Hot dusty miles

In what is becoming habit we roll out of camp just before 10am, this in most part because it’s just too darn cold to get up before the sun reaches camp. When the sun does reach you it goes from cold in a puffy to hot in a t-shirt in a matter of minutes. 

Hot is a decent summary for the day in general, but that would leave out all the good bits.

Sections 18 is a lovely little treat, the climbs are mellow, the trail rideable and you get some great views when you pop out of the trees. The second half is in a high medow full of beautiful yellow flowers and give you a spectacular view of the valley and dome lakes in the distance. The 12 miles goes by fast and we are on the ride around the wilderness section making good time to our lunch stop by the lakes. In my head they are lovely have a nice shady spot to have lunch and offer a great opportunity to have a mid day swim.  In reality they are scummy, probably toxic and have a plenitude of dead fish dotting the surface. In addition there isn’t a lick of shade. We do find a standard well pump and pump and filter water while we eat our lunch wraps baking in the sun. While we are stopped a father son combo who are riding the divide stop to get water too. While they are stopped they share that they are averaging over 100 MILES a day... the kid is 14. 

Feeling substantially less hardcore we carry on into the hot afternoon sun and ride another 25kms before we find any shade. 

The afternoon heat drags on and we slowly make our way up and over Piñon pass and down into a verdant valley surrounded by high rock bluffs and dotted with ranches. Six kilometres of private property bring us back to national forest and we make a camp in a beautiful canyon surrounded by high rock bluffs and are lulled to sleep by the nearby stream. 

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.