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Colorado Epic: Day Eight

 


Durango to Ouray

Once again, some housekeeping.  The third brother, Billy, joined us last night for the remainder of the tour.  We have also assigned everyone nicknames.  I already mentioned “Fresh Legs Greg” and Leadout Leslie.”  We also have “Turbo Tom,” “Magic Mark” (he used to be “Mellow Mark,” but today he appeared out of nowhere and blew past me on the last climb, so I revoked the “Mellow” status), “e-Bill,” “Acoustic Kurt,” “Jet-Engine Jim,” and me, “High-five Heidi,” (I like to high-five the roadside plants on long climbs).  

Today was another monster.  84 miles, three mountain passes hovering around the 11,000 foot mark, and nearly 8,000 feet of climbing.  After my terrible start yesterday, I hoped today would be better, and it was.  Right out of the gate, I felt great.  I’m guessing it’s because we started at the low, oxygen-rich altitude of 6,600 feet.  I don’t know.  I don’t care.  All I know was I felt really good.  

We started with an easy spin out of Durango along a gorgeous side road.  Fresh Legs lead the pack, and we spun along.  About 17 miles in, we started climbing up to a high bench, from 6,600 feet up to around 8,000 feet.  I had in my mind that this was one of the summits, but much to my chagrin, it was not.  When we reached the van at mile 25, and I realized we had just climbed up to high bench to begin climbing for real, I gave myself a little pep talk.  It was fine.

Then we started climbing.  Up and up and up.  The grade was steady and hanging around 6%, with some kickers here and there.  I felt really good and found my rhythm almost immediately.  The legs spun smooth circles, and I focused on seeing how little energy I could use to move my legs around.  Crystal cranking at its finest.  It felt great.  At one point, I was debating whether or not to use precious energy to take a drink of water, when I heard two voices behind me.  Before I could look over my shoulder, two young, super fit men spun past me, riding side by side and talking to each other in full sentences.  They passed me like I was rolling backward down the mountain. Here I was, debating whether or not I had energy to take a drink of water, and these two guys were having a full, in-depth conversation, not even sweating or breathing hard.  They had to be pro riders out of Durango.  That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.  Eventually, I reached the summit of Coal Bank Pass, and it was raining.  We quickly put on rain gear and plunged down the other side, only to begin climbing our second pass of the day.

Once again, up and up and up we went.  We quickly spread out, finding our own paces.  My legs found their rhythm, and I settled in. I felt so good!  The climb went quickly, and we reached Molas Summit in good time.  



Down the other side, down, down, down, all the way to Silverton.  We stopped for lunch and watched heavy clouds roll over the mountains from where we had just come.  And they kept coming.  Fearing a deluge, we gobbled lunch, donned rain gear, and quickly started climbing our third and final pass of the day.  The storm either dissipated or changed course, but we quickly outran it.  Once again, I found my rhythm and settled in, enjoying the scenery, giving celebratory fist pumps whenever I passed another 1,000 feet in elevation.

And then.  Mark blew past me.  I don’t know where he came from.  I was climbing along happily, all by myself, watching the road switchback up the mountain, when I heard, “Yep, yep,” and zoom.  There he went.  “You’re no longer Mellow Mark!” I called out as he pedaled away.  I eventually caught him, and he, Tom, Jim, and I, all reached Red Mountain Summit at about the same time.  

It was all descent from there.  We dove off the summit, carving through corners, watching the canyon unfold.  The views were spectacular, and I stopped a few times to take some photos.

We ended in Ouray.  We were all thirsty and hungry, so stood in the parking lot of the hotel, eating whatever Leslie put in front of us and guzzling water like we had just crossed the Sahara.  Today was truly an epic day.  I feel really good.  My legs just keep going and going.  I am happiest in the mountains, and today was all mountains.  

Distance: 84 miles

Elevation: 7,874

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