Monte Cristo
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| Mote Cristo Camp Ground |
I've said this before, Monte is like an old friend; brutally honest and always dependable. I love Monte for all the right reasons - and maybe for a few of the wrong ones as well. You pay a price to get up there and it it is a grind at times. Straight up SR 39 from Huntsville, it starts easy enough, but quickly turns into a series of gradual climbs and rollers. Starting at MP 19 it is a constant 2% - 3% maybe. By MP 23 you are in some minor rollers. All the camp grounds - Magpie, Botts, South Fork, Meadows, Willows, Perception Park and finally up on a flat just before the Causey turn-off. About a quarter-mile of something about 5% and then it levels out to something more like 4% for the next couple miles. At about MP 30, it is a constant 4% - 5%, with the occasional upward pitch. Approaching the "blue roof cabin", there is a solid stretch that makes you push ever so hard without going into the bailout ring. Once at that crest, you have a little rest to get a quick banana down before it starts again. By MP 34, you are at the spring and ready to go to the smaller front ring. MP 36 is Ant Flat road. The snow gate is just prior to MP 37, then the Wagon Wheel and Big-Horn. Then it's past Marriots at MP 40. Dry Bread is MP 41 with Little Monte at MP 43. MP 44 outbound, you are officially on the "shoulders". From then on, you are back in the big ring and making some pretty good speed. Just past MP 46 you are well above 9,000 feet elevation and the air is thin. The Camp ground is closer to MP 48 than MP 47. When Going to Woodruff, you'll pass MP 49 at Curtis Creek and finally MP 50 before you are committed. All the way, Monte never disappoints - you just pay the price.
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| SR 39 MP 44 Outbound |
A final ride to the top for the season
It may be a little late, or too close to the race, but I had to go back one last time. This time there was no construction, but the new road was pretty rough. Rather cool in places with sweat pouring into my sunnies (glasses). Equipment problems made for a distraction, which didn't do anything to build confidence. The camp ground was closed for the season, but still had the hosts trailer and running water. Of course, he still had most of the water I took up a couple weeks ago, but there is something magic about Monte water - or so I'd like to think. Being up there in the Autumn takes me back to my youth. I ran across several grouse just off the road. Last week was the odd coyote. Traffic is generally not bad. Yesterday was pretty quiet, with the holiday in the rearview mirror for most campers. Standing up at the top, taking a couple picts, the breeze blowing and no traffic - this is Monte Cristo. Then it was time to let it go for yet another season. Time to get back to business.....
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| SR 39 MP44 Inbound - Bring it on home.... |
The long ride home
When you blow past MP 44, you still have a long way to go. Invariably, when you get to Red Rock at the Causey turnoff, you catch the blast furnace trying to push you back up the canyon, but you only have ways further to go. Still, that canyon can just go on and on - or so it seems. Finally, you are out of there and it happened faster than you care to remember. The price paid seemed so distance - like a lifetime ago, but it was just a few hours earlier. In the books for yet another year, I will long for that ride come the middle of winter. But that is what makes it so precious. It's not always available. When it is......well, you're grateful for the beating she gives you.
You gotta love Zeppelin II. It has aged like a fine "cheese". SHARP!
Pulling for Reed! Ride HARD!
