High in the Sky

Today we biked from Silver City to Kingston, New Mexico. We biked a grade that just kept going up past a huge open copper mining pit out of Silver City, past a rock formation called the Kneeling Nun ,and kept traveling upwards for the first 20 miles. The terrain really changed and we were back in the pine forests in the Gila National Forest that we were in yesterday but way on the other side of the 3 million acres. We climbed up quite high and had lovely views of the valley and roads that we had just traversed. For the first time of the trip, I didn't want a downhill because that meant we had to go up again even higher to get to Emory Pass at elevation 8,828 feet. After the downhill, the climb REALLY began!!! Most of the grade was between 6-10% and a few spots were up to 13%. Because of the high altitude, I stopped QUITE FREQUENTLY to catch my breath. I didn't feel dizzy or lightheaded but was really sucking air on some of the steeper climbs.

The SAG driver drove by and told us that we were about one mile from the highest point. Well, we kept on and MADE IT! I cannot tell you how excited I was to reach this pass. It is the highest elevation of our whole trip. People at the top asked us how someone in our group got the bikes up here and she told them that we rode up. They couldn't believe it. I can hardly either. I feel proud and empowered. Looking down at where we had climbed was an amazing feeling. If I reach and attain an 8,828 foot elevation challenge, what other accomplishments lie ahead? Can you believe that we made an overall elevation change of 5,000 feet( if you include the four feet we had to walk up the steps into the lodge!)

I put my leg warmers and wind jacket back on for the downhill descent. It was about five miles or so until we reached the turnoff Black Range Lodge. We've taken over the whole place. There are all sort of cubbies and rooms all tucked away. There are massive stone walls and ponderosa pine beamed ceiling built from the ruins of the old casino and saloon from the 1880's. Back then, Kingston, the town we're in, had the largest population due to the silver mining.

There is no cell phone connection here and I am unable to get on the internet on this day so will post this tomorrow.

For dinner we had a dinner cooked at the lodge of turkey, baked potato, vegetables, and salad. I didn't have room for the birthday cake for the gal that turned 65 today or the homemade ice cream. I talked with an artist from Pennsylvania who used to live in Taos, New Mexico for quite a while before dinner. He was amazed that we women had attempted such a challenging climb through the pass as well as traveling across the country.
After that long climb I crawled into bed at 7:30.

I feel absolutely terrific because of meeting the challenge of this day!

Love,

Robin