Day 34-What goes up.....

He said: Big thunderstorms last night-poured like crazy. Luckily it was clear by morning and at 6:45 I left in 52 degree weather. Our goal was to get through Currant Creek Pass, elevation 9500' and on to Fairplay. Slow going, but made it over the top, and tomorrow I need to climb another 2000' to get over Hoosier Pass which at 11,500' will be the highest elevation on the trip. Hoosier Pass is about 10 miles away, and then I have alot of downhill into the busy area of Breckenridge, Silverthorne, and Frisco. Today we were in the mountains. Once we got over the Pass the surrounding terrain opened up into a big valley. Quite a big difference. 85 miles.
She said: Today was the biggest elevation change we would make on the trip in one day. We climbed from 5000' to 9500'. The mountains here are so different than the mountains early in the trip. The roads are wider and the climbing is longer with bigger elevation changes on each climb, but less of a grade. My ears were popping as I drove along and you could feel the effects of the high elevation. We're almost in the 2 mile high city! It is amazing to see the mountains all around you and how different the scenery is at every turn. We live in a beautiful country-from the flatlands and prairies to the mountains on the east and west coasts. I'm not the greatest photographer, but I hope all of you can appreciate the country we are seeing and trying to share with you. We are in an area that saw a big boom at the time of the Gold Rush. When the mining dried up some of the miners became ranchers, but for the most part the populations dwindled. Exciting day tomorrow-going over the Hoosier Pass.

What we saw when we first left Florence.

On the road to Curant Creek Pass

I think the mountains are amazing.

One of the only downhills on the way to the Pass. You can see the road way off in the distance.

This little Prairie Dog waited with me for Paul at the 40 mile mark for the day.

Paul said the top of the mountains resemble his ride so far today.

This is ranch country. You see many of these entrances all along the route,

At the 40 mile point in the day-stopped at a realtors office (closed) and used their bench for a rest and a snack. Nothing else in the area for at least 25 miles.

These guys didn't have a SAG team-went off route to Guffey, Co. where they said there was food. NOT!

The road after Currant Creek Pass. We were in a big valley in between mountain tops. The road is off in the distance as far as you can see in the picture.

Just over the Pass. Yeah!

On the way to Fairplay.