WWR Day 36 Aquarius Plateau to Pine Lake CG
WWR Day 36 dispersed camping on Aquarius Plateau to Pine Lake CG
Fri Sept 13, 2019
Distance 39.8
Start elevation 9700
End elevation 8150
High point probably 10630'
Low point about 7750'
Climbing about 2200'
Ride time 4:37
Total time about 5;50
Days bike camping: 25
Contiguous days riding : 7
Sunshine on a chilly morn greets me, as I get up later than planned. My it was cold last night, bundled up in layers last night and thank goodness. Frost yet again is sprinkled over much of my gear, plus there is a quarter inch of ice in my water bottles!!
Still, morning rituals are eased by all of the amenities of my deserted hunters campsite, place to sit and bench to prep the morning gruel (not porridge, that is for those well provisioned car campers). I expect the rug under the tent helped.
I hear an elk bugle as I am packing up, but odd time for that, could be a hunter spoofing some poor cow elk.
I start riding about 10:30 and it has gotten downright pleasant out, bluebird sky, and a bit of a breeze. The breeze turns out to have some bite higher up, but with the trees and twists and turns of the road, I avoid much of it. Still, it can send a chill through one, and I am less adaptable to cold than I once was.
Route is on rollers on the Aquarius, and a loss a few hundred feet before the climb of the day start. It is maybe 1200' climb to Griffin Top. I will pass a few more possible water sources. I would hard pressed to use any of them, much like this dried out fellow I met along the way. Didn't say much, but he is striking his own way.
Along the climb, I run across some cowboys herding cattle, moving them to lower elevation at the end of the season I expect, just as I am going.
I pass Griffin top, and my GPS tell me I am at 10,630', I am a few feet higher that I got on the Wasatch Plateau before exiting. So this is likely the high point so far, and ikely for my whole trip. It is all downhill from here to Mexico ;-)
I have maybe 15 miles to drop nearly 3000'. The road is well maintained, and there are more gentle rollers in the mixed parks and groves. I follow the edge of the Plateau and get peeks of the Esclante Canyon country, the Henry's, and even the La Sals off in the hazy distance.
But the descent turns decidedly faster and steeper. I scare up a bear on the way down, his back end bouncing up and down as it scampers down the road in front of me. I slow down and start my bear songs again for a while and loosen up the spray. I am switch backing down some steep terrain, with the mountains ridges breaking into white cliffs here and there. The road is rougher on this steep section.
I reach a pass, Esclante to the left, John Valley, my route, to the right. Straight ahead is the road climbing up to Barney Top and then to Pine Lake Rd and Powell Point. I had thought about taking that route and descending to the lake, but time and energy as it was, I opt for an easier day and continue the bombing descent.
As I descend the Aspen come back in force, and a few even are just starting to fade a bit towards yellow. As the road shifts from winding descent to following the valley, a number of fine looking camping spots appear.
I reach the flats and am slowly pulling up to the highway when Bret pulls aside and we chat s bit. He loves here, and inquires about my rig and your. We exchange some of our stories, and bid adieu.
A few short empty pavement miles brings me to my last climb 500' in 6 mile's to Pine Lake CG. There is welcoming committee awaiting me at the turn up to Pine Lake.
I got here earlier on a Friday afternoon, and there are still a fair number of sites. Ahh, water faucets are. Still turned on. I wash up and recharge my phone while setting up camp.
Life is Good
Fri Sept 13, 2019
Distance 39.8
Start elevation 9700
End elevation 8150
High point probably 10630'
Low point about 7750'
Climbing about 2200'
Ride time 4:37
Total time about 5;50
Days bike camping: 25
Contiguous days riding : 7
Sunshine on a chilly morn greets me, as I get up later than planned. My it was cold last night, bundled up in layers last night and thank goodness. Frost yet again is sprinkled over much of my gear, plus there is a quarter inch of ice in my water bottles!!
Still, morning rituals are eased by all of the amenities of my deserted hunters campsite, place to sit and bench to prep the morning gruel (not porridge, that is for those well provisioned car campers). I expect the rug under the tent helped.
I hear an elk bugle as I am packing up, but odd time for that, could be a hunter spoofing some poor cow elk.
I start riding about 10:30 and it has gotten downright pleasant out, bluebird sky, and a bit of a breeze. The breeze turns out to have some bite higher up, but with the trees and twists and turns of the road, I avoid much of it. Still, it can send a chill through one, and I am less adaptable to cold than I once was.
Route is on rollers on the Aquarius, and a loss a few hundred feet before the climb of the day start. It is maybe 1200' climb to Griffin Top. I will pass a few more possible water sources. I would hard pressed to use any of them, much like this dried out fellow I met along the way. Didn't say much, but he is striking his own way.
Along the climb, I run across some cowboys herding cattle, moving them to lower elevation at the end of the season I expect, just as I am going.
I pass Griffin top, and my GPS tell me I am at 10,630', I am a few feet higher that I got on the Wasatch Plateau before exiting. So this is likely the high point so far, and ikely for my whole trip. It is all downhill from here to Mexico ;-)
I have maybe 15 miles to drop nearly 3000'. The road is well maintained, and there are more gentle rollers in the mixed parks and groves. I follow the edge of the Plateau and get peeks of the Esclante Canyon country, the Henry's, and even the La Sals off in the hazy distance.
But the descent turns decidedly faster and steeper. I scare up a bear on the way down, his back end bouncing up and down as it scampers down the road in front of me. I slow down and start my bear songs again for a while and loosen up the spray. I am switch backing down some steep terrain, with the mountains ridges breaking into white cliffs here and there. The road is rougher on this steep section.
I reach a pass, Esclante to the left, John Valley, my route, to the right. Straight ahead is the road climbing up to Barney Top and then to Pine Lake Rd and Powell Point. I had thought about taking that route and descending to the lake, but time and energy as it was, I opt for an easier day and continue the bombing descent.
As I descend the Aspen come back in force, and a few even are just starting to fade a bit towards yellow. As the road shifts from winding descent to following the valley, a number of fine looking camping spots appear.
I reach the flats and am slowly pulling up to the highway when Bret pulls aside and we chat s bit. He loves here, and inquires about my rig and your. We exchange some of our stories, and bid adieu.
A few short empty pavement miles brings me to my last climb 500' in 6 mile's to Pine Lake CG. There is welcoming committee awaiting me at the turn up to Pine Lake.
I got here earlier on a Friday afternoon, and there are still a fair number of sites. Ahh, water faucets are. Still turned on. I wash up and recharge my phone while setting up camp.
Life is Good
Downhill is good :)
ReplyDeleteIt is. Very Welcome, especially smooth roads with great views
DeleteGlad to hear you hit your high point of the ride.
ReplyDeleteCan you see Mexico yet?
Not quite, but I am sure I saw AZ from Powell point
DeleteHow many calories do you consume daily?
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting question. My dinner last night was 1000 calories, and no fast food. Perhaps I should do a post on the typical days food
Delete