Mother's Day on Mount Evans
climbing to the clouds
Initially I planned to ride from Idaho Springs to Echo Lake and back. After reaching Echo Lake, I decided I wanted to do 15 miles of up instead of 13.4. So I pushed on for 1.6 more miles. After reaching the nearly buried 15-mile marker, I decided I wanted to ride to someplace besides a milepost. So I pushed on. The next overlook was Juniper Pass.
Total roundtrip mileage: 31, half climb, half super speedy, cold descent!
The road was in excellent condition. I expected to be passed by an abundance of riders much, much faster than me. Only three guys on road bikes passed me. (Either Mother's Day kept most people at home, or everyone was waiting for the snow that didn't fall in Idaho Springs to melt off.) After I was done riding, I drove back up to Echo Lake for more photos with a different lens, and I passed the plethora of riders I'd expected. Everyone seemed to be getting a late start.
Waterfalls along the side of the road had icicles on the way up; all the ice had melted by my return trip.
Hummingbirds abound!
I was skeptical of Power Gel, but it apparently works. I'm willing to try it again this weekend for the Buena Vista century and the Lookout Mountain destroyer, I mean, training ride.
I had to stop five or six times on the way up to rest my lungs and my knees. I had to stop twice on the way down to add layers. Good thing the second stop did the job; I'd exhausted my resources!!!
Snowy Mt. Goliath, Mt. Evans, Mt. Warren, Mt. Spaulding and Gray Wolf Mountain tower above frozen Echo Lake
The Continental Divide from freshly plowed Mount Evans Road
Geez! I was adding layers at this same spot!
(Of course, I was descending, they are climbing.
I had NO problem staying toasty warm during the climb.)
Now you know why I had to drive back up...
"If you didn't bring food, GO AWAY!!!"
bikemaster: jrnylst at att dot net
