Update. Spellcheck gave an incorrect spelling towards the end of my friend Ann Kirkpatrick. I can't seem to correct it, so please know it is wrong. Sorry Ann!
I talked about Sunday being the day of the perfect ride. It was. Monday was just a little under the Sunday standard, but not by much. It too was a wonderful day.
We were still in a very rural area, but an area with a lot of ranches. We mostly worked our way through a valley heading up towards another crossing of the continental divide. Nothing steep, a lot of rolling country. Before we knew it we were on a steady downhill. Apparently this continental divide didn't merit signage as such, or maybe they just didn't know where it was. After all, lots of hills and not much water, what does it matter. At some point you go down, that is all the indication I need that the line has been crossed.
I am not just being paranoid about the climbing and my lack of grace at doing such. (Remember, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't really out to get you!). No, I have open re-enforcement that others agree with my self assessment. In our map meeting discussing the climb out of Silver City, Nicole, (one of our two leaders, so good, so nice, raised by a wonderful Mom. Yes, her Mom reads the blogs), suggested in a kind, gentle way that those with climbing difficulties might want to get out early. No problems with what was said, IF she just hadn't stared at ME the whole time she said it. Just me! She followed up with a note, I thought of a 'just kidding' possibly? No, the note was of the local solar time tables and the soonest I could get out at sunrise! Oh well....
The day was in the 55 mile range, not a lot but had about 6000 ft of climbing, a lot....but we would be rewarded with reaching the summit of 8,200 ft high Emory Pass, the highest point on the entirety of the trip. At a most literal perspective, it will be all downhill to Florida! At least the next 9 miles were for sure to be downhill in coming out of the pass, good enough to get us to the night's lodging. I'll take that.
But, to get over the pass, we start the upward climb of 16 miles or so at just under 6000 ft. At times like this, the mileage left in a climb is interesting, but it's the elevation that matters. You simply have to get to the 8200 ft mark. Long climbs can be hard mentally. You want to be done, but you have to be patient. You will be there for a while and that's it! Suck it up whiny! Just do it!
Note. Kit Carson originally guided athe a Army of the Wast thru this pass in 1846. This was prime Apache country. Real west.
Yet this climb, while tough, was easier on the mind and body. In a forested, canyon area, lots of curves so you don't get the sight of the full climb all at once, some slight flat to down hill portions, cool, quiet, really nice. And then you are there. Top of the world! Vast open country to the east! And down! A great day. Not quite perfect, but close.
Note. Since we cleared Tempe thru the rest of Arizona and for all the ride in New Mexico, we were in the Congtpressional District currently represented by Ann Kithpatrick-AZ and the District previously represented by Harry Teague-NM. Harry's district was bigger than the stare of Penndylvania. These folks were two of my very best friends in DC, still among my very best friends, and absolutely great people. I felt very honored to be in their part of the world.
Pictures. Just the ranch lands, the climb, the Bkack Range Lodge and me.
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