You can get me once, but you'll never take me a second time! Those were
the words I said to myself as the bike was loaded on the car and I left
on a cold morning to Evergreen. Destination... Elk Meadows. I arrived
to a virtually empty parking lot. Not a bike rack in sight. The whole
place to myself. Good, no one can see or here me cursing at the walking
rocks.
Two months ago this place ate my rear derailleur and I'm back to get my
vengeance.
The climb starts up Sleepy 'S' Trail.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4625.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4627.jpg
Then to Elk Meadow Trail.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4628.jpg
And finally my nemesis. Bergen Peak trail.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4629.jpg
More climbing and finally pass the spot that claimed my bike the last time.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4630.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4631.jpg
The climbing is going pretty well this morning. Middle ring for most of
the way and my breathing seems to be calm in spite of the sinus
infection I have been nursing. Heck, I'm even hitting 80% of the
switchbacks.
I heard talk of snow in dem dar hills, and it looks like it's starting
to appear.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4632.jpg
Starting to slow down a bit as I near the "almost" top.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4633.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4634.jpg
Then the trail gets a lot steeper.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4635.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4637.jpg
And a lot more slippery!
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4639.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4641.jpg
A first for me! Snow in September. And I get to lay fresh tracks on the
way down.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4644.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4645.jpg
Of course this trail wouldn't let me off easy. It's hard to tell from
this photo but I tried to thread myself through this but ended up going
OTB before it. It was an embarrassing moment trying to unpretzel myself
from in between the rocks.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/092306/IMG_4646.jpg
The a fast downhill down Too Long trail which wasn't long enough, back
to Elk Meadow and to the car.
Just plain old nice.
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws