut down the river ford
found at the end of Route G to vehicular traffic. This has made the
approach a little steeper, due to the lack of four wheeled traffic wearing it
in, but it's still perfectly doable on a bike. If it looks like too much
for you or you don't wish to risk getting your feet (or worse) wet, just take
the bypass, which you'll find in your tour package. There are often people
camped on both sides of the river where you'll be crossing, so be considerate
and check it out on foot first before driving through their camp.
Snow blockage Route H
Route H is not passable at this time due to blockage by snow still. We
will monitor this and remove this warning when we can confirm it's
passable. There's no harm in checking it out for yourself though, and the
ride up to the snow is a beautiful one in terms of views and riding. If
you find it passable, please report it to us so we can remove this notice.
Route W Closed, but...
Well, unfortunately it finally happened. In August of 2010, the Forest
Service permanently decommissioned the road that Route W ran along (found in
2010 and earlier editions of the tour). A sad day for sure. But for
the 2nd Edition of the 2011 tour, I added what I believe to be the perfect
replacement for riders who wish for a more difficult and challenging section of
road like what Route W once offered. The new section, now dubbed Route W
also, leads to some
extremely scenic and remote areas and has some absolutely spectacular
views. Get some of it before the road decommissioning crews have at it.
Not really suitable for the biggest dual sport bikes, novices or the faint of
heart.
Winter Route!
The full Olympic Loop GPS Tour can be enjoyed from May 1st to September 30th, weather and snowpack allowing. However, with just one small detour that is already included in the package, you can remove the date restrictions and enjoy all but 5 miles of the entire 550 mile route and the ability to enjoy 2 of the
"side routes". This will be especially useful in the fall, while there is still no snow in the hills, the maples and alders are turning spectacular colors, and summer vacationers have returned home, leaving the forest quiet and the roads wide open.
Here's what to do to enjoy the trip in the off-season:
Follow the instructions in the tour booklet for avoiding the water crossing on Route G, which you will find on the "Route G--Quinault to Wynoochee" page. That's it! Now enjoy the tour any time of year,
weather conditions permitting.
If you have any questions about the tour, please Contact Us>