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08-20-08, 12:36 AM
I took yesterday off, and did some motor-touring with the family. While we were out and about, I scouted a route for my second ride. This time, I planned to start at the junction of 395 and 158 (June Lake Loop), head north to 120, skirt Mono Lake, and head towards Benton and the Chalfant Valley on US 6 heading back to Bishop.
At the jumping off point I told the girls to go have some fun, and then start looking for me in about 3 hours - being sure to bring lots of water. Once I left the convenience store at the starting point, there would be no services or water as I headed east into the vast and remote high desert.
As I left, I cast a worried glance at the weather to the west, over the Sierra. It was overcast - quite leaden, actually, and there was a freshening breeze coming off the east slope. As I cruised down the first descent I noticed tendrils of cold air mixed with the warm, and so I fretted a bit about thunderstorms. As I turned east on hwy 120, I concerned myself with my first major climb, and forgot about weather. Turns out, it became perfect riding weather - not too hot or cold, with a nice high overcast to keep the sun off of me. Good thing, too, as I only had two water bottles.
After an extended climb, I finally reached Sagehen summit and began my descent into Adobe Flats. If any of you have never descended Sagehen, you're missing one of the best run-outs ever. Wide open vistas, no traffic, visibility galore, and speed. I went over 50mph on two occasions (topped out at just over 52mph), and I was just coasting. It is one of the best descents I've ever experienced, and as an added plus it goes on for miles. Simply amazing.
After hitting the flats, I was treated to a beautiful long ride through a huge high desert valley, with almost no traffic. At one point there was a road crew working, and I was forced to follow a pilot truck for 2 miles. The driver tried to get me to toss the bike in the back and take a ride, but I was having none of it. I ended up drafting him right on his bumper, and coasted through at 20mph. Sweet.
The girls caught up with me before Benton Hot Springs, and I filled my bottles and we had a nice roadside lunch. After that, it was a short climb up, and then a 3 mile 7% descent into Benton Hot Springs. The girls found a nice park, and dallied with the dog while I continued on.
I turned onto hwy 6 and headed down the Chalfant Valley towards Bishop. At about mile 65, they caught me for the last time, and we headed on back to the condo for dinner and the Olympics.
A truly spectacular ride, and the scenery defies description. I'm scheduled for another ride on Thursday - stay tuned!!
South side of Mono Lake:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/monolake.jpg
Winding down 120, behind Mono Lake:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/hwy120-2.jpg
Looking back on Sagehen Meadow:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sagehen-3.jpg
Top of Sagehen:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sagehensummit.jpg
Looking down the Sagehen descent, towards the White Mtns:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sagehendescent-1.jpg
Vanishing Point:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/vanishingpoint.jpg
White Mtns, peeking out between some low hills:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/whitemountains.jpg
Old homestead:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/homestead-1.jpg
East slope of the Sierra, seen from the Chalfant Valley in late afternoon:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sierra.jpg
At the jumping off point I told the girls to go have some fun, and then start looking for me in about 3 hours - being sure to bring lots of water. Once I left the convenience store at the starting point, there would be no services or water as I headed east into the vast and remote high desert.
As I left, I cast a worried glance at the weather to the west, over the Sierra. It was overcast - quite leaden, actually, and there was a freshening breeze coming off the east slope. As I cruised down the first descent I noticed tendrils of cold air mixed with the warm, and so I fretted a bit about thunderstorms. As I turned east on hwy 120, I concerned myself with my first major climb, and forgot about weather. Turns out, it became perfect riding weather - not too hot or cold, with a nice high overcast to keep the sun off of me. Good thing, too, as I only had two water bottles.
After an extended climb, I finally reached Sagehen summit and began my descent into Adobe Flats. If any of you have never descended Sagehen, you're missing one of the best run-outs ever. Wide open vistas, no traffic, visibility galore, and speed. I went over 50mph on two occasions (topped out at just over 52mph), and I was just coasting. It is one of the best descents I've ever experienced, and as an added plus it goes on for miles. Simply amazing.
After hitting the flats, I was treated to a beautiful long ride through a huge high desert valley, with almost no traffic. At one point there was a road crew working, and I was forced to follow a pilot truck for 2 miles. The driver tried to get me to toss the bike in the back and take a ride, but I was having none of it. I ended up drafting him right on his bumper, and coasted through at 20mph. Sweet.
The girls caught up with me before Benton Hot Springs, and I filled my bottles and we had a nice roadside lunch. After that, it was a short climb up, and then a 3 mile 7% descent into Benton Hot Springs. The girls found a nice park, and dallied with the dog while I continued on.
I turned onto hwy 6 and headed down the Chalfant Valley towards Bishop. At about mile 65, they caught me for the last time, and we headed on back to the condo for dinner and the Olympics.
A truly spectacular ride, and the scenery defies description. I'm scheduled for another ride on Thursday - stay tuned!!
South side of Mono Lake:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/monolake.jpg
Winding down 120, behind Mono Lake:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/hwy120-2.jpg
Looking back on Sagehen Meadow:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sagehen-3.jpg
Top of Sagehen:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sagehensummit.jpg
Looking down the Sagehen descent, towards the White Mtns:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sagehendescent-1.jpg
Vanishing Point:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/vanishingpoint.jpg
White Mtns, peeking out between some low hills:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/whitemountains.jpg
Old homestead:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/homestead-1.jpg
East slope of the Sierra, seen from the Chalfant Valley in late afternoon:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%202/sierra.jpg