When the gate is locked to the number 5 road it doesnt stop the locals from hitting the ridge. There are several roads up to the top. Once on the ridge you can drop back and park your shuttle vehicles inside the gate and pedal the .36 miles from the bottom of Rat Pac to the gate. Heres the directions:
In stead of exiting off the freeway at exit 82 if you are coming from Seattle take the Cle Elum exit-exit 84. Continue through town on First Street until you get to Columbia which is on the east end of town. Willettes Shell is on the corner. Turn left and head north to the ridge. When you get to the Church of Latter Day Saints and the road curves set your odometer. Go .3 miles up the ridge. At the intersection if the gate is open you can go straight all the way up the ridge. This gate is often locked, If you go this way after about three miles you hit the ridge. At the top turn left and go about 3.4 miles to Rat Pac. Its longer but smoother.
If the gate is locked or you want to take the shorter route turn left on the gravel road. The way up is marked with green ribbons. Continue up to .7 miles, take the dirt road on the left. At 1.3 miles another road comes in continue straight. At 2.0 miles stay to your left, or if you have a low clearance vehichle take the right newly graded road which will take you further east to the ridge. Those of you who want to test you clearance stay left. At 2.4 miles take the right road going up which looks kind of crappy. If you have enough clearance you can make it in 2wd. This is only bad for 50 yards or so. At 2.9 miles you are on the ridge. (you could at this point unload a bike and ride back down the hill like a bat out of hell). Turn left on the ridge and continue another almost 2 miles. Your odometer should be at about 4.8. Rat Pac will look different coming from this direction.
From the top you can head back down and park a vehicle inside the gate. Its about 2.5 miles down. The short bike up to the gate shouldnt be a problems. When you are though we have some excellent restaurants in town. My favorite is the Golden Ocean, the only Chinese restaurant in town. Check it out.
In stead of exiting off the freeway at exit 82 if you are coming from Seattle take the Cle Elum exit-exit 84. Continue through town on First Street until you get to Columbia which is on the east end of town. Willettes Shell is on the corner. Turn left and head north to the ridge. When you get to the Church of Latter Day Saints and the road curves set your odometer. Go .3 miles up the ridge. At the intersection if the gate is open you can go straight all the way up the ridge. This gate is often locked, If you go this way after about three miles you hit the ridge. At the top turn left and go about 3.4 miles to Rat Pac. Its longer but smoother.
If the gate is locked or you want to take the shorter route turn left on the gravel road. The way up is marked with green ribbons. Continue up to .7 miles, take the dirt road on the left. At 1.3 miles another road comes in continue straight. At 2.0 miles stay to your left, or if you have a low clearance vehichle take the right newly graded road which will take you further east to the ridge. Those of you who want to test you clearance stay left. At 2.4 miles take the right road going up which looks kind of crappy. If you have enough clearance you can make it in 2wd. This is only bad for 50 yards or so. At 2.9 miles you are on the ridge. (you could at this point unload a bike and ride back down the hill like a bat out of hell). Turn left on the ridge and continue another almost 2 miles. Your odometer should be at about 4.8. Rat Pac will look different coming from this direction.
From the top you can head back down and park a vehicle inside the gate. Its about 2.5 miles down. The short bike up to the gate shouldnt be a problems. When you are though we have some excellent restaurants in town. My favorite is the Golden Ocean, the only Chinese restaurant in town. Check it out.
Welcome anyway j/k