2026 GETMAD is canceled.
TL;DR
The inaugural Gravel Enumclaw To Mowich in A Day (GETMAD) is canceled. After working with the various groups needed to make this event happen, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which oversees the SR165 road to Mowich Lake, will not allow the event to proceed.
Hi Riders,
We were contacted in April concerning the possibility of holding a gravel ride to Mowich Lake. Although the normal road to Mowich was inaccessible due to closure of Fairfax Bridge, we would be gaining alternate access through the cooperation of adjacent private landowners. We had an ambitious dream: to create a one-of-a-kind gravel ride to the pristine Mowich Lake and to support the local communities that have been impacted by the Fairfax Bridge closure. The opportunity came late in our normal planning season but we committed to give the concept a full exploration.
We were able to arrange a scouting trip to the area in late April, including the portion of the course on SR 165 south of the Fairfax Bridge. After a short internal review including approval by the Board to go ahead with the project, we committed to making the event a reality for 2026.
RCC believes the route could safely support the event, including SR165.
Safety has always been our highest priority. If we had concluded otherwise, we would never have moved forward with planning the ride, opening registration, recruiting volunteers, or investing the significant time required to coordinate permits and agency approvals. We were happy to receive support from Mount Rainier National Park for rider access to Mowich Lake. In fact, all permitting agencies and local communities were fully supportive of our event and took steps to speed up the permitting process.
WSDOT has not been cooperative and has informed us that it would not authorize the event to proceed through SR165. There is no other way for us to reach Mowich Lake for this event other than through SR165.
Initially, we were informed by WSDOT that maintenance work was planned for the SR 165 corridor because improvements were needed before it could be reopened for public access. Unfortunately, that work was scheduled during the same time frame as GETMAD, July 20–23. We asked WSDOT whether the maintenance could be rescheduled, as we believe doing so would have no impact on any planned work related to the Fairfax Bridge. Ironically, one of the stated reasons for performing the maintenance was to support access to the corridor itself. Based on our route scouting on June 30, RCC also does not believe the maintenance is necessary to safely support the event, as the road conditions we observed were suitable for the ride. Only a few days ago, WSDOT responded that it could not approve the event due to existing obligations with private landowners in the area. We continued to seek clarification on both that explanation and the timing of the maintenance. We were then mostly recently informed that access could not be granted because of liability concerns.
The reasons WSDOT provided for denying the event changed several times. Each time a new concern was raised, we tried working to better understand it and determine whether there was a path to resolution. But each response remained unchanged: WSDOT would not authorize the event.
Given the timing and the uncertainty surrounding access, we have to make the difficult but responsible decision to cancel the inaugural GETMAD.
We truly believe GETMAD had the potential to become a signature Pacific Northwest gravel event. The response from the cycling community has been amazing and the event SOLD OUT in its very first year, with a month remaining before ride day.
All riders who signed up for the event will receive a full refund starting after the July 4th weekend and over the coming week.
Although this chapter ends sooner than we hoped, we want to sincerely thank everyone who helped bring the vision to life...we were so very close.
Special thanks to:
The Towns of Enumclaw, Buckley, and Wilkeson
Friends of Carbon Canyon
Foothills Coalition
Pierce County Search and Rescue
The private landowners who worked with us
Local law enforcement and EMS agencies
Ham Radio Operator Organizers
Mount Rainier National Park
The cycling community and local bike clubs that offered whatever help we needed.
And, most importantly, every rider who believed in this new event and registered.
At this point, we don't know what the future holds for GETMAD. We'll take time to reflect on what we've learned and determine whether there is a path forward. We hope everyone enjoys another incredible Pacific Northwest summer. Thank you for your support, your patience, and your belief in this event.
We'll see you out on the road and gravel. Until then, just keep pedaling.
Rick Duong,
President, Redmond Cycling Club
