Day 31: July 22 Grand Lake, CO to Big Thompson River Canyon, CO 60 miles

Morning moon over Baker Mountain.

Wednesday, 7/22/81
Private campground, Big Thompson River Canyon

Got up late at the hostel but all psyched up for the big climb. Entered the park at 8:30 Started the real climb at 9:30. Topped out around 1:30, four hours later. I started first and made it to the top first. The thin air never did bother me. I just kept panting.

Headwaters of Colorado River.

Gate Range.

View south from Sheep Rock,

Rocky Mountain meadow

High point: 12,183 feet. At 11,000 feet we moved above the tree line into tundra. I took over 30 pictures, probably too many. Walked on a tundra nature trail. A hailstorm caught me with very high winds on the ridge. It lasted only five minutes, though. Never stopped for lunch, just munched trail mix.

Lava Cliffs--highest point of tour - 12,183 ft

 Rock near Poudre Lake

Rocky Mountain National Park panorama

Fall River Pass trail

Summer snow a Fall River Pass

We gathered again at Estes Park, most touristy town I've ever seen. Rode from there down Big Thompson River Canyon. Very pretty. Some of the nicest downhill riding of the tour.

Camping at a private campground 2/3 way down the canyon. Called [my sister] Kathy to tell her I'd be in tomorrow.
 

Begging marmot

The next morning we accepted the challenge and began the climb. It took us four hours to reach the top, 12,183 feet above sea level. And no sign to have our picture next to! What a disappointment! I thought the thin air would really bother me, but it didn’t. If I just opened my mouth and panted.

Lakes across the valley

Mushroom Rock

While I was pedaling along the ridge up there, on top of the world, a sudden hailstorm hit me. The winds were fierce, and before I knew it I was blown clear across the road and almost into the ditch on the other side. Meanwhile, hailstones were stinging any bare skin they could find. Then suddenly, it was over, just as quickly as it had begun. Later, I asked my friends, who were five minutes behind me, what they thought of the storm. Their reply was. “What storm?” They hadn’t even seen it!

There was 40 miles of downhill following that climb and you can believe I savored every minute of it! After you ride back down off the ridges and into the valleys at the edge of the park, you expect it to level out again. But no, ahead was the Big Thompson River Canyon, a narrow winding canyon, which has enough room at the bottom for the river, the highway, and a scattering of homes and motels. We sailed down this and camped about halfway down for the night. Forty-three people lost their lives in a flood in this canyon in the sixties. There are highway signs all through it saying to the effect “if you see a flood coming, climb for higher ground.” Most disconcerting. We saw no floods, however.

The long ride down!

Big Thompson River Canyon