Fuel for a long ride
First rest stop at Cross Canyon & Coit. Feeling good.
Roy climbs the Cross Canyon Wall
It's always great to arrive at the top of Cross Canyon and grab a bite to eat
Dirk, up on Hoover Airstrip
Roy on Hoover Airstrip
Dirk attempts a takeoff!
A "we were here" message left for the trailworkers
A message left for us - this was just awesome - except that the Pliny was empty :(
Weariness of the night setting in before the Willow Ridge Trail descent
I attempted to capture the amount of condensation from my breath at Los Cruzeros. It was freezing here!
The sunrise began as we climbed China Hole Trail and gave us blue sky by the time we reached Manzanita Point
Hello my good friend!
Some awesome sunrise colors appear
Smiles all around as morning breaks
Made it to HQ for sunrise! 33 miles, 6:30 hrs, 7600' so far
Climbing Hobbs Rd
I have never noticed this tree on Hobbs Rd before!
Oops!
Bombing Middle Ridge (photo Dirk)
Photo opportunity on Middle Ridge
Snack at the bottom of Middle Ridge (Photo Dirk)
Heading out of the bottom of Middle Ridge Trail, there is lingering smoke in the air
In warmer months, we would just ride through this but nobody wanted cold, wet feet today
Jack Ass Trail is there, somewhere!
More flying towards Bear Mountain!
Brief rest stop to eat before the Bear Mountain ascent
Something is wrong with this sign
This "house on the hill" is a marker as we ride around it, then up above it on Bear Mountain. We refer to it as Mount Doom, as it feels like it is always watching
Closing in on Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain - oppressive
We cleaned the first section this time
This is something like 30-35% grade!
Roy shows how it is done!
Dirk & I cleaned a long, sustained section, stopping here to recover. Up above is a false summit that is about half-way up the mountain
Much of the climb is pushing
The second false summit
Near the top, we ride past a familiar intersection
Bear Mountain summit! The rock in the center is the high point.
View out towards Mt Hamilton
Relief at the top of Bear Mountain (Photo Dirk)
After a long, tough climb up Bear Mountain, Missippi Lake always looks like an oasis
Cooling just riding around it
Unique trail marker for the Canteen Springs Trail
Dirk, well rested at Pacheco Camp
Roy, getting ready to ride
A fun descent down Turkey Pond Trail ruined by a few fallen trees
Regroup and food at the Dutch's trailhead
Great views from Dutch's
Fun in the sun on Dutch's Trail
R&R at Dowdy Ranch after a hellish climb of Kaiser-Aetna Rd
Dirk gets a head-start up Burra Burra Trail
Getting some video of Roy on Center Flats Rd, Burra Burra Peak in the background
Struggling up the final part of Center Flats Rd (Photo Dirk)
Reaching Wagon Rd after an agonizing climb up Center Flats Rd is always wonderful, but especially as the sunset color show starts
We've enjoyed your warming presence all day and will miss you!
The show begins
A glorious exit
Down by Kelly Lake, we make friends with some newts
This spider and its web were incredible - presumably the detail work is actually grass seeds blown into the webs
Regroup at Willson Ranch before the dreaded descent into Vasquez.
In a zombie trance right after finishing (Photo Brian)
A tired trio (photo Brian)
The Hard COEre 100 finishers (photo Brian)
Prize at the finish!
The route
Elevation profile - some steep climbs in here
