Riding in The Eastern Sierra Nevada, wearing the jersey.
CLIMBING EXTRAVAGANZA
It all started with the jersey. Aerohead Cycles in downtown Bishop, California has a namesake cycling jersey. The jersey is exceptional- not just in colour and design, but also in content. It boasts twelve hieroglyphic-looking marks: one for each of the demanding (to say the least) climbs out of the Owen’s Valley. From Sunny Slopes to Lone Pine, there’s a road jutting out of the valley from both east and west to suit any cycling masochist’s desires. After looking at my jersey for about a day, the idea of climbing each of the marquee passes was born. For some reason I thought this was a good idea- a good way to begin my summer training for speed skating and kick my butt into shape after a month off from exercise.
Next up, it was time to find a few people as crazy enough to join me on the thousands of feet elevation gain. Because it would all be on bike, and knowing Peter (my husband) was a given for something like this, I ran my idea past my good friend Kathleen Nelson. Kathleen happens to be the wife of Brian, the artist and bike shop owner behind the jersey, and a person who loves cycling more than almost anyone I know. Her eyes lit up upon hearing my scheme. And so there were three.
With a two-week window to conquer each beast of a climb, and no fitness to begin with, I had a 27-tooth cog fitted onto my back wheel to tackle what we thought would be the easiest of climbs. From this first climb, Pine Creek, we decided to go by how we felt and Kathleen’s work schedule with the US Forest Service with the order of rides to follow. The daunting task of ascending east and west walls of the Owen’s Valley becomes less of a struggle when I think of the glorious landscape we’ll rise up into each day. I’ve always considered this valley the most glorious and spectacular, at least from what I’ve seen of the world, and it’s a treat to experience the sights and sounds of the high desert in the Spring season on the bicycle. The physical and emotional energy that I’ll store after this quality time spent suffering with friends will carry me through the speed skating season ahead, when I’m stuck indoors, skating in circles.
Over the next two weeks, you can enjoy some updates and pictures from this climbing extravaganza!
DAY ONE (APRIL 25TH): PINE CREEK
That 27-rear cog came in handy because I don’t think I came out of it the entire way. The fact that the road up Pine Creek topped out at 7,400 feet did not make the ascent any easier. I found myself already thinking about the days to come. Not so much in fear, but in happiness thinking how much easier turning the pedals will be after a few days; a few weeks. There’s nothing quite like good fitness to bump up one’s quality of life- at least in my opinion.
Peter and Kathleen down in the valley
A three-foot long Gopher Snake beside the road!
Six cars passed us the entire climb. About 11km of grinding up through the most glorious of landscapes, and then a fun descent down back into the valley made for about a 1-½ hour ride. That would have been plenty, but Peter and I decided to ride back to the Nelson’s house, making it over three hours in the ever increasing heat and wind of the day. Still, it felt good to go high into the mountains again. This was a climb I’ve done many times when living here in The Owen’s Valley as a cyclist. It felt much steeper and longer than it ever did as a cyclist. Actually, it’s pretty depressing to feel so relatively weak. It’s only the beginning of the next two weeks of mountain madness, and though I suffered like a dog, what a great start it was!
Peter, Clara and Kathleen up at 8,300 feet after the long ascent
Stay tuned for more instalments for the climbing extravaganza!
DAY 2 (APRIL 26TH): ONION VALLEY
Courtesy of my husband, Peter (thanks Peter!)
Onion Valley. A thirteen-mile climb from the 3900ft. Owen’s Valley to 9200ft.in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The Sierra’s at this point are a continuous range of granite mountains rising two miles high from the valley floor. They form the western side of this 150-mile valley.
Peter ascending the steep road
It is April 15th and already the temperatures dictate an early morning start. Riding with me are my wife, Clara, and good friend Kathleen Nelson. I still remember cycling with Kathleen 16 years ago when she was about seven months pregnant. She has always found a way to keep riding.
The road is typical of most climbs in the area at this time – absent of traffic. We begin crossing through the sage and granite boulder foothills of the high desert country, the three of us giddy with laughter and excitement for the ride ahead. We aren’t so much cycling fanatics as we are aficionados of landscape. And the Sierra is our favourite of all landscapes.
Difficullt to climb; a blast to descend!
The road switchbacks through an enormous glacial moraine and we continually eye the road above us for clues to its end but on and on it goes. After two hours the laughs and giddiness are gone. We are fatigued and glad the road ends where it does but still we are smiling and feeling a great satisfaction for getting to enjoy such a quiet and spectacular place. For the three of us, bicycles are more than a tool for training. They allow us to connect to a place and strengthen our friendships by sharing a worthwhile activity.
Kathleen and Peter at the top of the climb, 9200 feet
