It's that time of the year again! The 19th annual Courage Classic Bicycle Tour will be held on August 7-9, 2010. The Courage Classic is a three-day bicycling adventure where riders pedal to help stop the cycle of child abuse and neglect in the local community by supporting Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Trust Foundation.
The challenging ride traverses Washington State’s majestic mountain passes and scenic countryside of western and eastern Washington.
The Ride
Day 1 - Snoqualmie to Cle Elum
Head out through North Bend to your first rest stop at Olallie State Park with the Parkland/ Spanaway Rotary.
Then make the climb up Snoqualmie Pass (elevation 3,022) through Denny Creek to a waiting lunch with the Gig Harbor Rotary. Due to construction on I-90, we will shuttle riders and your bikes from the lunch stop to the next rest stop at Lake Easton State Park with the Sunrise Rotary. We are adding an optional route through Roslyn and Ronald with a turnaround point near Salmon Le Sac to gain back some of the lost mileage. From there, head on to the finish in Cle Elum at Suncadia Resort.
Day 2 - Cle Elum to Leavenworth
Day two starts with a leisurely pedal along the Teanaway River, past golden wheat fields and rustic farmhouses and barns. Rest your legs and get a bite to eat with the Tacoma North Rotary at Mineral Springs Resort, then make the final climb to the top of Blewett Pass (elevation 4,102) where you will enjoy a tasty meal with the Sumner and South Hill Rotaries.
After lunch, enjoy the exhilarating descent to the rest stop at Ingall's Creek with the Fife Rotary. You're almost there! After a few miles rolling along the back roads through apple orchards you soon arrive at the finish in Leavenworth.
Day 3 - Leavenworth to Skykomish
Start your final day of the Courage Classic with a ride through scenic Chumstick Canyon on your way to Plain. Next, prepare yourself for the festive stop at Nason Creek rest area hosted by Clover Park, Lakewood and Tacoma South Rotaries.
The climb steadily begins, but there is one more opportunity to fuel up for the summit climb with the Sumner Rotary. From here, it is four miles to the Stevens Pass Ski Resort (elevation 4,061)and lunch with the Tacoma Narrows Rotary. After lunch, enjoy the downhill to the Old Cascade Highway.
Bring your camera to capture nature's beauty along this stretch of pavement. The finish line is just ahead with lots of goodies waiting for you at the end of the ride. The finish line returns to Skykomish school after three years of cleanup required to mitigate contaminants in the soil and groundwater from a former railroad maintenance facility.
The Cause
The Child Abuse Intervention Department (CAID) at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital serves as a vital resource for children in Pierce County who have been physically or sexually abused. This program helps over 1,000 children a year begin the important process of healing, both physically and emotionally.
How You Can Help
If you would like to participate in the ride or donate to the cause, please visit my fundraising page at http://www.firstgiving.com/brianhadfield or the Courage Classic web site at http://www.courageclassic.org/.
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