(Click on any image for a larger view)

The goal today was to climb from Dayton (3900’) to a pass in the Bighorn Mountains (8300’) and then descend slightly to the Elk View Inn. Weather was cloudy and much cooler than recently, with highs only in the 70s in Ranchester. The first 6 miles were pretty flat, but then it ascended for 17 miles at about as steep a grade as roads ever are constructed.

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In the first few miles, I kept seeing somewhat older cyclists descending in the opposite direction. Many shouted encouragement to me, and one said, “It’s just around the bend!” What I found around the bend was a race timing truck with a man (Steve) and woman (Cheryl) who were helping to organize a 40 K senior bike race. We talked for a bit as they waited for the final participants to arrive. Each received a race number proving that they had climbed to that point, and then they could race back down.

As I was standing, a water bottle fell off my bike and started rolling downhill. In trying to run after it and hold the bike, I managed to slam the chainring into my lower calf and ankle. I just missed the Achilles tendon, and it looked worse than it really was.

From there on, it was pretty views and a very steady climb. iews back into eastern Wyoming were great.

Here’s something I don’t worry about most days.

When I lived in Claremont, CA, one summer in college, on weekends I would ride up into the San Gabriel Mountains to get above the smog. It was a similar long continuous climb (almost 4000’), and today’s ride reminded me of that. Luckily I equipped CC with VERY low mountain gearing, and what I carry on the bike is relatively light. Still it was almost 3 hours of significant climbing in ever thinning air. Pretty cool temperatures too; as I neared the top, I noticed I could see my breath. Must be in part the thin air, as I don’t think it was much below 60.  I finally reached the pass; that felt good.

I descended some to my destination, a lodge (Elk View Inn) that seems to specialize in ATV rentals. (For the life of me, I can’t see the appeal.) They also have a restaurant, store, and bar, and sell gas. In the winter they cater to snowmobilers (another mystery to me). With the long climb, I decided to make it a short day, just 32 miles. I probably could have gone farther, but the next town is over 40 miles away, and thunderstorms were predicted. I had my slowest average speed for a day, a pokey but respectable 8.3 mph.

For dinner I wanted to try something regional, so I ordered the Elk burger. It tasted very much like hamburger, not venison, as I had hoped.