RAMROD is a challenging course featuring 10,000 feet of climbing over 152 miles. Learn about the course route, elevation profile, rider support stops and time-cutoffs.
Course Description
RAMROD [Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day] combines the incomparable scenery of Mount Rainier National Park with a challenging course featuring 10,000 feet of climbing over 152 miles. The course starts in Enumclaw, WA (elevation 720 feet) with a gradual downhill to its lowest elevation (300 feet) near Orting. This is followed by 40 miles of rolling hills through the towns of Eatonville, Elbe, and Ashford, with a gradual climb to the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The climb stiffens at Longmire where riders begin the 12 mile ascent to Inspiration (elevation 4,850 feet). A 12-mile descent through Stevens Canyon follows and then a quick 3-mile climb to Backbone Ridge. This leads to one of the most fun descents of the course: a swooping 5-mile run to the Grove of the Patriarchs and the intersection with Hwy 410. What follows is generally considered the most difficult section of the course: the 9-mile climb up Cayuse Pass (elevation 4,694) which starts at 100 miles into the ride. The rapid descent from the pass ends with about 30 miles to go. These last miles are gradually descending or rolling except for one final, fast descent down Mud Mountain Dam just 5 miles from the finish in Enumclaw. Join us for another great edition of RAMROD.
Start and Finish Line
RAMROD begins and ends at the Enumclaw High School located at 226 Semanski Street South. Click
here to view a map of the school's location. Parking is available at the school and on appropriate surrounding streets. Before your ride, you can pick up your rider packet, grab pre-ride food or pick up a jersey. When you return, you can enjoy an ice cream bar, take a shower and check out your ride photo.
Rider Support
Start line: Waffle feed with COFFEE, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, and OJ, sponsored by Enumclaw Rotary and Lions clubs - separate $10 donation, all of which goes directly to these two community organizations. Pre-register online at the RCC site; very limited walk-ins will be available. Breakfast will be served from 4 - 7 am in the Enumclaw High School Commons. NO NO NO bike shoes! Yes, this includes recessed cleats!
Eatonville, approx. mile 33-open 6:00 - 10 am: Mini scones and mini muffins, Coffee, Water, Port-O-Johns, For purchase: the small stuff you might have forgotten, such as tubes, water bottles, gloves, sunglasses, etc.
Wildwood Food Stop, approx. mile 58-open 7:30 - 11 am: Bagels with cream cheese, peanut butter, jam, and/or honey
RR cookies-choco chip/oatmeal with nuts and craisin/oatmeal no nuts
Crackers-Cheez It and Wheat Thin
Fruit: bananas, grapes, nectarines, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
Gatorade lemon/lime (NOTE: Gatorade will be made half-strength at all food stops; there will be powder available if you want to spike yours but you may need to ask)
Water
Port-O-Johns
Inspiration Point, approx mile 75-open 9:00 am - 2 pm: Water, port-o-johns
Upper Box Canyon, approx mile 88-open 9:30 am - 3 pm: Steamed potatoes with salt and seasoned salt, Chocolate croissants, Bagels with spreads, RR cookies, Fruit, Gatorade lemon/lime, water, Port-O-Johns
Deer Creek, approx. mile 104-open 10:30 am - 5 pm: Water, Port-O-Johns
Cayuse Pass, approx. mile 110-open 11 am - 6 pm: Water, Port-O-Johns, Note: there are NO other services at Cayuse-keep rolling downhill to the Deli.
Deli, approx. mile 118-open 11 am - 7 pm: Made-to-order sandwiches, RR cookies, Fruit, Soft drinks, Gatorade lemon/lime, water, Port-O-Johns
Finish Line-open from when the first rider finishes until 8 pm: Ice cream truck (included in your event fee), Soft drinks, Chips, Showers-bring your own towel
Course Time Cut-offs
For your safety, we will be enforcing course cut-off times again this year:
Start Line: 5:00am - 7:00am
Gateway Food Stop: CLOSES at 11:00am
Paradise Checkpoint: CLOSES at 2:30pm
Box Canyon Food Stop: CLOSES at 3:00pm
Cayuse Pass Checkpoint: CLOSES at 6:00pm
Deli Food Stop: CLOSED at 7:00pm
Finish Line: CLOSED at 8:00pm
