9.7.09 Monarch Pass

Up early. Need to make the 10:00am shuttle to Monarch Pass just north of Poncha Springs. Its about a 2.5 hour drive west of Colorado Springs. We get there just in time to meet up with Tony, drop a pressure-packed-bowels-not-liking-the-high-mountain-pressure duece in the surprisingly clean porta-potty. Oh goodness. There are about 20 other riders in two vans heading up to Monarch Pass. For those not aware, the shuttle is basically a ride up to some starting point with the majority of the riding down hill. This might also be a good time to remark that we'd like to name Colorado the 'can't breath for shit state'. The warm up ride caused us to huff and puff and that was only to about 6,500ft. And last year on our trip to the northwest we probably maxed out at 6,800ft. Now here we were about to take a shuttle up to 11,312ft and then climb with bike to 12,500ft! So here the three of us were packed into this van with 10 Lance Armstrongs. I vaguely remember one of them saying something to the effect of; "hope you brought your oxygen ladies..." Oh dear.

So we get dropped off and I do remember breathing heavier than normal...to use the restroom...again. So we start the climb feeling okay. Up to about 11,600ft Mike's fingers and toes are a bit, shall we say, tingly. But we press on. We took breaks for air and water and rest. At about 11,900ft Mike is not feeling well and hands are now shaking. Having to recognize that his body is not fully acclimated, Mike decides to turn back and rides about 20 miles down the highway to get to 7000ft (our starting elevation). Chad and Tony press on the knife edge of the Continental Divide. About and hour and a half they decend on the edge of the crest to be challenged by a multitude of ups and downs. At about the half way point we meet up with a man who has an ultra-marathoning son who is halfway to completing the Colorado Trail. This gives us an extra boost of motivation to keep moving. We were playing a game of cat and mouse with another group of 4 who seemed to take long breaks after the long climbs whereas our method was more of short breaks with occassionaly walking up the 'suck wind' climbs. After 35 miles, 9 different types of terrain and 4 gigs of pics on the memory cards, we make it back to Mike 7.5 hours later narrowly missing the time to finish record by a just over 3.5 hours...

Headed out for some really good Thai food in Poncha Springs at the only Thai restaurent in Southern Colorado and then headed out south to Crested Butte just after sunset. Tony followed in his rented van. Didn't get into town until late and Chad and Mike decided to get a hotel room. Tony already had one reserved. Quick shower and then pass out.