Northern Tier, map 1, Loup Loup Pass

[Pat Lamb]

The Carlton Complex fires http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3967/  closed Washington Hwy 20 across Loup Loup yesterday or last night:

"Due to the fire situation, road and highway closures could change very quickly. Hwy 20 is now closed between MP206 to MP215. Hwy 153 is closed at MP6-21 and at a Level 3 Notice between the town of Carlton and Pateros. Hwy 97 is closed between Pateros and Brewster."

It looks like it's still possible to get out of the Okanogan valley on 17 or by going north into Canada, though the Inciweb report shows the fire's jumped the river below Omak.  It would be prudent to avoid this route from Republic west to Washington Pass, or perhaps to Concrete.

(I wish I could send them the showers we've had today!)

[jamawani]

From Twisp there is an easy detour via Pateros and Brewster -
(Doesn't mean going up into Canada or such)

From Twisp:
Hwy 153 South to Pateros (a couple of backroad options, too)
US 97 from Pateros to Brewster
Old US 97 from Brewster to south of Okanogan
Hwy 20 continues into Okanogan

[OldDogBC]

As an added heads up, anyone who has routing through areas with current fires, check the inciweb.nwcg.gov website. The websites for the individual fires are updated with road closures along with expected fire behavior for the coming days. It is also a very good idea to check the weather for at least 3 days in advance of your expected travel through the fire areas. Any "Fire Weather Watches" or "Red Flag Warnings" should be noted. Conditions can rapidly change if high winds are involved. Intelligence on the Washington and Oregon Fire Situation can be found here: http://www.nwccweb.us/predict/outlook.aspx

[jamawani]

UPDATE -

Hwy 153 is now closed with fires entering the town of Pateros.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jul/17/fire-approaching-brewster-hospital-told-evacuate/

US 2 is also closed around Leavenworth
http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx?refnum=164221&action=2&aw=1

I suspect that WSDOT may begin to limit eastbound traffic on Hwy 20 at Rockport since there is no paved open road option east or south of Winthrop.

[JHamelman]

If you are riding westbound and are traveling with your passport another option might be to head north at Tonasket and enter Canada. The Canadian fires don't seem as ferocious at the moment. You can see an interactive map of fire activity here:

http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-map

Best,
.Jennifer.

[JHamelman]

I just heard from a cyclist heading west on the Northern Tier who made the following report about the fire situation in Washington:

FYI...Just spoke [on the afternoon of July 22] with Fire information out of Winthrop/Twisp and was told the following:
1) fire had burned thru route 20 several days ago, not much left to burn
2) route 20 is currently open.  It has been closed off and on over the last couple days so that utility crews could restore power lines, not because of smoke or fire.
3) he said that as an alternate if 20 gets closed again, we could take 97 to 153 and that those roads have been more open than 20 because of the larger number of people living in those areas.

In summary, as of now, we are planning on taking route 20 at Okanagan on Thursday [July 24] heading towards Twisp.  Here is the Fire Info contact number tel:509-996-9971 if you want to call to get the latest updates.  The number is open from 7am-7pm.

.Jennifer.

[JHamelman]

As stated earlier, if you are traveling with your passport one alternative to continuing westbound from the Northern Tier route, you can go north and ride across Canada to Vancouver. A couple of cyclists came through the office today and recommended this routing from their experience:

From Tonasket, ride US 97 north to Oroville. Then northwest on Loomis-Oroville Rd along the Similkameen River for 21 mi.
Then leave the river to continue north to the border crossing where the Loomis Oroville Rd. turns south. (The border crossing has limited hours, see this website for more information http://www.ezbordercrossing.com/list-of-border-crossings/washington-state/nighthawk-chopaka/#.U9KoeIBdWQ0)
Continue north on Similkameen Rd. to Crowsnest Hwy./PR 3.
Ride PR 3 north to Hope, then west on Lougheed Hwy./PR 7 to Vancouver.
As you enter Vancouver route will become Broadway St. As Broadway St. gets busier you can go south 2 blocks to 10th St. which is the bike route into the city.

.Jenn.