2026 PASL
GRAND DEPART

Registration

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.

Tracking

Tracking will be done through Bandok.com. Bandok is Troy Hopwoods creation (Washington through and through!). I’m incredibly grateful that Troy has volunteered his time to support PASL event tracking. Be sure to thank Troy and consider buying him a beer, burger, pizza, or a tune up once your register.

The link to register for tracking will be updated here and sent out via email around two weeks before start.

You can use either an InReach or a Spot tracker.

Once registered, turn your tracker on outside for at least 20 minutes then go to — [COMING] — to verify it is working as expected. Do not wait until the Grand Depart to test this as I won’t be able to help you.

How do I set up my XML/KML feed?

• Spot

• InReach and this article from Trackleaders can also be helpful.

Riders Meeting

There will be an open house, meet and greet, ask questions at The Pine and Eight Grocery (511 W 8th St Unit B, Port Angeles, WA) on Friday, 7/17 from 4-5pm.

Thank you Jennifer and Davis Stevenson for hosting!

Parking & Camping the Night Before

If you need a place to park your car and camp the night before, email me at paslbike [at] gmail . com. My house is open with plenty of parking and prime camping opportunities.

The catch is you’ll have to ride the 6.1 miles to the start line at 4:30am. It’s on a bike path and mainly downhill, so it’s pretty mellow.

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 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.

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.

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

• Rules | Tour Divide (Tour Divide)

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.

PASL is a dynamic route that is incredibly challenging. It avoids main roads and takes you deep into the Olympic Wilderness touching oh-so many flagship features of the North Olympic Peninsula.

Important Notes

• 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. It 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.

• Resupplies are limited. The below mile markers relate to PASL *mountain, but restaurant/stores still apply to PASL *gravel.

  • Bring a water filter. There are lots of streams, rivers, lakes to filter water.

  • WEST LOOP: There are no resupply options from mile 25 (Joyce General Store) to 145. And at mile 145 that’s IF you time Log Cabin Resorts hours correctly. Then at mile ~163 or so is Granny’s Cafe. Again, IF you time hours correctly. Mile 180 brings you into Port Angeles. I’m planning to carry food for the first 180 miles. I STRONGLY suggest you do the same.

  • EAST LOOP: There is no on route resupply options from mile 180 to mile 251 (Quilcene). Then again, options are limited from 251 to 294. Be smart!

More Communications

Facebook Group @ PASL . bike

Posting in the FB group is strongly encouraged. Share updates, highs, lows, whatever . . . this is a new route and experience. Let’s provide some context for fellow enthusiasts who weren’t able to make it out this year!

Strava Club @ PASL

If you’re on Strava, join the club as well! I’ll be building out a library of routes exclusively for the Olympic Peninsula. Stay in the loop!

Any more questions?

Did you read it all? If so, what did I miss? Or, just questions in general? Let me know at: paslbike [at] gmail . com.