How many more superlatives can I/we use in this journey? Fantastic, unbelievable, majestic, spectacular---all were used today and for good reason. One thing that makes the Tetons so spectacular is that they rise up instantly from a flat plain, with no foothills. Whack! They're just there, and they're BIG. Leaving Jackson early, the riders passed Town Square with its Elk Arches on each of its corners. They're made entirely from elk antlers, which the elk shed yearly when they seasonally pass through the National Elk Preserve in Jackson (biggest elk migration in the lower 48). The scenery was so stupendous on today's route that more photos were taken here than anywhere so far.
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Elk Arch, Jackson Town Square
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| Tetons Rise Up |
The day started with cool temperatures in the mid 50's and warmed up to the high 80's. It was sunny in the morning with clouds moving in by late morning and early afternoon. An 88 mile ride that climbed to 9,800 ft, over the Continental Divide above snow line, and through Teton National Park, passing bison, elk, wildflowers, with scenes of glacier-covered mountains and overflowing streams and rivers. Within 30 minutes ride out of Jackson, the climbing began. Today was more gradual incline than yesterday's, but it went on for much longer---about 27 miles---to Togwotee Pass, which marks the Continental Divide. Curiously, no signage marks the spot, though you'd think it would. The riders' route sheet told them so. Yellowstone was only 30 miles to the north, but they weren't going that way. There was still deep snow everywhere, but not on the road.
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| Phyllis & Colin & Spectacular Scenery |
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| Terry & Blythe Passing Along |
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| Bison |
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| On Top Of Continental Divide |
After the summit, the riders had a nice 20 mile descent into the Dubois valley, along the Wind River. This, too, was swollen to flood stage. In fact, it has flooded and the section to Riverton on tomorrow's ride has been washed out. ABB is planning a detour route, which will add 16 miles, mostly downhill, but will avoid having to drive everyone in the van through an even longer detour. That's make tomorrow's ride 95 miles instead of 79, followed by 120 miles the next day. Phew!! We have a good friend, Peter, who lives in nearby Lander, but unfortunately (for Zippy) he's on his sailboat near Costa Rica right now. It would really have been fun for Terry to see him in Riverton. Oh well. Next time.
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| Main St, Dubois (pronounced Duboice) |
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| Dubois Scene |
For the first time, Terry reported that his bum is getting a bit sore, even though he's been using lots of chamois cream. Actually, everyone's bums are sore to one extent or another. Now that they are all best friends, Lucy offered to share some hers--a different type of bum butter--which seems to be thicker and better. Zippy will try to pick some up at the next good bike shop.
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| Thanks, Lucy!!! |
Another ride casualty was one of the ABB staff, who went over his handlebars in Victor. Seems a policeman, working a July 4 detour, stepped backwards without looking, into the rider's path, who swerved and then hit a stone, which made him skid and over he went. More road rash and banged up bike and a chipped bone in his hand, but he'll be able to continue to ride. On a more upbeat note, Steve returned to the tour, after recovering from his viral lung infection.
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| Steve is BAAAACK! |
The riders were reminded they were in the West as they noticed cautionary signs about grizzly bears. And to make the old joke real, faster riders were pairing up with slower riders---you know how it goes....they don't have to pedal faster than the grizzly can run, they just have to pedal faster than the slower rider.
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