Grand Depart

Friday, June 20th, 2025
Sunrise (5:13am)
@ Hollywood Beach
Port Angeles, WA

* more info & registration details below *

Overview

PASL is an unofficial, solo, self-supported bikepacking ride on the north Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. It follows a 330 mile adventure focused route linking together everything that makes riding this little slice of heaven so special.

Because PASL is best ridden in the light, the Grand Depart takes place each year on the Summer Solstice.

The goal of this ride and website is—community.

All are welcome.

While, yes, it’s an A to B with FKT’s encouraged. This route is really about finishing. Anyone who finishes PASL by meeting the guidelines (below) is an absolute LEGEND. As such, they will be praised and acknowledged and allowed to brag openly on the feat. They will go down in the digital-books by being listed as an official finisher on this website.

On The Route Design

I’m a big fan of making and riding loops right out my doorstep (Oh, my name’s Kory—hey there! I’m the guy behind PASL). Lucky for me, I live in bike heaven: Port Angeles, WA. The loops started small . . . but gradually, they grew.

Until one day, I wasn’t looking at an ordinary loop. I was looking at a super loop. I saved the GPX file: The Port Angeles Super Loop. And just like that, PASL was born.

It’s been through many renditions, edits, and tweaks. I created it after years of riding and exploring the North Olympic Peninsula in an attempt to connect all my favorite features in one smooth and flowey go.

There were many failed attempts, bushwhacks, long days in the saddle and tanks of gas spent on scouting missions to design this route.

It’s purpose driven and designed intentionally for YOU: to provoke you with joyous feelings that come from riding a bike in beautiful country, while also being incredibly challenging.

The route runs counter clockwise, starting and ending at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles, WA.

It covers 330 miles with over 36,000 feet of climbing. It’s a dynamic route that prioritizes maximum enjoyment in the saddle while avoiding main roads. It takes you deep into the Olympic Wilderness touching oh-so many flagship features of the North Olympic Peninsula.

The route bounces between gravel (151 miles, 45%), road (77 miles, 23%), single track (60 miles, 18%) and paved bike path (48 miles, 14%).

Spirit Quest

This isn’t your average route. It’s a deeply emotional and visceral experience. While very physical, it’s really more mindful. Embarking on it is a temporary journey out of your ordinary life and into yourself.

Even if these words slap you with “woo-woo,” PASL, whether you like it or not, will force self-discovery, introspection, and insight.

The route is ever evolving and shifting—nurturing focus and presence.

You will ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” Your answer will, and should be different than your fellow rider. Answering this question is why participating in an experience like this is so important.

Register

Self-supported bikepacking is a serious endeavor not to be taken lightly.  It is a true adventure which means it can be wonderful and dangerous at the same time. Rewarding—and yes, deadly. 

Please know your abilities, strengths and weakness and prepare yourself, bike and kit accordingly.

You’re welcome to ride this route anytime, in any fashion. If you wish to participate in the grand depart, with community, while sporting a little friendly competition, then please sign up by following the link below.

There will be a link for tracking sent out via email two weeks before the start.

ITT’s are welcome.

Guidelines

The Port Angeles Super Loop is based on one guiding principle:

cycle PASL start-to-finish,
as fast as possible in a solo,
self-supported fashion.

You must ride to the top of Striped Peak, out to the Kloshe Nanitch look out and up to the top of Mount Muller. These are short out and back’s to amazing view points. Don’t miss them! Or, your ride won’t be designated an official “finisher.”

BONUS: Jumping into the Strait @ Hollywood Beach upon completion.

You can ride this route whenever you want, in any fashion you want. This is designed to be an experience—your experience. You get to make this whatever the heck you want.

That’s what’s so cool about bikepacking. Freedom of expression.

However, if you’re participating in the grand depart, would like your name listed as an official finisher, and interested in FKT’s, then you have to follow the core guiding solo, self-supported principle above.

For ITTs, please email your intent, and then your GPX file to paslbike@gmail.com. I’ll review it and if clean, list your name on this site.

For more on self-supported biking, here are a few articles I like, that PASL follows:

• Self Support in 2015: What’s In, What’s Out?  (Southern California Enduro Series)

• Self-Supported Guidelines - “The Rules” (Southern California Enduro Series)

• Rules | Tour Divide (Tour Divide)

Important!

• PASL is not an organized, sanctioned event, or official race. It’s simply a group out to ride their bikes on the same route at the same time.

• You understand that bikepacking involves risk. You understand that you are completely responsible for your safety. You understand that this is an unofficial event and PASL offers no support of any kind. You are responsible for your safety and for any injury, damage, or loss of any kind suffered while riding this route. You accept any and all risks associated with your participation. You are aware that injuries sustained in cycling can be severe or fatal. YOU KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUMING ALL SUCH RISKS, BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN.

• Don’t break the law. Don’t trespass. Be respectful.

• Leave No Trace.

• This route is hard. I’ve completed XWA and OGC. This route is a notch or two up, with a ridiculous amount of climbing. These climbs will take longer than you think. Plan accordingly.

• There are many bailout options with smooth pavement to cell service/shuttles. The clallamtransit.com system can be a life savior. I strongly recommend reviewing this site prior to setting out.

• A GPS unit, first aid kit, and thorough bike repair kit, and knowledge on backcountry travel is required.

• A tracker/satellite phone and sleep kit is strongly encouraged.

Bike?

My bike of choice is the Tumbleweed Stargazer. A rigid, drop bar mountain bike with 2.25” tires. Bunker Ridge Trail (Salt Creek Area), Boundary Ridge Trail (Sadie Creek Area), Mt. Muller (Lake Crescent), Lower Big Quilcene (Quilcene Area), Bluff Trail (Miller Peninsula) are the most technical, rooted and rocky aspects of the route. Plus, not to mention the many miles of chunky gravel.

Use your best judgment. Don’t be stupid.

Yet also, the best bike is the one you have.

Any more questions?

Did you read it all? If so, what did I miss? Or, just questions in general? Let me know at pasl.bike/contact.