I am sitting in the Vernal Public Library, still unshowered and without seeing the host location after 102 miles of riding. The last 6 days (I think it's been that long) have been very eventful. I don't have my journal with me but hopefully I can remember everything!
From Fort Collins we rode to Estes Park. The ride was beautiful and short (41 miles), and a nice introduction to the Rockies. The climb was 20 miles of flat and 20 miles of climbing, but it was so beautiful that Erin and I stopped to take pictures at least 5 times, and that made it easier. In Estes Park I revisited places and memories from when my family vacationed there about 5 years ago.
We were prepared for the worst the next day. Seasoned cyclists in our group gave us a nearly ridiculous amount of advice for climbing Trail Ridge Road, but what they failed to mention is how amazing the ride to the top is.
Estes Park to Granby is 63 miles. However, it includes about 22-24 miles of climbing up to elevation of 12,183 feet (approximately 2 miles). I climbed with Katie and Erin the entire way up, and I must admit I am very proud of us for our performance. We stopped every few miles for power food and water, and to take pictures of the gorgeous scenery around us and below us. It was very satisfying to look down and see the road we had just climbed hundreds of feet below. An incredible/terrifying thing about climbing the Rockies is how the switchbacks work. You will be hugging the mountain, turn a corner, and all of a sudden be on the edge of a cliff looking down. On the way up we saw a herd of elk, but even more to my excitement reindeer! They were right next to us as we reached a particularly steep stretch of road. We were on the right, they were on the left, and we didn't exactly know what to do... so we kept climbing. I reached the top with a smile on my face. Trail Ridge Road holds the title of "the highest continuously paved road in North America" and I am very proud to have climbed it. The view from the top was fantastic, I didn't want to go down the other side! The followiung 40 miles of the ride to Grandby were completed with no problem.
The next day included climbs over two passes to Steamboat Springs. We crossed the Continental Divide for the second time. It was a nice trip. We stayed and built in Steamboat.
Today was a 103 mile ride to Vernal, Utah. We stopped at Dinosaur National Monument, which Erin was super excited about. We narrowly missed a rainstorm (actually it didn't really reach us). Last night our stay in Maybell was very relaxing, because there was only about 80-100 people in the town. That means that there wasn't much for us to do but read and write in our journals.
I have crossed the Rocky Mountains and Colorado! By far it was one of the best stretches of the trip, and Trail Ridge Road was my biggest accomplishment.
Less than three weeks until I come home!
Love,
Rachel
From Fort Collins we rode to Estes Park. The ride was beautiful and short (41 miles), and a nice introduction to the Rockies. The climb was 20 miles of flat and 20 miles of climbing, but it was so beautiful that Erin and I stopped to take pictures at least 5 times, and that made it easier. In Estes Park I revisited places and memories from when my family vacationed there about 5 years ago.
We were prepared for the worst the next day. Seasoned cyclists in our group gave us a nearly ridiculous amount of advice for climbing Trail Ridge Road, but what they failed to mention is how amazing the ride to the top is.
Estes Park to Granby is 63 miles. However, it includes about 22-24 miles of climbing up to elevation of 12,183 feet (approximately 2 miles). I climbed with Katie and Erin the entire way up, and I must admit I am very proud of us for our performance. We stopped every few miles for power food and water, and to take pictures of the gorgeous scenery around us and below us. It was very satisfying to look down and see the road we had just climbed hundreds of feet below. An incredible/terrifying thing about climbing the Rockies is how the switchbacks work. You will be hugging the mountain, turn a corner, and all of a sudden be on the edge of a cliff looking down. On the way up we saw a herd of elk, but even more to my excitement reindeer! They were right next to us as we reached a particularly steep stretch of road. We were on the right, they were on the left, and we didn't exactly know what to do... so we kept climbing. I reached the top with a smile on my face. Trail Ridge Road holds the title of "the highest continuously paved road in North America" and I am very proud to have climbed it. The view from the top was fantastic, I didn't want to go down the other side! The followiung 40 miles of the ride to Grandby were completed with no problem.
The next day included climbs over two passes to Steamboat Springs. We crossed the Continental Divide for the second time. It was a nice trip. We stayed and built in Steamboat.
Today was a 103 mile ride to Vernal, Utah. We stopped at Dinosaur National Monument, which Erin was super excited about. We narrowly missed a rainstorm (actually it didn't really reach us). Last night our stay in Maybell was very relaxing, because there was only about 80-100 people in the town. That means that there wasn't much for us to do but read and write in our journals.
I have crossed the Rocky Mountains and Colorado! By far it was one of the best stretches of the trip, and Trail Ridge Road was my biggest accomplishment.
Less than three weeks until I come home!
Love,
Rachel
4 comments:
Yea Rachel!!! It sounds awesome. Are you afraid of heights? I don't think I could do it. We miss you alot, but we are so very proud of what you are accomplishing. Can't wait to see you! Matt will be home on the 11th and won't leave again until the 23rd. Take care.
Love ya,
Laurie
Incredible experience! I am very proud of you too. Love, Dad
Hi Rachel!
I know you're busy reading Harry when you're not biking or eating or changing flats, but it's a new month and we haven't read about your latest adventures. You know I've become a Bike & Build journal junkie and I'm having serious withdrawals without them. I do like the postcards though. :)
Love you,
Mom
Hi Rachel. I really enjoy reading about your trip. I heard about the sprinklers coming on one morning recently. It sounds funny as long as it happens to somebody else. You are headed towards more mountains, but I don't think it will be as rough as the mountains you have already come through.
Take care,
Bill Hatcher
Post a Comment