Author: Chris Rodde

Hey GRiT campers,

You made the smart call — roll in Friday night, wake up at the start line, and make a full weekend of it. Before you point the rig up USFS Road 54, here’s everything you need to know.

First things first: know where NOT to camp

Camping is first come, first served, and we won’t have anyone at the gate directing traffic — so it’s on you to park in the right place. Please keep the race operations area clear. That’s the zone we use to run the event (start/finish, staging, and setup), marked in red on the map below. If you camp there, we’ll wake you up and make you help us set up the course before you can get your coffee—nobody wants that.

Camp anywhere in the green “Ok to camp” areas — the long gravel lots. Stay out of the red “No camping” zone.

The camping details

• Arrive Friday after 4:00 PM. The lot isn’t open for overnight camping before then.
• It’s a gravel lot — no grass. Plan to sleep in your vehicle or bring a very thick pad. If you are a Sasquatch you might be ok without a pad.
• Self-contained only. No hookups. Grey water must be contained and packed out.
• Pack it in, pack it out. Leave your spot cleaner than you found it — the Forest Service is watching, and we’d love to do this again next year.
• Pets welcome, messes not. Clean up after your dog.
• First come, first served. We can’t guarantee specific spots or how close you’ll be to the start line.
• Bring your receipt. Have your email camping-permit receipt handy as proof of purchase.

That’s it. Find a spot in the green, keep the red clear, and settle in.

See you at the Summit.

— the GRiT crew

You’re not in Kansas anymore.

The big day is almost here. Here’s everything you need to know before you roll out Saturday — give it a read, then get back to waxing your chain.

Safety first — always
This course is open to motorists, and you’re always responsible for your own safety. This is gravel, so watch your speed on the descents — especially the corners. We’ve got course marshals out there looking after you, but keep your head up and obey all traffic laws. Ride smart so everyone gets home safely.

Packet pickup — fast and easy
We pre-assigned your number and RFID chip this year, so pickup should be quick and painless. Packet pickup opens at 7:00 AM. Grab your stuff and go.

Your RFID chip — read this part
There’s a yellow RFID chip in your packet. Use this one — even if you already own a chip. If you’ve got your own, take it off beforehand so it doesn’t confuse our timing system.

Wear the yellow chip flat on the top of your helmet.

We collect every chip at the finish line, so swing by even if you don’t finish the race. No exceptions — that chip has to come back.

Food — Taco Cortex + cake + Best Day
Taco Cortex starts serving at 10:30. Ride hard, earn your tacos. We’ll also have cake, fresh watermelon and plenty of Best Day beer. 

Course details & maps
We trimmed the Lost Lake out-and-back a bit this year thanks to road conditions. Still plenty challenging — just a touch shorter. If you haven’t downloaded the map in the last day or so, please download it again so you have the latest.

Watch for color-coded signs and ribbon marking your course:

• Primus — yellow
• Velox — green
• Fortis — blue
• Maximus — red

Please download the course on your GPS device (or phone) before race morning. If using your phone, we recommend using the RideWithGPS app. Here are the routes:

• Primus
• Velox
• Fortis
• Maximus

Want the full details?
For everything else check out the below Tech Guide.Want all the details for the GRiT? Check out our tech guide. Print it, then when you are done, use it to light your campfire.

We are planning another gravel adventure in the Cascades this summer. Join us on July 20, 2024 at Snoqualmie Pass, WA for a gravel event that could be the most fun you have on a bike this summer.

Details to follow…

Hello GRiT community,
We are very sad to announce that GRiT 2023 is canceled and refunds are being issued. Details below.

We are planning two informal rides and some fun social vibes in the Teanaway on June 24 and at Snoqualmie Pass on July 29.
 

What happened?

When we opened registration in December for the GRiT Teanaway we didn’t expect any problems given that we were doing the same course with the same plans as last year. The most important permit we were seeking (covering key sections of the course) was with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) going through the Teanaway Community Forest (TCF). We worked all winter to secure the permit but ultimately were turned down by the DNR.

We are disappointed and we are very sorry for this cancelation. We are hopeful that the GRiT Teanaway will return next year. If you have inroads with the DNR and would like to help, please let us know.

Join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay abreast of the latest.

Thanks for coming out and riding the first annual GRiT Ride!

You can find the results here.

Hey GRiT Riders!

The Department of Natural Resources is requiring us to have you sign their waiver. Please print, sign and bring to registration this weekend. We will have copies for you to sign, but if you do so in advance you might get an extra hug.

Hey, we are getting very close to opening registration for the GRiT Epic, and in the meantime we wanted to share some changes.

We’ve cut this down to one day, one race, on Sunday. You can ride your gravel bike or mountain bike on this unrelenting, rugged course. We are calling this Teanaway Adventure Gravel.

We’ve cut the XC race that we had planned to start out of Roslyn on Saturday. Lining up all these permits was giving Erik grey hair (…well, Erik has no hair… maybe it’s aggravating his gout). The Sunday ride offers a great challenge for both gravel riders and mountain bikers alike. Bring your gravel bike or your mountain bike for a taste of Teanaway Adventure Gravel.

Registration opening very soon.

Are you ready for The GRiT? The GRiT EPIC is coming to the Teanaway July 9 & 10, 2022.

Join us for miles of gorgeous MTB & gravel riding, tough climbs, spectacular views on a brand-new course through the Teanaway, an iconic region in the heart of Washington’s Cascade Range.

With numerous courses to choose from, of varying lengths and elevation gain, you are sure to find the right challenge.

We are going to make this a weekend and party to remember. Sponsored by Dru Bru, with plenty of beer, food, camping, and lots of nearby lodging, you should plan to stay the whole weekend.

Mark your calendar. Details & registration coming in May.

Tell your boyfriend–he might just want to join you.