(pic by Keith Lay)
I can remember two things from yesterday's trip to Telluride. The first thing my oxygen starved brain remembers is the steepness, like the picture above. Sufferingly steep, ridiculous grades climbing to the highest point that I have ever pushed/pedaled my bike before. The second thing I remember is one of the steepest, longest, most amazing descents I've ever done. I've long joked that if one goes over the handlebars in Telluride there is a good chance of landing on a house! Yesterday we didn't put any holes in roofs, but it was close a few times.
One of the coolest things about Telluride is the free gondola system. It's part of their public transportation system and allows lowlanders like us to skip the first 3000 ft of any climb we might do to get to the back-country. No lift fees, no lines, just load your bike and go.
We were all pretty sick of the heat in GJ/Fruita. It's been a mild summer, but an all day ride is still not a reasonable proposition due to afternoon temps. The high country is always cooler. But this time of the year it's still normally a short sleeve kind of ride.
(pic by Keith Lay)
Not so on this day. The clouds loomed low, and temps were chilly. It was so refreshing to wear a jacket AND a long sleeve jersey.
Note the trail so very far below in the above photo. AWESOME!
Note the tiny figure at the top of the cliff above the water fall. That's Noah, lining it up for the sketchy cliff side descent.
(pic by Keith Lay)
Which looked like this at a closer angle. The cliff is over his right shoulder.
I'd love to take credit for these last two shots, but I can't. Keith Lay nailed both of these shots which capture a micro slice of one of the best descents I've ever done. I'm glad the guys made me climb up that damn mountain. I suffered greatly, but it was so very worth it.
