Day 15: Idaho Falls,
Idaho to Jackson, Wyoming
July 5, 2004
Miles: 88
This is probably our toughest day, not the longest--that comes in a few
days--but the most difficult climbing.
Before starting the climbs, we headed northeast out of Idaho Falls into
a headwind. We encountered the worst road I hope we see,
obviously under reconstruction but very rough:
Slow
was the word on this section, about a mile long. Fast just
rattled your bike and brain.
Jeff's parents, who live in Jackson, met us at the second SAG and then
again down the hill in Victor at The Emporium, where we had Huckleberry
milkshakes. Then it was on to the main event, Teton Pass. I
drove this road about 10 years ago on a ski trip and recall thinking
that it would be a bear on a bike. I was right. This why we
have low gears, I suppose.
Immediately on crossing into Wyoming, the fun started. Note the
10% grade warning behind the Wyoming sign. Some welcome!
When you use those low gears to slog your way to the top of Teton Pass
(our route sheet says "climb 2400 feet in 6.6 miles"),
you are rewarded with this view:
And, after a high speed descent (as fast as you want--not knowing the
road, I kept it to 35 mph max), here are the Tetons viewed from just
east of Wilson. We'll have a better view tomorrow:
Jeff may have had his life changing experience on this climb (ABB
promises each of us one). He was nearing the top and didn't think
he could pedal any more. Just as he was starting to walk up the
grade, his cell phone rang. It was his wife, asking him if he was
on the climb. When he told her he had just started to walk, she
said to him (in more colorful words) "we didn't spend all that money on
a personal trainer so that you could walk up the hill; get your butt
back on that bike and ride." With new purpose, Jeff ground his
way to the top and called her back to report his success.
Jeff invited Robert and I to join his parents and he for dinner at the
Blue Lion to celebrate their anniversary. The Blue Lion is
rightfully known for its rack of lamb, which I hope went right to
replenishing my muscles for tomorrow's climbs. Instead of the ice
tea/lemonade combination that we've taken to drinking lately (called an
Arnold Palmer), they made theirs with limeade--I christened it a Jack
Nicholas.
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