Hartsel to Silverthorne
Strava: 110 km, 1265m, 6:31, 277 shifts, 58.6 kph max
We got up before 6 and packed up in the barn. I slept at least 9 hours maybe more. We could hear the wind howling outside but the Windy app told me it was in a favorable direction.
Breakfast was yogurt, fruit and granola in large enough quantities that we all stuck our breakfast burritos into our jersey pockets for lunch (adding to the leftover pizza). We headed out in cold temps, very cloudy, very windy. But the rain held off and we just kept going up and down the dirt roads. After maybe 40 km we stopped at a fire station and they offered water and cookies. Very friendly guys.
Then we rode to the historic town of Como, and checked out their post office with its free stuff shelf. Andrew added a jar of peanut butter he was tired of carrying.
Then the main event of the day: climbing Boreas Pass. It was only 14 km with 600m climbing and started out pretty nicely. But as we got higher, the headwind got stronger and the road surface got rougher. We had a little rain but not much. Up at 3500m at the summit, it was somewhat hard. We had pizza and burritos on top. Boreas Pass is the second highest pass on the whole Great Divide, after Indiana Pass that we crossed a few days ago. So everything should be easier from here?
The descent was relatively easy, coasting a long way, eventually onto a paved road. We took that switchbacking down to Breckenridge. Then more paved roads to a large system of bike paths we took to Frisco (coffee/ice cream stop), then finally to Silverthorne where we had booked a room.
We checked into the Block Hotel, and right away I rode with Wytze to a bike shop. I needed some shifting adjustment and he needed some tire sealant. No luck for me but at the second store I got replacement sunglasses for the ones I lost in Salida. Sunday evening is definitely not the time to try and get your bike fixed.
After showers we sat outside the hotel with delicious hazy IPA and listened to some live music until it was time for dinner. We walked across the river to a great Italian restaurant and went big again! Many appetizers, then family style salad and penne alla Vodka. And the inevitable desserts and Amaro. Another typical kinda hard but super fun day on the Great Divide. It’s the day we hit 1000 miles too.
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