Gravel Unravel

Why-Not-Chee

July 22, 2023 – Wynoochee Lake, WA

CoursesEvent Info
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Eleven WInery

Sponsors

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Eleven WInery
Eleven WInery
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About Why-Not-Chee:

Wynoochee Lake is a hidden gem on the South Side of Olympic National Park just outside the park boundary in National Forest on Chehalis tribal ancestral lands. Built in 1972, the Wynoochee Dam is used for flood control, irrigation, and industrial water storage. Every course will take you through older growth forest offering pristine views of the region and lake,and around the lake in its entirety, including one mile of single-track that is the Maidenhair Falls Trail. The Wynoochee Lake area represents some of the deepest logging roots in the state, if not the country, with the last of the company-owned logging camps in the continental United States, Camp Grisdale, located just south of the lake. Experience this region home to the first peoples of the Chehalis, and imagine the effort of the loggers who harvested these rugged landscapes and forests as you ride among the children of giants (Hemlock, Spruce, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar). All roads in the Wynoochee Lake area are open to non-motorized use year-long and the courses only represent a small sampling of possible routes in the area. This area is remote and rugged with the nearest cell reception being nearly 40 minutes away unless you are up on the highest ridges.

Lake

The Courses

Courses Subject to Change

Tip: each of these routes is no joke, even the short one – there is a lot of climbing involved, folks, and EVERY course includes one mile of MANDATORY singletrack, 400 yards of which would be Intermediate/Difficult singletrack, the rest is Green/Easier

Important: there is very spotty cell coverage on the course – you will want to download the tracks onto your phone ahead of time.

Why-Not-Chee Micro – 17 miles

Why-Not-Chee Micro

17 miles, 1100′
Water stations at approimately miles 3 and 12

Course map, elevation profile, description, GPS download:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38363135

Why-Not-Chee Short – 28 Miles

28 miles, 2900′
Water stations at approximately miles 6 and 15

Course map, elevation profile, description, GPS download:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38363448

Why-Not-Chee Medium – 42 Miles

42 miles, 4300′
Water stations at approximately miles 22 and 30

Course map, elevation profile, description, GPS download:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38363401

Why-Not-Chee Long – 84 Miles

84 miles, 8900′
There will be hydration/snack stations and portable toilet at approximately miles 6, 15, 32, 39, 55, and 66

Course map, elevation profile, description, GPS download:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40153867

Giving Back

 

Race Central and Parking location To Be Announced

 

 

Sol Duc Road
Sol Duc Road

Results

2022 – Short Course ResultsMedium Course ResultsLong Course Results

Photos 

2022

Where to Stay:

Camping is available in Olympic National Forest, either in campgrounds (link https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recarea/?recid=79317) or dispersed (dispersed camping rules). Use link for “rules” https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/olympic/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=47687&actid=34

Coho Campground at Wynoochee Lake: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233384

Satsop Center camping (just 4 miles away from Start/Finish): https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recarea/?recid=81862
Accommodations:
If you would rather not camp, Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce (link https://chamber.graysharbor.org/list/QL/lodging-travel-24.htm has lodging info.