Tioga

So the last major climb of the trip was Tioga Pass. This 12-mile, 4,000 foot climb brought us up through the High Sierra and into the Heart of Yosemite National Park. The day before we climbed the pass as a team, we had a day off in Lee Vining, CA. Most of the team piled in the vans for a (tame) day at Yosemite. Others did laundry and shopped. I had other plans, and chose to climb Tioga Pass by myself, knowing all-too-well that I would be doing it again the following day. It turned out to be the single most rewarding day of the trip. The climb provided for plenty of reflection, and during the 12-mile descent I lastly hit 50 mph (I have a speedometer of my bike)! I had hit the upper 40s during the Rockies, but I made it a personal goal to break 50 (or break my skull, whichever came first). After rounding a bend at 43 mph I hit a 3/4 mile stretch of straight road and put my head down and pedaled as hard as I could. 45...46...47...48...49...48...49...50! At this point I screamed at the top of my lungs, likely to the utmost dismay of the family enjoying a scenic viewpoint on the side of the road. I imagine them turning around to see some guy yelling at the top of his lungs while pedaling madly down a mountain. For what it's worth I've never been more scared in my life and I had to pull over and stop at the bottom, as my legs were shaking uncontrollably from the combined effects of adrenaline and nerves. Hey, I never claimed to not be crazy. In the end I would not give up my solo climb up the Sierras for anything. I took my good time (on the way up), snapping a few photos (like above) along the way. When we hit the climb as a team the following day I eased up the mountain, certain that my mind and body were capable of the feat...again.