Seattle to Glacier National Park

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
This wonderful ride takes us across Washington and Idaho and into Montana and thru Glacier National Park.  We’ll be treated to views of the spectacular glaciated Olympic Mountains and Mt Rainer as we leave the Seattle area.  We’ll experience riding over the Cascade Mountains at Stevens Pass and the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. We’ll follow many rivers including the Columbia, Okanogan, Colville, Pend Oreille, Kootenai, and Flat Head River.  The pinnacle of our ride will be conquering the “Going-to-the-Sun” road, which was completed in 1931, and is listed as one of the “FIFTY PLACES TO BIKE BEFORE YOU DIE”.  Going-To-The-Sun has the special distinction of being the only American roadway designated both as a National Historic Landmark and a Historical Civil Engineering Landmark. At the end of the ride, we’ll kick back and enjoy an overnight train ride back to Seattle…Naturally on a sleeper!

RIDE RATING
July 9th & 20th exceeds the 3C rating in both mileage and elevation.   July 16th exceeds the 3C rating mileage, and July 13th & 24th exceeds the elevation.  (See itinerary below for details.)

WEATHER
Temperature range - Average lows of 50 to average highs of 80.  Precipitation is less than 1” for the month of July.

LODGING
Lodging will vary depending on the location from cabins to small motels to very nice hotels.

FOOD
Trip fees will cover all overnight accommodations (double occupancy), the first and last night’s group dinner, daily Happy Hour, 19 lunches and 9 breakfasts.   On this trip we encourage all participants to help share in the responsibilities of laying out Happy Hour and lunch preparations.

LOGISTICS
The ride will start at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Seattle – SeaTac airport, which has a shuttle to and from the airport.  Parking at the hotel will be $120 for the duration of the trip.  The next to last night will be spent on the Amtrak train (sleeper) from East Glacier Park to downtown Seattle. Participants will make their way back to the hotel via Seattle’s light rail to the airport, then the hotel shuttle.

ITINERARY

• July 7 - Thursday arrival - We'll start this tour with the traditional orientation meeting and Happy Hour at 5:00pm, followed by a group dinner.  Lodging - Holiday Inn Express and Suites Seattle - SeaTac.
• July 8th – 57 miles 2,139' – SeaTac to Gold Bar, WA - Lodging – Stevens Pass Motel
• July 9th – 72 miles 4,924’ – Gold Bar to Leavenworth, WA - Today is arduous.  We climb 36 miles up and over Stevens Pass at 4,061’.  The good news is the climb’s average grade is 3%, and we are treated to 36 miles of down hill to the beautiful Bavarian town of Leavenworth.  Lodging - Bavarian Lodge.
• July 10th – 52 miles 2,257’ Leavenworth to Chelan, WA - Lodging – Lakeside Lodge.
• July 11th – Free day - Options include taking a boat ride from Chelan up the lake to Stehekin.  The boat ride is highly recommended.  Lake Chelan is a 55 miles long lake over 1,400’ deep.
• July 12th – 58 miles 1,928’ – Chelan to Omak, WA – Lodging - Best Western Plus Peppertree Inn.
• July 13th – 63 miles 4,700’ - Omak to Republic, WA – This is another challenging day with a 27-mile climb at an average 2.3% grade - Lodging – Northern Inn.
• July 14th – 51 miles 3,920’ Republic to Colville, WA.  Lodging - Comfort Inn.
• July 15th – 40 miles 1,898’ – Coleville to Loon Lake, WA.  Lodging -Lakeside Motel.
• July 16th – 71 miles 2,500’ – Loon Lake to Sand Point, ID - Lodging – Best Western Edgewater Resort.
• July 17th – Free Day – Everyone will enjoy the opportunity to relax and swim in Lake Pend Oreille.
• July 18th – 33 miles 1,107’ - Sand Point to Bonner’s Ferry – Lodging – Best Western Plus Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa.
• July 19th – 51 miles 2,311’ – Bonner’s Ferry to Libby, MT –Lodging -Venture Motor Inn.
• July 20th – 68 miles 3,600’ – Libby, MT to Marion MT. However, due to the remote location, lodging will be split between two hotels.  A lottery will determine who stays at the bed and breakfast – Cabin Creek Landing.  Everyone else will stay down the road at the Hilltop Hitching Post.
• July 21st – 23 miles 634’ – Marion, MT to Kalispell, MT. Lodging – Holiday Inn Express & Suites.
• July 22nd – 47 miles 1,442’ – Kalispell, MT to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.  Lodging – Lake McDonald Lodge.
• July 23rd – Free Day – A time to relax, or to hike the many trails in the Park.
• July 24th – 39 miles 3,912’ – Lake McDonald to St Mary’s – Today is on of the most spectacular ride of the trip - “Going to the Sun!”  We will start early because the National Park has a set time in which the road is closed to bicycles.  Lodging - St Mary’s Lodge.
• July 25th – 31 miles 3,321’ – St Mary’s to East Glacier Lodge. Lodging - Glacier Park Lodge.
• July 26th – The Amtrak train Leaves East Glacier at approx. 6:00pm, which will allow everyone to have a free day to enjoy this area of the park.
• July 27th – Amtrak arrives in Seattle ~10:30am.  Enjoy the city, and return to the Holiday Inn Express (HIE) in SeaTac in time for Happy Hour and our last night’s dinner.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
The estimated cost of $3,400 per person includes: 19 nights of lodging (double occupancy), 2 group dinners, 9 breakfasts, 19 lunches, 1 train ticket (sleeper), social hour expenses, maps, route sheets, and the $50 BAC Ride Registration fee. The initial deposit will be $1,700, with the balance of $1,700 due on January 7, 2016.  The single supplement cost is $1,930.

SINGLES
Singles are welcome.  It is recommended that singles who want a roommate first attempt to find their own.  After receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until 3/1/16 to find a roommate. If a roommate is not found by 3/1/16, the single may cancel with a full refund (minus the $50 BAC fee) or contact the ride leader to fully understand the additional single supplement cost.  If a single pays the single supplement of $1,930, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The ride leader will assist by attempting to match singles that apply for the ride. 

CANCELATION POLICY
The BAC registration fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that remaining tour participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report is completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.

SIGN-UP
To submit a request to join this ride use the links displayed in this Ride Description.  The Ride Leader will contact you to discuss your interest in this ride.  If you are accepted, the ride leader will notify you, and then you will receive a link by email for you to electronically sign a Ride Application and Release of Liability form.  After you electronically sign your release, the $1,700 initial deposit amount will be due.  After receipt of the deposit, and the signing of the ROL, you will be moved from “pending” to “participant” status on the BAC website.