We came up to Park County yesterday. I thought I’d get another easy run in – as Lucho had left me with such an option in the schedule. But it was optional, and it was clear that I was only to do it if I thought it would loosen me up.
Arriving up in Fairplay, I felt fried. Tired. Really tired. I even snoozed for a short touch in the afternoon, but that did not shake the sand in my eyes. I decided to bag the second run and tried to get to bed early (early for me would be 8 but with other obligations in the summer this turns out to be 930).
I thought I’d wake early, but instead I slept pretty hard until 730 and I soaked that up as much as I could. I got out about an hour later, and started up to American Flats from the Mosquito Pass Road at the split. I figured this would give me some climbing, and also the opportunity to scout out the upper stretches of the Burro Days course. I was most interested in where the course breaks from the mining road and heads right up to the pass. Of course, head down on the climb, I missed this. I came up to the notch where Mosquito Pass Road comes through London Mountain and then I continued up to the Pass. There was a strong breeze here, with a bit of a bite so I was glad to have a windbreaker. I headed up the hill to the south over the pass, made a quick phone call checking in with home ops and then came down.
I decided that since I missed the cut up, I’d catch it on the down as I saw the marking coming up into the road. The upper sections of this drop are fun. The longer stretch cutting back to the road across the meadow are a bit trickier to dial in as the markings are a bit sparse – but navigable.
Once I hit the road, I climb back up to the notch again and then dropped down on the north side of London Mountain. I tried to push the downs here, but seemed to be challenged with the “foot computer” dialing things in well. Just below the bridge, I took a minor tumble. A bit lower I took another hard tumble and got some road rash as a result. Clearly a combo of pushing, being a bit off on the reflexes for the day, and being a bit tired. Shortly after this the family came driving up, wondering how I was doing and out for a morning nature take in. I jogged back up to the bridge to catch up with them.
13 miles, all above 11k feet, 3200 feet of climbing. Spent the rest of the day with the family checking out various things in the area including some of the bristlecones on Windy Ridge.
Great stuff, Mr. Z
ReplyDeleteJust a lucky guy.
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