WOW! WHAT A FIRST DAY!
The first day of this epic journey started just like I planned. All preparations had been well calculated and I was off shortly after 5:00 a.m. The morning was cool and I only wished it would be cool all day but knew it would not. The ride started as usual with nothing out of the ordinary, Pleasant Valley, Washoe Valley, Carson City and Carson Valley, Hope Valley and beyond. Before I knew it, there it was. The climb I knew would come started into the Sierras. I arrived in Markleeville about an hour later than I planned. I wanted to get there in time for a good carb breakfast of pancakes and eggs before I began my climb over Ebbets Pass. With all that effort to get there I was stopped for road work two minutes from the restaurant for an additional 15 minutes. I had a good time talking with the road guard, Dina, and the people waiting with me. I found out there is a fresh new road to the top of Ebbets pass.
After a good breakfast and a relaxing hour, it was time to start up towards the pass. Everything takes a little longer than planned. I didn’t get started until about 2:00 p.m. I had planned to get over the pass and down through Hermit Valley and over the west side and get set up for the night. At 5:30 p.m. I was only at the campground before the steep switch back road to the top. I was there at a good campground. Do I stay the night there and proceed in the morning or go on? If I stayed, I would not have enough water. If I went on, I might be caught in an area without good camping. I said a prayer and was impressed to go on. I started up the steep winding switchbacks and was made very much aware of what it is like to peddle a 100-lb load up those grades. It is hard enough without it. I found myself walking the turns and riding the rest. I made it to the top at 7:30 and had about an hour and a half of daylight left and so pushed on toward Hermit Valley and the last so-called hill out of Hermit Valley.
I got to the valley in good time. However, three things were against me. The weight of my load, I was tired, and the biggest mosquitoes in creation. There were hundreds of them all after me. I pushed on up the hill and then finally realized it would be dark in about 30 minutes and I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes and had no real place to stay and could not camp where I was. My best efforts were not good enough to get me to the safe area I was working toward. I had hit the wall. I was so close but yet so far.
I had a prayer and asked for help. It was now about 9:00 p.m. Within 5 minutes a man drove up in a Jeep Cherokee. What are the chances of anyone driving over Ebbets Pass at 9:00 p.m.?
He stopped and asked if I needed help. I told him I had hit my wall and needed to get to the top of the hill so I could coast down to my next stop at Alpine Lakes. He helped me get my bike and things into his car and off we went. He drove fast and I was a little nervous but ever so thankful for the “Angel”. As we got to the summit, he said he would just drop me at Alpine Lakes.
During our short ride together, I asked him where he was coming from and where he was going. He told me he had been staying in Tahoe and was on his way to Mammoth. Why was this guy traveling over a less traveled Sierra Mountain pass this late at night heading away from the direction he wanted to go? He should be on HWY 395 south. He was an angel sent to me at that most desperate time.
When I got to Alpine Lakes it was very late and things were pretty much closed up except for a light in a window. I knocked and found a person in charge and explained my situation. They were so gracious to get me a cabin. I soon found myself inside the cabin staring at a very nice soft bed, a most welcome site after an 18-hour day and close to 100 miles on my bike. I will sleep well tonight!!
This day has been a real challenge of strength, stamina, and a will to succeed. Even with all my efforts I came up short. I am thankful for a very loving and protecting Father in Heaven. He was there when I needed him. Together we will succeed on this epic journey. There must be a purpose in what is going to be done. Only time and the future will define this purpose.
View photos from this adventure in my Gallery – Yosemite Trip page.