GDR2-DAY 12 Strawberry Creek to Narrows CG
Saturday Aug 18th, 2018
Start 9000
High pt 9000
Lo pt. 7650
End Elv. 7900
Climbing ~3000'?
Miles 44.7
Total time 5:30
Ride time 4:41
Any how, it rained a fair bit my last night of camping in the emptiness, first rain of the trip. While welcome and helping to keep the road dust down, did require some extra dry out time. In the morning it is much cooler and humid, while yesterday was the postcard perfect weather. It warms up enough for shorts sleeves while bustling about packing up camp and the start of riding, but soon I need to stop and change into long sleeves as clouds move in and the downhill nature keeps my speed up. As I travel slowly downward ever more deeper into the embrace of Green River watershed, the gnarly peaks of the Wind River range start to peek through a gaps in the smaller foothills toward the headwaters of the mighty Green. They look jagged and still hold large snowfields, some which are sure to be glaciers. They grow shy as I travel further down into the Greens embrace. It is rolling country, sage parkland interspersed with groves of aspen and pine, with forests blanketing the shoulders of the low mountains cradling the Green.
The descent to the Green get more serious; the road had been deteriorating for several miles, which means I get to play dodge ball with ever the increasing potholes; I mostly win, the the every larger potholes score to good points along the way too. I'm still a bit hinky about the rack, and feel I could let her rip more and stay control, but the rack holds me back. The descent abandons the forest road potholes for ruts and rocks for a couple of miles of a steeper descent to a larger tributary of the Green, and mixes it up with the potholes for miles along the river. I final cross the Green proper, just a mile or two to Whiskey Grove CG, where I restarted my fire interrupted ride 2 years ago.
I pull into the campground, Tired but satisfied that I have connected the dots of my border to border ride. Huzzah
I check to see if Glenda is camping here. No Glenda, yet I take a leisurely lunch.
Success makes my dry bagel a treat, instead of just more fuel! I savor the moment and meaning of reaching this spot, listening to the water massage my ears and mind as the Green tumbles though the riffles just below.
But riding is not done. I have refueled but not yet found Glenda nor reached the brewpub at Pinedale, so I remount my steed and ride on. Only a couple of miles of gravel left and then pavement most of the way down to Pinedale. I've ridden this before and the Remini ng 30 miles net downhill should be doable. About another dozen miles in, I find the orange cones that is Glendas sign she is camping up at New Fork Lake. The note says only 6 miles of gravel to go ;-).
Grind up that road, with a few intermittent thunder showers, brings me to the aspen filled Narrows CG, and the end of this bikepacking journey. I welcome the R&R with Glenda, and the craft beer later that evening, but need to start preparing for the next adventure!
GDR2 2018 - Total 474 miles, 12 days
GDR1 2016 - Approximately 2500 miles, 54 days
Nearly 3000 miles, inclusive of alternatives, detours such as to Abiquiu & Grants NM, trail riding with friends, and other various meanders.
I shlepped all of my shhhh-tuff for all but 2 days; super steep Fleecer Ridge descent in MT (still couldn't manage to ride the whole descent) and the lonesome single track option into Silver City, NM.
I rode solo sans support about 50 percent of the days.
I took 4 documented route alternatives; the easier route from WY to Steamboat Lake; the paved Gore Pass to Hwy 9 into Kremmling, rather back road route through Radium; I still hope to get those main routes in the future.sinc ether are in the neighborhood.
I also rode single track into Silver City NM, and the El Malpais Chain of Craters alternative, but had to loop back to Grants for repairs, so got main route there too.
While I met lots of younger riders on the rout, I was by no means the wizen elder, there were plenty of grey beards, as who has the time to take a couple of months to ride? Linda, who I met this year hinted that she was at least 65, and Terry, who I met by Grand Teton was doing a coast to coast road trip at 78! Nor were all of the riders built like elite endurance athletes.
While.many were though riders nearly as many were doing parts. It is all doable with some prep and training. It is not a race, and we can each ride it with our own unique elan.
Get on out there
&
Ride on
Dan T
