Monarch crest trail

Just a easy ride up to monarch pass on Hwy 50 and the start of the monarch crest trail... just an easy ride. The easy ride turns out to be 15kms and 1000meters of elevation. To those of you good at math it’s a pretty nice grade, it’s a hard start to a long day regardless. 

About 11kms into the ride my left knee starts to give me grief and we are forced to stop at regular intervals to stretch out and then ultimately tape the knee. At long last we make the pass and indulge in second breakfast and coffee... Peter indulges in a second second breakfast before food becomes rationed again. 

We spend a few hours hanging out and restocking at the gift shop with the through hikers before headed out on the famous monarch crest trail. It really is as stunningly beautiful as I expected, it’s not however particularly spectacular riding. The trail starts out smooth and flows but quickly degraded to narrow and rocky which more or less makes stopping to take in the view necessary, which we do regularly because the view is very worth taking in we stop for lunch at the top of Fusas creek then follow the high ridge to where it drops into the trees at Green cabin. From there the trail more or less descends down into the trees and becomes loose rocky and unpleasant. Once you pass the turnoff to silver creek the trail becomes unrideable in the steep sections (up or down) thanks to the motorcycle riders who are apparently allowed on segment 16 and 17!

Turning point

I know I will regret saying this tomorrow but I think today might just have been the turning point. This happens on every tour, it is the point you start to accept the hard work as normal and can enjoy the rest of the trip. Its often after a really hard day, I think adding the context helps. “Wow this is a really long climb but I am not pushing my bike in the rain, so it’s not that bad” It’s also the point when your body starts to adapt and recovers quicker. It’s a lovely shift when this happens, it doesn’t make the trip easier but I does make you happier while suffering. 

The fact that the trail today is not overly hard and was 99.9% rideable may have also contributed. In addition to good trail riding the bike detour into Beuna vista was lovely and about 80% down hill ! 

We had a long leisurely beer/snack break at the Trailhead restaurant in town then restocked for 6 days backcountry before grabbing dinner at Eddyline Brewery and heading back out to the trail. We arrived at the trail junction and camping spot just before dark so made a quick camp then headed to bed. Tomorrow promises lots of climbing and hopefully not too much pushing.