This was the day of decision about going over the famed (for cyclists) McKenzie Pass or having to take the alternate route. May have made the wrong decision based on bad information from the USFS ranger that I consulted at the station where the two routes diverge. She did not think that there would be any significant snow accumulation and if there was any left from the night before that it would have melted off. WRONG! However, it really made for a "memory making" experience. As they say, if it does not kill you, it will make you stronger.
We started off with beautiful bright, but cloudy, skies and 42 deg. Rain showers had been predicted. On reaching 2800 ft of the 5325 ft elevation, the accumulation of snow on the road began to appear. We ended up pusing our bikes through 3 - 8 inches of snow (at times brushing against the bottom of the panniers) for close to 7 miles! Is don't like my bicycle wheels were in case in concrete. We had already gone too far to turn around and just prayed that it would get better.
We got to a point where we met bike/ foot tracks coming from the other direction where another cyclist had tried to get over the pass from the other directin but had to turn around. Later that night I spoke to a lady who offers shelter to bicyclists. She told me that it was actually one of of her guests who was doing the Trans Am route that made those tracks and had to turn around and come back and stay with her for a second night.
There was a rugged beautty to the whole experience. The temp had dropped to 35 deg and it got very blustery at the summit. It started snowing as well. Needless to say we had the whole mountain to ourselves.(That could be a good or bad thing.Fortunately, on the descent side of the pass there was no snow at all after the first mile.
Sunset is at 8:35. We left McKenzie bridge at 930 running arrived at the summit at 7 p.m. we left the summit at 7:11 after a brief round of picture taking. Then it was flying down the mountain being pelted with snow and rain which made visibility very difficult. Brakes don't work well with ice and snow accumulation but as we were flying down the mountain I could feel a thermocline where it suddenly got "warmer" and I regained better control. We arrive in Sisters Oregon feeling somewhat frozen and decided to stay at a motel to thaw out in recover from a rather exhausting "day at the office".
Thank you for all your prayers for having this be a wonderful character building experience that we actually survived.
No comments:
Post a Comment