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JUNE 24 COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHToday's ride for many reasons was a high point in our journey across America. We reached the summit of Monarch Pass, the highest elevation point of our trip at 11,312 feet. We crossed the Continental Divide. Many of us met personal goals by this achievement, all of us were up to the challenge! There was joy at the top!
The climb to the summit was an awesome undertaking. We climbed nearly 4000 ft today. The longest and toughest was a 9 mile climb. "Brutal" is the word that comes to mind. It seemed to last forever, as we climbed at 7 mph. The road wound endlessly around the mountainside exposing a rock wall on the left and a deep drop-off canyon just to the right of our bike path--often unprotected by guardrails. Breathing became much more difficult at this elevation. The legs held up--it was getting enough oxygen in the thin air that was tough. The trip from Gunnnison to Salida was only 66 miles--all on route 50. The first 33 miles were as picturesque as we have seen. I rode with 2 Iowa Hawkeyes, Tom and Jeff, as we passed magnificent, massive ranches with fenced in herds of cattle or groups of horses grazing. Picture postcard views in all directions. A bit chilly early, it warmed to a beautiful sunny day (again). After we had climbed the 9 miles to the summit of Monarch Pass, the last 20 miles of today's ride were downhill. And I mean downhill. The first 10 miles down from the summit were so steep (again mostly without guardrails) as to be almost scary.
A funny thing happened to me early in the nasty nine mile ascent. I was ATTACKED. First by two of them that came scurrying out of the sagebrush at the side of the road. Then by a single culprit from the left side of the road. They were small prairie gophers, I think, bent on an assault on my bike. Strange. At the top of the summit, I felt as proud as the winner of the polka dot jersey given to "the best climber" in the Tour de France. It was that kind of moment. The reward was worth the effort. Michelle of AbB was at the top and gave each person a hug or high fives as they came in, and then took a photo at the Monarch Pass sign. A nice touch.
We came into Salida one-by-one following the long downhill. Salida, CO ("Heart of the Rockies"), a town of about 6000 residents, boasts that it has the largest indoor hot springs pool in America. It is where the Arkansas River starts its journey to the Mississippi, and "where the rugged individualism of the American West remains untamed." Don't you love those Chamber of Commerce writers? We had a pizza party tonight. It was a happy group. - Bill P.S. Hello to Daco Waudenberg in the Netherlands, a Cross Country Challenge rider in 2003. He sent an email of support and his recollection of one of the ride segments. Several 2003 riders are following us on this website. Welcome.
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