It had been far too long since I’ve ridden with Eric and Dan, and them being family men, an early day was in the offing, big day yesterday nonwithstanding. And it was darn cold at 530. Low to mid 20’s, brutal!

It also made for a fantastic and unique morning out on the bike. The rains of the past 40 hours had soaked in and frozen, taking the sandy gravel at Granite Basin (think Buff Creek with more rocks and desert flora) and welding it into a fantastic and sticky service. Add the extensive washouts and shifted rocks (loose and otherwise) and it was a whole new riding experience. The many waterbars going up and down 37 and 40 were nicely glazed with frost, making them slick as snot, taking me down twice in the first mile and a half. There’s a reason I never ride from that trailhead of my own volition, and altered riding surface or not got predictively dropped like a hot rock on the descents. Technology or not, some things are everlasting.

The icing on the cake was Mint Wash, full and flowing. Eric bulled across the first crossing, and got a frozen derailleur for his trouble. All the crossings were ridable, though not without getting the feet wet, which seemed like a bad idea. As the sun got higher, and layers finally came off, a very clear and beautiful day came out. On most days one can see the San Francisco peaks from GB, a good ~70 miles as the cross flies. Today their view, snow and all, was better than I’ve ever seen. I could pick out couloirs.

All that, back home, food, grad school apps, and a West Wing 7th season marathon. What life is this?