GDMBR 2023 Day 36
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- September 14 2023
Distance: 76km
Ascent: 549m
Descent: 1047m
End of day elevation: 2201m
Weather; Partly Sunny, 14°C
Woke up a tad earlier than usual...and good thing, as I caught the most amazing sunrise!
First thing was to get breakfast...and it was a very fulfilling one...great food at the diner in Hartsel.
Packed up and was out of town out of town before 9am..
The ride south was along a long, straight slab of pavement for about 5km, then it was back onto gravel.
The route went through some very wide open, treeless landscapes, with mountains way off to both the left and right of me. I spent the afternoon trying to avoid the various storm cells which were rolling through ahead of me...and leaving me to navigate some flooded sections of the road as the elevation increased at a very gradual rate. Overall I was lucky to be on a route that somehow avoided all but a minor drizzle.
Stopped for lunch under a tree as the wide open planes gave way to forested lands while I slowly gained elevation...and the further into the forest I rode, the steeper the climbs were. Nothing epic, just a series of punchy pitches...all the way to the pass that provided absolutely stunning views over the valley overlooking Salida .and the surrounding mountains....and still the rain remained a threat.
After a relatively quick break at the top of the pass to take in the majesty of the vies, the descent was an epic, 20km blast down into Salida...with the first part being gravel, before giving way to pavement for the last few kms to the valley floor and the town of Salida.
It wasn't long before I arrived at my pre-booked accommodation; the Woodland Motel. The staff were very nice and accommodating...and my room, while a tad small, was very well appointed and was very comfortable.
After settling in, I took a stroll into town to get some dinner, visit the grocery store and returned just before the skies, which had threatened all day, finally opened up. I was glad to be in a dry and comfy motel room....and is where I spent the rest of the evening,.
Motel room with rain coming in is always the smart move. Beaut scenery south of Hartsel. Nice to hear that people in Hartsel are welcoming and friendly. Thanks for video!
Thanks! Agreed about the scenery south of Hartsel....especially on the approach to Salida!
If need be, you stay where ever you can and put up with the conditions...however I don't seek unnecessary hardships! ;-)
Loved that ripping descent down to Salida!
Ya, that was a blast...and typical of major descents in the Rockies, it was a gloriously long drop!!
Woodland motel! We took a zero ❤day in Salida.
I wanted to stay a second night...but as that was the weekend for the Salida 76 bike race (that I was unaware of), I could't book a second night.
@@reinhartbigl367 fabulous city.
That truck that passed you scared the crap out of me. How about you?
LOL...sorry about that!
Not sure what segment of the video you're referring to...however overall there have been a few times that passing vehicles have come dangerously close...
Great video ,gosh Hartsel have cleaned up there act since I camped there 2018 on the Trans -Am it was a crap hole full of junk What date did you start in Banff and what date is this video ?
He started August 9, 2023 and this video is from September 14. You can find the date and conditions in his video summaries.
thanks
@@curtiswiseman5207
When we were in Hartsel in 2022 the bar was quite loud until well past 2:00 A.M. There was a lot of junk in back too. The owner and staff were really nice though and the food was good. Plus it was free:-)
@@BretSchnitzer Yup, pretty junky back there, but as you said the food was good and the camping was free…I think that was a business decision on their part, as cyclists get pretty hungry at the end of the day!!!
Any issues with Grizzles back up in BC etc? I just don't see how they wouldn't know where all the camps are.. and possible food there.. given not everyone stores their food or cooks away from camp etc.. am I wrong on this?
I would like to ride the trail.. but don't like the idea of grizzlies while camping etc.. where there is known campsites where there is lingering food etc..
I think you'd be fine riding that route...sure, the bears (and cougars, wolves and coyotes) are out there...but IMHO unless they are habituated to a camp where they found food, or were starving to the point of desperation, you wouldn't see them in camp. They are like water and electricity...always the path of least resistance...and there's likely much easier food sources out there than us...