Whenever Ron Lewis of OMTM and Jeff Street of Rapha Seattle Clubhouse cook something, you better believe I’m grabbing a seat at that table. It is guaranteed good times. Be it crossing tectonic boundaries, ascending glacially carved valleys, rolling over high country ridges, or bombing down moss-covered double-tracks, all roads lead to a prodigious amount of stoke on two wheels* 
This collaborative Rapha x OMTM ride captured the ruggedness of the Entiat Mountains and transformed it into an unforgettable experience with top-tier route composition, calculated match-burning segments and screaming descents, and optional port-ride river dips in the Wenatchee. 

*Some hike-a-bike might be included

With that, I kept an eye out for the trip to Leavenworth, WA, a Bavarian-styled town with an alpine feel at 1,171ft. Bordered by the Cascades to the west and Entiat Mountains to the northeast, the town sits at the end of the Wenatchee Valley, effectively the de facto gateway to the Enchantments, eastern flank of the Washington Cascades, and countless high country peaks and ridges. 

I’ve spent time in the area before, and it was never not enchanting, pun intended indeed, but looking past that, it truly does not fit the typical mountain town vibe you find anywhere else in the US. Sure, it can be somewhat of a tourist trap, but then again, wilderness is only a few miles away in any direction, and there’s something about the way nature there captures your attention. It is like staring into Medusa’s eyes, but in the very most positive ways, the town and mountains are enchanting. You will know what I mean when you see it for yourself. 

The People of the Land: 

Acknowledging the land we rode and stood on goes beyond respecting nature alone; it is about recognizing the first people who lived for millennia, and some continue to do so. The Entiat Mountain Range boasts its ruggedness and wildfire ecology, which is evident in the loose and sandy forest roads and healing forest patches. The range gets its name from the Entiat River that carved the Entiat Valley, where the Sintia’tkumuk (Entiat people) dwelled and prospered till the mid-to-late 1880s. With many failed attempts by White settlers to trek the valley in the early days, the Entiat people managed to stay secluded for a while. The Entiatqua tribe was believed to be independent of the larger Wenatchi tribe near the Columbia River. 

I highly recommend reading about the Entiatqua tribe and their history here. It is not only the right thing to do, but it also gives you a chance to connect land, history, and nature. 

The Route:

Here is the link to the full Leavenworth route collection

Ride Report: 

The day began above Leavenworth, at 2400ft, just below Boundary Point, a ridge immediately south of town with spectacular views of the valley, rows of awe-inspiring glacial peaks painting the background. Morning coffee hits differently at altitude, especially with a view as good as that. I soaked up the morning sun and kitted up for the ride.

I arrived at LOGE Camp by the river to find many faces both new and familiar – that’s community right there. Jeff and Ron gave a brief talk about the ride and the good times ahead, and some difficult, possibly type-2 (or maybe 3) fun for those tackling the adventure route.

Myself, I opted for the Adventure program, which depending on my legs, could include an additional extra-credit loop at the end. The route overlapped with the others but adds hike-a-bike singletrack “to access pristine high country ridgelines.”

The reunion of friends whom I haven’t seen in months, even years, was quite a treat. And what better way to catch up than to ride in the mountains all day?

All the routes share common mileage but slowly diverge along the way. We ventured out of town and among abundant orchard-lined foothills. The first five miles rolled gently into the neighboring town of Peshastin, one of the so-called fruit baskets of Eastern Washington.

With wild backcountry just a stone’s throw from town, we rallied up Derby Canyon Road, the common denominator between all the day’s courses. That left turn from Peshastin revealed the high tops of the ridges north of us, but views were quickly obscured by dense lowland tree coverage before opening up again for a grand reveal.

A few miles up the road, we left the front range and valley below and quickly scaled the first fork on the road.

The adventure crew went around the gate into Upper Cow Canyon. From the beginning, it went straight up and continued to intensify. Living up to its name, the road was a mix of old fireroad track and cow trails, weaving between fallen rocks, boulders, logs, and thick green shrubbery.

The wildfire ecosystem of the Entiat can be seen at every bend, with burnt logs of old-growth fir scattered across the canyon. A contradictory view to consider as this area needs the fire, but it is also the thing that destroys it.

Our way along Upper Cow Canyon Road hugged the mountainside, weaving in and around at a steep gradient. With every turn, the Cascades loom large to the west – every foot climbed, glaciated peaks reaching higher into the sky.

A stretch of intense hike-a-bike was just around the bend. The double tracks turned to singletrack, and loose, rocky chunder gave way to soft sand. The trail’s degradation reached a boundary of felled trees with thick vegetation grabbing your bars, pedals, body and bike. The riding turned to hiking and the pushing turned to hoisting bikes over deadfall.

The gradients pushed into the double digits, at least the loose, sandy tread made it feel that way. Scaling the mountainside, riders dotted the narrow trail up to a false summit, heads down, minding their footsteps along steep, precipitous slopes. There was barely space for both feet to stand, let alone carry a bicycle.

The false summit revealed a rugged 4000-ft peak and a razor-edge trail traversing the ridgeline. Jaw-dropping? There is no doubt about that.

The last stretch of bushwacking felt like it went on forever. Every time we mounted our bikes to ride, our hope quickly faded with the next log to hop, patch of shrubs to fight, or steep sandy ruts to scale.

But it was fun, though!

Near the first summit and ever-closer to the beating sun, I finally heard the noise of a freewheel spinning! Ben Everett of Evergreen Gravel Racing crested the ridge out of purgatory. At the gathering point, we talk not about what we had all just endured, only the descent we hoped was coming.

The flower-covered forest road flowed toward a super steep moto trail, diving into the valley below. The sandy trails called for catlike agility, demonstrated by the one-and-only Ben Rainbow of Back Alley Bikes.

I lost count of the matches burned, but quickly realized I was about to burn a few more as we reached a narrow V-shaped glen. The scale of it became clear when I saw Jeff across, pushing his bike up a literal wall.

Surely, there would be a well-earned descent after this one?

Speaking of which, the first uninterrupted descent of the day flowed like a weaving river, bending, winding, and dancing through tree cover over sandy, almost riverbed-like roads. The second climb of the day allowed a much more moderate – and welcome climbing pace. What a difference free-moving wheels can make!

Shaded in many spots, the climb offered occasional windows to the Cascades in between the trees. The second summit, reached, followed by a hasty, rutted powerline descent.

Suddenly, the sky opened up, full exposure, we shot out of the tree tunnels like bats out of hell! The sense of contraction and expansion when riding such roads lingers for a while, what a dynamic state of contrast in a disarmingly-still forest.

The final summit in sight, high above the winding roads, the sun leaned hard to the west, throwing harm-hued shadows which grew longer every hour. Keeping the group together, we scaled the last climb, gathering at the summit for one last look across at the majestic Cascades before the well-earned 10-mile descent back into civilization.

This was an incredible and truly unforgettable experience that perfectly encapsulated the raw, rugged beauty of the Entiat Mountains. The ride featured a perfect blend of breathtaking landscapes, exhilarating camaraderie with fellow riders, and a deep dive into the abundant singletrack and one of kind gravel roads this land can offer. As we navigated the trails, every twist and turn revealed new layers of Cascadian beauty, from the majestic mountains to the lush valleys. 

The ride was a captivating journey through the diverse terrain, and it left me eagerly anticipating my next trip with Ron, Jeff and the many friends to uncover more of the hidden treasures nestled within this enchanting region and beyond.