| Distance | 35.00 kms | 21.75 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 340 meters | 1,115 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 2.38 | - |
| Avg speed | 9.1 kph | - |
| Avg climb | 3% | - |
| Max grade | 16% | - |
| Distance | 27,356.70 kms | 16,998.85 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 286,969 meters | 941,499 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 1,942.88 | - |
Monday, May 12th, 2014
My late night in front of the fire leads to an equally late morning rise. The sun hitting my tent is a good motivator, it's like a greenhouse in there. I pack up and ride down to Springdale.
I stop at a little restaurant to get breakfast and as I am leaving I get to talking to a guy at one of the outside tables. We chat for a good while then he asks where I will be staying tonight. One of the campgrounds I reply. How much do they charge he asks? I'm not sure, 15 or 20 dollars. I'll give you a motel room for 25, I normally rent them for 99 but today will probably be slow, it looks like you could use a bed and a shower he says. Sounds good to me! It turns out to be a nice place; I move in, take a nap, then ride the bike unloaded back into the park and up the canyon road.
I lock the bike at the Angels Landing trailhead and start hiking. The sign at the front says the hike is strenuous and takes 4 hours round trip. It's 5 o'clock now, if they are right I will be returning well after dark. I'm banking on the park service being overly conservative in their estimates to account for the variety of people that undertake the hike.
I make it up to Scout Lookout in 45 minutes, no worries about the time then. Here the walkway ends and the climb begins. I'm not sure if this would technically be considered a climb. Maybe a scramble? I've heard a few people use that term recently. At any rate it's not a hike. Poles and chains are embedded in the rock in various places to help. The summit has incredible views, even more so due to the late hour. I would love to stay until sunset but I would not want to have to go back down in the dark. I eat my sandwich and fruit that I brought then start back down.
I get back to the bike at 7. A two hour trip then, if you move at a decent pace. The fading sunlight on the mountains makes for an interesting return to the motel. I bet I'm going to be sore tomorrow... glad to have a bed to return to tonight.
