SNOW CAMP
 Rally Season Has Begun?
The annual Snow Camp is held each year on Martin Luther
King Day Weekend near Mt. Rainier. This rally is termed a "chance to be cold and miserable with like-minded fools".
Snow Camp has its roots in the German winter motorcycle campout called the Elefantentreffen; which Rolf-Immo Gabbe heard about while living in Germany. It's also a chance to see just how well your Widder or Gerbing electric gear works.
The event is co-sponsored by Joe Rodgers and Rolf and it is intended to be an all-brands rally. Don't let the BMW sponsorship fool you, there will be lots of other bikes. And as tradition has told us, it may not even snow.
Show up with whatever vehicle you wish. Those coming by bike will heap derision on those less hardy who come by car or RV, but of course riders be the first to help use any amenities that can be brought or furnished by those vehicles.
 The location is Sunshine Point Campground, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington. It's located just inside the Nisqually (Longmire) entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park, east of Elbe and Ashford, on Washington State Route 706. The cost is the National Park entrance fee and the FS camping fee.
Planned activities include eating to keep warm; you burn a tremendous amount of energy keeping warm, so you have to keep stoking the internal furnace. Food will be in the form of: Chili from Tacoma BMW; Pancakes from the BMW RA; and Wayne Elston of Ride West, fires up his Road Kill BBQ. The traditional Snow Camp ice cream cake will also be served.
Possible day rides include riding to the Paradise Visitor Center, if the road isn't closed, or as far as we can get without falling down too much. There will also be some standing around the campfire trying to keep warm while telling lies.
If You Go
CAMPOUT DATES: Martin Luther King Day Weekend, Saturday thru
Monday.
LOCATION: Sunshine Point Campground, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington.
DIRECTIONS: The campground is located just inside the Nisqually (Longmire) entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park, east of Elbe and Ashford, on Washington State Route 706.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER: None
CAMPGROUND CONVENIENCES: Very nice modern pit toilets. Running cold water. Covered Pavilion.
COST: National Park Entrance and Camping Fee. These are National Park fees, the event itself is FREE.
NEARBY SERVICES: Gas and groceries just outside the park entrance and in Ashford. For the less cold-tolerant, accommodations ranging from bunk space with shared bath to cabins to deluxe suites are available outside the park. Some of the choices, listed in order of distance from the park entrance are:
- Gateway Inn (0.1 mi) - rooms & cabins, 360-569-2506
- Stone Creek Lodge (0.2 mi) - cabins. 800-569-3942
- Lodge Near Mt. Rainier (0.3 mi). 360-569-2312 1999
- Mounthaven (0.8 mi). 800-456-9380
- Alexander's Inn (1.2 mi). 800-654-7615
- Rainier Overland Lodge (4.2 mi). 360-569-0851
- Nisqually Lodge (4.3 mi). 360-569-8804
- Whittaker's Bunkhouse (7.3 mi). 360-569-2439
WHAT TO BRING: Cold weather gear. Food for meals other than the furnished ones.
AREA ATTRACTIONS: Snow & Mt. Rainier
ACTIVITIES: Eating to keep warm. Dayrides up to Paradise Visitor Center for those bringing bikes (if the road isn't closed) or as far as we can get without falling down too much (if it
is closed); standing around the campfire trying to keep warm while telling lies;
and eating (did I mention you have to eat a lot to keep warm?).
REMARKS: Don't let the BMW sponsorship fool you, there will be lots of other bikes. Show up with whatever vehicle you wish.
THE PLAN (such as it is): Saturday, - arrival, set up camp, start fire, etc. Chili feed all Afternoon/evening courtesy of Tacoma BMW. (If you wish to cook/contribute other food, we won't turn it down. We've
had pan-baked cornbread and other goodies. An ice-cream cake has already become a Snow Camp tradition). Day ride for those who feel like it. True stories and other tales around the campfire. Sunday, - Pancake breakfast sponsored by
BMW Riders Association. Also enjoy (?) that snow camp delicacy - "Chicken Fried Bologna" (don't ask, you wouldn't believe it if I told you). Day ride for those who feel like it. Roadkill BBQ Sunday afternoon/evening courtesy of Ride West BMW. True stories and other tales around the campfire. Monday, Eat remaining food, break camp and head for home.
The campground is open year-round, so early birds can arrive on Friday (or earlier). It is first come, first served, but we've never had a problem getting campsites. For some reason, hardly anyone camps there this time of year.
REGISTRATION: Not required, you just need to show up. For planning purposes it would be helpful if you would let us know you're coming so we have some idea how much food to bring. Please send that info to Rolf-Immo Gabbe (address below). Thanks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Rolf-Immo Gabbe, 12408 149th St. E., Puyallup, WA 98374. 253-770-3749 e-mail rolfgabbe@yahoo.com Joe Rodgers, 11619 Pacific Hwy SW, Tacoma, WA 98499. 253-582-1838
|
