EDITOR’S NOTE — See related story today, “Watch for the bikes! 3 cycling events on the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend” — https://giftsnap.shop/article/20150731/NEWS/150739995%3C/i%3E
PORT ANGELES — Hundreds of bicyclists will ascend mile-high Hurricane Ridge today for the annual Ride the Hurricane in Olympic National Park.
The recreational ride from Port Angeles or Heart o’ the Hills campground — it’s your call — up scenic Hurricane Ridge Road will be from 7 a.m. to noon.
Event organizer Russ Veenema of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce said early registrations were running slightly ahead of last year as of Wednesday.
Last year’s event drew nearly 700 cyclists from around the region.
“I’m hoping that we break that,” Veenema said.
“It would be great if we reached 800.”
The upper 12 miles of Hurricane Ridge Road between Heart o’ the Hills and the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center will be closed to vehicles in both directions from 6 a.m. to noon today.
Olympic National Park will waive entrance fees at the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station for the rest of the day.
Access to the Lake Angeles-Heather Park trailhead and Heart o’ the Hills campground will remain open throughout the day today, park officials said.
Now in its sixth year, Ride the Hurricane is open to riders of all ages and abilities. It is organized by the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by local businesses.
Veenema, executive director of the chamber, said many of the riders who had signed up as of Wednesday were from the Seattle area.
Temperatures in Seattle were expected to climb into the mid-80s today.
The forecast high for Port Angeles was 75.
“It should be a very nice temperature here,” Veenema said.
The cost to register for the volunteer-supported Ride the Hurricane is $40.
There will be five aid stations with water, snacks and portable toilets along Hurricane Ridge Road and celebratory “I made it to the top” photos at the summit.
Riders are required to sign a waiver and wear a helmet. Click on www.portangeles.org and “Ride the Hurricane” for more information.
Day-of-event registration will begin at 6 a.m. at the Peninsula College parking lot, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Riders have the option of departing from Heart o’ the Hills, which is at an elevation of 1,807 feet, for a 24-mile round trip to the 5,242-foot ridge or leaving from Peninsula College for a 36-mile adventure.
New this year is a 40-mile, sea-level-to-summit option from Peninsula College down Ennis Street to the waterfront trail and up Francis Street Park to Race Street and the ridge.
“It’s a nice little way to introduce them to the Olympic Discovery Trail,” Veenema said.
Riders making the trip from Canada will be able to register this year on the MV Coho ferry — which departs Victoria at 6:05 a.m. — and proceed directly to the Ridge without stopping at the college.
“We are trying to make it more user-friendly than ever this year,” Veenema said.
Those who register will receive a wristband, which is good for discounts from local vendors and required for passage through the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station.
An informal post-ride party will take place at the Peninsula College parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
