Top of Big Mountain!

Even though Corey and I took our "last" big ride on Thursday before Melodie left for college, we still have Hyrum around... so maybe we can sneak in another "last ride"? Yes, let's do it! Today we decided we'd tackle BIG MOUNTAIN, because that's not a very popular trail and would be good even on a Saturday. I am proud to report that on this, our 3rd (4th?) attempt, we made it ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! First time ever. 

We left home at 7:15, car was parked and we were on our bikes and headed up the trail around 7:45 am. I was ok to do this if we started early, cause there is construction going on up there and a few "do not enter" signs (shhh) and I didn't want any workers to be upset with us (hoping that they don't work weekends?) The first part of the trail has been dug up, so the switchbacks across the mountain were gone and it was just a major HAB "hike a bike", ugh...

It was kinda the worst. My legs were dying. It killed all my energy for the rest of the climb, but slow and steady wins the race. Taking a break at the top of Gadzoom.

Pretending like I'm not dead tired.

Are we there yet? Nope.

Corey with a gorgeous view behind him. Getting higher and higher! This pic at 9:30 am.

Corey and I rode this last year, and then I did one ride with Joseph, but didn't make it to the top either time. The snowfield's stopped me. I don't know how close to the top I was last year, but prob another 20-30 min climb, had there not been snow? We tried earlier this year in July, but again, too much snow. We knew it would all be clear today. Up and up and up "Up up up" - Emperor Cuszo. Almost at the top... Photo at 10:20:

We made it! 10:34 am.

We soaked up the view for 10 min, then asked a nice fellow nature enthusiast to take our picture.

It took us 2 hours 15 min to climb, not counting our resting time, 40 min of fun on the descent. So with us starting at 7:45, that should have meant we were done at 10:40, but it was actually 11:30 before we were back at the car. So I guess we took a lot of breaks. 13.60 miles, moving time 2:45, I got all PRs on the descent!

Ok, now I'm curious. I think I keep better details on my exercise blog... I just did some research... looks like this was actually our 7th time riding this trail! The 1st, 2nd and 3rd times riding it were the week of July 10 - 15, 4th time on 9/1/23, 5th 8/25/23, and 6th 7/1/24 earlier this year. My 7th time, Corey's 6th. Go team.

I love seeing the world from this high. 

Soaking it all in.

This was down:

Looks like we're gonna bike off a cliff. The ride down was so much faster than the climb. Kinda crazy to see people after 20 min biking down, knowing that they will be biking for an hour to get up to where we just were 20 min ago. Is that a bit of the mathematics behind what it is like to travel at the speed of light? Hmm. 

Melodie went with Wayne to his high school reunion tonight. Cute. 

It was a good day.