Day 35 - Mule Deer Campsite to Princeton

We woke up to a chilly morning. We were at 1100m and though the sun was shining the air was very dry. It was cold in the shade. We were on the road with numb fingers before 8 am and sped merrily downwards towards Princeton then up and more up. Eventually 7 km of up to Sunday Summit at an elevation only 60m lower than Allison Pass; a climb of over 400m.


It was here that I realized that my altimeter was not working and I am afraid that we will no longer bring you “climbage” data.

After the initial fast descent we undulated down the left side of the valley beside an increasingly bigger Pasayten River. Some undulations brought us down to 5 km per hour and all thoughts of a quick passage to lunch faded into grinding of gears. A funny creaking noise was coming from somewhere at the rear of the bike when we are in bottom gear. (No doubters, this is not any part of either of the intrepid biker’s anatomy crying out for mercy.)


Cutting a long bike ride story short, we arrived famished and sweaty. The day having now turned too hot to be outside without 30+ sun lotion. We found lunch and decided on a Motel in town as tonight’s prediction is 3 degrees (Princeton is at 700m). We laundered everything possible, shopped for food and a bottom bracket tool (For the creak). While Marge did magic for supper, Ron busily tightened all screws, bolts, couplings and anything else that might be the cause of the creak. We shall see.

Pictures

17.6 kph average

Distance: 60km
Total Distance: 2472km
Alt change: 800m
Total Alt change: 14849m