Pinto Ridge Road

Snowed 2 inches here Friday night, but the temp has been in the 40's in the daytime so what was new here has gone and close to 50°f (10°C) so it's map time and look for a new road. Since it's still the "Great White North(West)" to the west, I decided to head East toward the Basin and take a look a a road that has SOME curves in it not far from Soap Lake.

Pinto Ridge Road ended up the target, since Dry Coulee Road ended up with a "Primitive Road" sign 400m into it. Went a little farther East to get to it, but it was paved (and stayed that way) although there were enough tar snakes that when the weather changes and it's 90°f out I wouldn't want to hit any curves at speed hence those snakes bite.

You forget how harsh the conditions are out here on the coulee flats, tough living and the abandoned homesteads reflect the attempts. But the road is fairly good and enough curves to make it interesting. There is actually a State Park out here (Summer Falls State Park) next to Billy Clapp Lake, an 18 mile lake formed by Pinto Dam (what?).  Who knew so much activity was out here...

















You end up in Coulee City, and then get the choice of high on the Waterville Plateau West on Hwy 2 West and 30°f, or stay low and run Hwy 17 South through Dry Falls/SoapLake-Hwy 28 East Ephrata/Quincy the way one came and 45°f.  I chose the latter but still had to turn on the grip and seat warmer after 3 hours of cool temps.

3.5 hours, 170 miles, new final drive, and about a dozen bikes passed... love the brotherhood.  ;)