WWR Day 35 Sunglow CG to Aquarius Plateau
WWR Day 35 Sunglow CG to dispersed camping on Aquarius Plateau
Thur Sept 12, 2019
Distance 32.2
Start elevation 7250'
End elevation 9700'
High point probably 10030'
Low point about 6920'
Climbing about 3700'
Ride time 4:45
Total time about 6:10
Days bike camping: 24
Contiguous days riding : 6
Clear blue skies greet me in my cold canyon shadow. Frost on bike and table, and all of the condensation inside tent is frozen.
It takes a bit of convincing that I need to crawl out of my nice warm sleeping bag. I wore extra layers last night and it worked pretty well, no night long debate with myself about rustling on more clothes.
I get up and manage the frosty fly first, glimpsing sunshine on the crags a fair bit to the west.. It's gonna be a while for old Sol and I to reunite this fair morning.
STD breakfast fare, and I take a hike up the shadow casting hill behind my site, and catch some nice views of dawn in the red rock lands of Sunglow.
It is a slow morning, over 3 hours from consciousness till riding, so a later start than typical. I ride back down through town and across the Bicknell bottom lands and start the climbing.
It is rolling sage lands, but unlike lower areas, the surrounding hills are forested mountains. I rejoin the route from my Sunglow diversion about 8 miles in. About the same distance as if I rode from Loa. Soon the ravines are filled with juniper and gnarled pinon. My goal is Cyclone Lake, about 30 miles in.
I still have cell service, and the Brams are feeding me reports. No water as expected at Big Lake, dry. Cyclone lake is really more of swamp, much wading required to get not very clear water. Roundy Reservoir is worse. Well shoot, I didn't bring but enough water for the day and was expecting to filter some at Cyclone for dinner, breakfast, and tomorrows ride.. Next "possible" waters are 7-10 miles further, and most of those sound less than appetizingas well. Ohh well, I can always filter and back wash at Cyclone.
I peddle on in the perfect weather, and a number of vehicles pass, as this is the dirt back road to Escalate, up over the mountains. A red pickup stops and ask if I need anything. Well yes, water would be good. Her name is Kate, from Escalate, out with Emma, her golden retriever. Heading toward Torrey for lunch with a friend.
She gives 3 quarts if water, and we chat more. As she is suggesting taking the road all the way to Escalate (not on route) and reminds me that Posey Lake is a beautiful mountain lake, with full service campground with water, just 5-6 miles past Cyclone Lake.
She asks if I want any apples or peaches. Peaches sound good, they don't travel well on the bike. She gives me 3 small ones she grows herself. I eat one while chatting, and it is perfect. The other 2 fit in my "gas tank" bag, so I save them for later.
Up up up I go, with one down for every 3 ups due to the rollers. Run into a large scattered flock of sheep grazing, I wait for some groups to clear the road.
I reach aspen groves gracing hillsides at about 20 miles. Campsites are starting now, but still want to get to 30ish, even though Kate's generousity will allow me to camp anywhere.
The rollers continues in forested area above 9000'. Ahh, plateau riding, good for riding, scenery, bad for water. I crest the high point to day at just a smidge over 10,000'.
I rollercoaster down a few hundred feet, checking out sites. A number of promising ones have RV in them, a couple of blase' ones are open but don't sing to me.
It is getting close to 5 when I turnoff the Escalate Rd, and getting a little concerned
about time. It gets dark and cold earlier now, and I need to recharge my phone with the solar while the sun is high.
I am scanning for side roads, particularly to the north for good morning and evening sun. I pass a corral and a little hillock, and a road appears.
Following it up a qtr mile reveals an ok site on edge of mixed aspen fir grove. Obviously used by hunters, there are several wide stump chairs and a high bench I can use as a table. No squatting for dinner tonight!!
The is some old lumber I use as a wind break, sweet! And the coup is a bed sized piece of carpeting I use as a pad under my tent. Lap of luxury.
The moon must be near full and is out before dark. I putter around a bit as sunlight and moon light exchange batons. Don't really need head lamp, the lunar light is illuminating enough to my naturally dilated eyes. The way things should be....
Thur Sept 12, 2019
Distance 32.2
Start elevation 7250'
End elevation 9700'
High point probably 10030'
Low point about 6920'
Climbing about 3700'
Ride time 4:45
Total time about 6:10
Days bike camping: 24
Contiguous days riding : 6
Clear blue skies greet me in my cold canyon shadow. Frost on bike and table, and all of the condensation inside tent is frozen.
It takes a bit of convincing that I need to crawl out of my nice warm sleeping bag. I wore extra layers last night and it worked pretty well, no night long debate with myself about rustling on more clothes.
I get up and manage the frosty fly first, glimpsing sunshine on the crags a fair bit to the west.. It's gonna be a while for old Sol and I to reunite this fair morning.
STD breakfast fare, and I take a hike up the shadow casting hill behind my site, and catch some nice views of dawn in the red rock lands of Sunglow.
It is a slow morning, over 3 hours from consciousness till riding, so a later start than typical. I ride back down through town and across the Bicknell bottom lands and start the climbing.
It is rolling sage lands, but unlike lower areas, the surrounding hills are forested mountains. I rejoin the route from my Sunglow diversion about 8 miles in. About the same distance as if I rode from Loa. Soon the ravines are filled with juniper and gnarled pinon. My goal is Cyclone Lake, about 30 miles in.
I still have cell service, and the Brams are feeding me reports. No water as expected at Big Lake, dry. Cyclone lake is really more of swamp, much wading required to get not very clear water. Roundy Reservoir is worse. Well shoot, I didn't bring but enough water for the day and was expecting to filter some at Cyclone for dinner, breakfast, and tomorrows ride.. Next "possible" waters are 7-10 miles further, and most of those sound less than appetizingas well. Ohh well, I can always filter and back wash at Cyclone.
I peddle on in the perfect weather, and a number of vehicles pass, as this is the dirt back road to Escalate, up over the mountains. A red pickup stops and ask if I need anything. Well yes, water would be good. Her name is Kate, from Escalate, out with Emma, her golden retriever. Heading toward Torrey for lunch with a friend.
She gives 3 quarts if water, and we chat more. As she is suggesting taking the road all the way to Escalate (not on route) and reminds me that Posey Lake is a beautiful mountain lake, with full service campground with water, just 5-6 miles past Cyclone Lake.
She asks if I want any apples or peaches. Peaches sound good, they don't travel well on the bike. She gives me 3 small ones she grows herself. I eat one while chatting, and it is perfect. The other 2 fit in my "gas tank" bag, so I save them for later.
Up up up I go, with one down for every 3 ups due to the rollers. Run into a large scattered flock of sheep grazing, I wait for some groups to clear the road.
I reach aspen groves gracing hillsides at about 20 miles. Campsites are starting now, but still want to get to 30ish, even though Kate's generousity will allow me to camp anywhere.
The rollers continues in forested area above 9000'. Ahh, plateau riding, good for riding, scenery, bad for water. I crest the high point to day at just a smidge over 10,000'.
I rollercoaster down a few hundred feet, checking out sites. A number of promising ones have RV in them, a couple of blase' ones are open but don't sing to me.
It is getting close to 5 when I turnoff the Escalate Rd, and getting a little concerned
about time. It gets dark and cold earlier now, and I need to recharge my phone with the solar while the sun is high.
I am scanning for side roads, particularly to the north for good morning and evening sun. I pass a corral and a little hillock, and a road appears.
Following it up a qtr mile reveals an ok site on edge of mixed aspen fir grove. Obviously used by hunters, there are several wide stump chairs and a high bench I can use as a table. No squatting for dinner tonight!!
The is some old lumber I use as a wind break, sweet! And the coup is a bed sized piece of carpeting I use as a pad under my tent. Lap of luxury.
The moon must be near full and is out before dark. I putter around a bit as sunlight and moon light exchange batons. Don't really need head lamp, the lunar light is illuminating enough to my naturally dilated eyes. The way things should be....
Sweet campsite find. I'm impressed with your up vertical every day.
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