History of Tour de Peaks

Today’s rides follow many of the original routes through the scenic Snoqualmie Valley and organizers have continued the tradition of featuring plenty of food on the rides. Tour de Peaks was one of the first organized rides in the northwest and has proven its success by remaining true to its roots.

In 1988 the Snoqualmie Chamber (that was before the combined North Bend and Snoqualmie Chamber) decided to commemorate the City of Snoqualmie's Centennial with a centennial bike ride. The mayor at the time was the late Jeanne Hansen, retired from Weyerhaeuser Co. and proponent of the construction of Snoqualmie Ridge. The people who organized it were Earl Palmeter, who was the main liaison for the soon to be developed Ridge; George Cook of Weyerhaeuser; Dick Causey, president of Puget Western, and Mary Norton, a Snoqualmie resident and biking fan.

Earl used a picture of an old-fashioned bicycle with a giant front wheel, the Salish Lodge and various other restaurants provided the gourmet food, and they ran out of bib numbers after having 500 printed! Earl estimated they had almost 800 riders that first year.

Today’s rides follow many of the original routes through the scenic Snoqualmie Valley and organizers have continued the tradition of featuring plenty of food from local restaurants on the rides. Tour de Peaks was one of the first organized rides in the northwest and has proven its success by remaining true to its roots.