Tue. Aug. 23, 2016
Start - ~9450'
High pt 9450'
Lo pt Salida
End Elv ~8400
Climbing 1500'
Miles 25
Total time 6:00
Ride time
Day with BOB 26
I took it easy this morning, knew I had a downhill ride into Salida, where I would do some grocery shopping and catch lunch. Pixked up some food at Safeway and some backpacker meals at the friendly Salida Mountain Sports downtown. I had a couple of slices of pizza and a fresh beer at the Moonlight Brewpub and pizzaria. Then it was off to Poncha Spings and the climb up Poncha Pass to the Marshall Pass road.
Did stop at Hgh Valley Sports to inquire out shuttle opening for Monarch Crest, and to download the weather forecast for Monarch Pass - not promising as one icon actually had snowfalkes and rain in the weather icon! Also ran into a former work collegue, Boon, who had just finished riding the Crest for the first time.
Once at Marshall Pass road, it is only a few miles to the Silver Creek camping area, where I would meet a couple of biking friends from Durango (Richard and Neale). Alas, my good luck with the weather ran dry as I got caught in a rainstorm that did not really stop. I hunkered down to wait it out as passing afternoon storms are not uncommon here, but this one turned out to be more persistant (as in all night). I needed to get dry and get some protection on, so finally I broke out the tarp I had carried for nearly 1200 mies so far. Once this base was established, I setup my tent, changed out of wet biking clothes and cooked dinner under the tarp, dry, full, and happy.
Richard and Neale showed up after fly-fishing scouting on the other side of Poncha Pass. While setting up and sharing appetizers and beers we discussed a plan B that did not have us riding the Crest above treeline for miles in the bad thunder storm weather forecasted for Weds.
Its a small world :)
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