Big Mountain
With Trappers Loop not being an option this year, I've been cut-off from riding over to East Canyon. Needing the variety, I decided to try something a little different. I drove to Mountain Green with the bike in tow and launched from the Sinclair at the other side of Trappers. Needing the miles (and the climbing), I decided to go to Big Mountain Pass, maybe another 10 miles past where I usually turn back.
From the intersection at SR66 and SR65, the elevation stays roughly 5,800 feet all the way over to the snow gates. Okay, there are some rollers along the way, but at the gate, you're still at 5,800 feet. Over the next 5.4 miles, you gain about 1,600 feet. A respectable climb. Starting from the Sinclair, the turn around is 35 miles, with 70 miles overall.
Leaving the Sinclair at 06:30, it was dark enough to use a flasher, but also pretty cool. I was equipped for heat. About twenty minutes up the road, my hands were getting pretty cold. By the time I got up to Milton, things had warmed enough. Still, no glasses until passing the dam. Pretty smokey, and thus, kind of a late sunrise - at least with enough heat to matter. Times to key points; not too bad, but not at a racing speed. By the time I got back to the truck, I was kind of tired, but not completely spent. The real challenge was getting home, just driving back over Trappers. What a mess.
If you're in the area, the Drive over Big Mountain is worth the time. It's a seasonal road but nice pretty much any time it's open.
Ride HARD!
