[Stefan]

It was a 6 shooter kind of day.

Started at the Hancock gate on the North Fork of the Snoqualmie with the bike and trailer and all the other stuff.  I have riden a bike many a time, but not with the kid trailer.  I will have to say, I liked it a lot better than carrying all that stuff on the back.

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Pushing the bike was harder up the hill, and worth it.  About 10 miles of biking to just beyond Calligan Lake.
Here is looking at Paperboy:

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The snow started at about 2400 feet at the 8.5 mile mark on the road where I dumped the bike and headed up. to about 4000 feet on the road.
Here is just before the end of the road:

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I went to the saddle of Boomerang (5185) and Paperboy (5013).  The snow was hard in the open and softening quick.  In the trees it was still powdery sinking in still about 6-8 inches.  The summit of Boomerang appeared after 5 hours from leaving the car:

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.....and I had some jello shots I took from a friends 40th birthday party the last night.

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Next up was the traverse over to Paperboy where I enjoyed 6 more jello shots:

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And then a quick jaunt down to the lake and a hazy looking Seattle.  The ride out was awesome.  A beautiful smell was amidst in the air, the sun was out, going downhill, and listening to the Black Keys!

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9 hours and 4900 feet of gain...

Stefan

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Art is an adventure.

[Tom_Sjolseth]

I love this trip report!!

I especially like how you have skis, snowshoes, clkimbing gear, bike, trailer, and jello shots.

Thanks for sharing.   

[-]

all hail the jack of all trades!

[honey badger]

Looks like caring everything but the kitchen sink.  Jelloshots... interesting.
Did a little scouting bike ride and was trying to think who would have a bike trailer... Nice TR 

[Stefan-K]

upper Middle Fork road obstructions

matching bike trailer,
matching name,

...gotta get me some jello shots!

[puzzlr]

Awesome shot of Bessemer.

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Mid Fork Rocks • flickr

[Schmidt Alti-Babe]

I'd love to get those peaks done one of these days.  Thanks for the report on the area!

[Brucester]

I tried this route today but called it when I saw the NT signage beyond the lake.

Is there a new quarry or mining operation up there?

Also lots of logging activity and logging truck traffic below making the ride in sort of nerve wracking on those curvy roads.....

Nice stop by the lake. Like glass. Amazing.

Saw a bobcat crossing the road near the gate. I stopped and watched. Pretty cool. I've never seen one. Tried to get pics but too far away and wouldn't pose for me. No fun.

At the gate a Hancock security person in a unmarked white Ford 4x passed me. I had a feeling who he was, then he doubled back to check my permit.

This was try #2 for me. On July 4th I planned to head up but roads were closed the 4th,5th and 6th. Nope, no access.

I think I'll stick to the MF side.

[puzzlr]

I assume you had a permit, which is why you could get past the gate? One year I had a motorized permit but it was such a dry summer the Hancock forest was closed most of the time it was possible to drive in that far. By the time I got in later the snow blocked me by Hancock's Comb.

A parcel surrounding Blethen Lake is private, not owned by Hancock so the permit isn't good there. KC parcel viewer says it's owned by Cugini Land & Timber Company. It's one of the properties the DNR is proposing to include in the Mount Si NRCA if they can work out a sale with the owner. You can bet if that happens a gate will go in at the boundary and at some point that last segment of road to the lakes will be decommissioned.

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Mid Fork Rocks • flickr

[Brucester]

I have the non-motorized permit.