Last Big Climb of the Year - Big Cottonwood Canyon

One of my goals at the beginning of the summer was to hit Millcreek, Big and Little Cottonwood, and Emmigration Canyons. The summer has come and gone and one canyon stood out, unclimbed by me, reminding me every time I drove up to Salt Lake for something. Even at night when I could not see it, shame came upon me when I thought of it. So after 5 rainy Saturdays in a row I had my shot today. I drove up to Sandy and up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is definitely epic in length. When you pass the park ride lot at the bottom there is a sign challenging you to make it: Solitude 14 miles, Nordic Center 15 Miles, Brighton 15 Miles. At that point you know there is only up to go.

At the beginning of the day I was also hoping to get to Guardsman Pass and see if I could get over 9000ft in elevation. I hit the end of the road in Brighton and headed up to Guardsman. There was snow just after the Winter Maintenance Ends here sign. I road in just around a bend hoping that there was clear pavement ahead, but there was not. 23mm tires are really not effective in the snow, so I turned around and went down the hill fast. I made it to 8915ft, which is higher than I have climbed before. I guess I will have to top 9000ft next year. What a beautiful canyon and nice day. I am happy to be warm again now.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4311577


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It's Not Summer Anymore

The good weather is officially over. Today the weather was supposed to be bad in Utah. I check the weather on multiple sources just before lunch and it looked like there was going to be a break in the rain. Out my window it did not look inviting but neither did it look forbidding. So I put on the necessary clothing for a bike ride at 40 degrees.

10 minutes into the ride it started to sprinkle, but that should not be too big of a deal, I had the right equipment. 20 minutes into the ride it started pouring and at that point I was going to be completely soaked by the time I got home so I kept riding. At the high point of the ride, about 5200 ft in elevation, it started snowing. I kept the snow with me the rest of the ride home.

I already miss the days when it was 70 degrees at 6 am and there was no need for leg warmers. At least when I got home my wife, knowing that I should not have left in the first place, had a warm lunch waiting for me. After the feeling came back in my fingers I was able to enjoy a nice warm lunch. My brother-in-law saw me riding in the rain and stopped to talk to me in his car. He told me I was crazy for riding in that weather, earlier he had told my wife on the phone that I was an idiot. He is probably right, but I still love the feeling of being out on my bike trying to climb a hill that I have ridden a hundred times faster, or just being out with only my thoughts.

Here is the route I took on this crazy, rainy, snowy afternoon:


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