Into thin air; the climb from Florence to Fairhaven, in Southern Park County Colorado (Southpark) was over 80 miles of climbing 5,000 feet. I first started noticing the effects of altitude at around 3-4000 feet when I found my speed below average and I was gulping air like never before. Starting in Florence above that elevation with the prospect of climbing wasn’t appealing and it was all hard climbing for me. Many times I’d look at my speedometer and see just above 4mph progress. Also, those gears I thought I would never use? Their teeth are getting sharpened.
Somewhere between Florence and Fairhaven we left the Midwest behind. Into Fairhaven there was a long descent and then a long valley into town. Fairhaven, in southern Park County, is from where the animated show Southpark was inspired. It is an eclectic place surrounded by numerous 14,000 foot peaks so naturally lives off of the folks those attract. In the summer many hikers and climbers head for the hills while cyclists clog the roads. In the winter there is skiing, the nearby area of Breckenridge being the big draw. It is a naturally delightful place for the high horizon, but also wide variety of wildflowers at your feet, and quick streams cutting through the landscape. Days total climb 7,688 feet with an elevation increase @5000. Southpark ride
The streams are filled by the weather the mountains create, along with the snow still melting. A brook is music to my ears, reminding me of my boyhood in the Northeastern hills of Massachusetts and Upstate NY, and I survey them with trout fishing in mind. Though the weather here is quite mild and pleasant it just seems so tempting to stop and jump in but there isn’t time, for the miles consume our hours. For now this will be stuff of dreams, and hopefully I will return for a more casual visit.
We started the road at 7 this morning, for the climb to Hoosier Pass; the Continental Divide. More climbing, but just 12 miles and we all met with David Snell, the President of the Fuller Center for Housing. This is his homeland, and he coordinated a visit with his family with our travels. We were met at the summit with signs, cowbells and cheering from him and his family. We took photos and dressed for the descent, for it was rather cool up there and the physical exertion was through. What followed was a thrilling downhill run through switchbacks, hills tempting speeds my inner youth would have risked, but I kept my speed to 40. Though my tires were new at trip’s start, they are sorely worn now and I was debating changing my front gashed rubber. I didn’t want to risk crashing at higher speeds, thinking that maybe 40 would be a more survivable speed to skid down the road. I was just lying to myself, though. I took more risk than I should, and it was exhilarating! Really, check out the graph on this link- it shows the ascent, peak, and descent.
Most of us stopped in Breckenridge for pastry, and then continued. The balance of the day was downhill, a wonderful change though as we approached Kremmling we were met with very strong headwinds, keeping progress to as low as 15mph as the grades decreased. There are always uphill runs that mingle with downhill. I got lost in Dillon and messed up the total day's ride, so this is a continuation of the above link.
We are in Gore Range Baptist Church tonight; it has lots of rooms and so far I’ve managed to have my own. I rode most of the day alone, having missed a turn and left behind after Breckenridge, so I’ll just stay vanished in this thin air.
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