Today was the long awaited, Cycle-U Hill Climbing Boot Camp Graduation Ride. Off we drove to the meeting place at Denny Creek Road about fifty miles from Seattle -- sun shining, convertible top down. The other seven riders were there waiting when Coach Craig and I arrived. An auspicious start to a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest!
The plan was to climb five miles to the summit at Snoquamie, glide back down and repeat. Why? To test my climbing skills after Hill Climbing Boot Camp and to get ready for Bike Tour of Colorado in June. Also, I had not done this climb since Day 1 of the Big Ride Across America in 2004, so I was curious to see how it would feel to do it five years later, and without the adrenalin rush.
We started up, and the rest of our group was quickly out of sight as I pedaled along at my usual warming up pace. I noticed a few patches of packed snow as I climbed, but didn't think too much about it until I hit a place in the road with so much snow that I had to get off the bike to cross it. A few minutes later I spotted the rest of my group coming toward me carrying their bikes across the snowy, muddy road. The road ahead was closed.
Not to worry, said our leader. We'll ride Tinkham Road instead. Or maybe not. Restricted area! No trespassing!
So we drove back toward Seattle and rode up Cougar Mountain -- a tough climb and a new ride for me. In the end, it was a great ride and a great day, but who would have thought it would be that hard to find a mountain to climb. Or that I would want to!
