Date: June 15 and 16Mileage: 19.4 and 28.0
June mileage: 420.0
I feel much more exhausted right now than I do when I'm cycling all the time. Strange to feel like I'm on vacation in my own hometown, but it's been a good week.
Dad in snow.
Mom in snow.
Dad and I rode out to Herbert Glacier. I was bouncing over the big boulders of the glacier moraine, thinking that was terrain only Pugsley could handle, and looked over my shoulder only to see Dad right on my tail on the Karate Monkey, with the fork still locked out no less.
He's a natural on a mountain bike. I guess years of dirtbiking on the rugged trails of the Utah desert will help with that.
Even out the road into the wind, the pace kept up. Riding Pugsley on the road felt like a pedaling a reconfigured paddle boat with two flat tires. I can't believe I spend entire winters on that thing. But I guess the glacier moraine riding can't be beaten, except by my dad.
Together we made the year's first attempt of Mount Juneau. After a couple of heart-stopping, scary steep snow crossings, we lost the trail entirely and ended up way off the route on the west face of the mountain. We bagged it there, about 3,000 feet up. A good attempt. I feel so much braver when I'm hiking with my dad. I think it goes back to my teenage years when I believed he would always be there to protect me. I still feel that way.Don't forget to go over the Fatty's site to fight cancer and win a great bike.
Back to your regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.
Thats really great Jill! Glad to see you have parents who can easily understand why you've moved to Juneau, and share your love of the are too.
ReplyDeleteMust help you feel good about staying?!
Looks like you are having a great visit with the folks. Say, your Dad isn't about to biff it on that down hill snow slope is he?
ReplyDeleteIowa Lowrydr
I have read you blog for several months now......I'm so jelouse of your life.....You have great parents who are happy your livin the dream...Thanks for all your post and awesome pics......looking forward to the next one
ReplyDeleteDustin From Michigan
Jill,
ReplyDeleteGreat to be able to share your life with the parents.
Yesterday it was 113+ on my 7-mile ride home from work, just as a point of comparison between Juneau and Phoenix.
That last shot of your Dad ~ what a vista!
ReplyDeleteAre those big nails in the logs to discourage sitting around up there? Or to hook hiker's clothing and (maybe) save them from going over the edge?
All the very best Jill! You're a superb writer.
Andrea from Ottawa
hey Jill -- very cool posts with your parents...
ReplyDeleteSo my mountain bike buddy says -- "Are you really going to ride that (the KM) without a shock."
Me: uh huh
Him: Your kidding.
Me: I never had a shock before.
So we go for a ride -- and big conversation about the KM -- shock and all that -- you know.
Some guy rocks by us on a rigid km
Him: Oh, I guess you're not alone.
Me: Go figure.
Iowa - he's just running down the snow field. He was like a big puppy on the Perserverance Trail, up and down, up and down.
ReplyDeleteAndrea - thanks! Mount Juneau is littered with old mining infrastructure. I think that post is just part of an old trough or whatnot.
Jt - that's why I will never, never live in Phoenix. These days, I overheat when the temperature rises above 75.
Shawn - funny story. Pugsley is rigid but doesn't feel that way at 20 psi. I still think I'll stick with the shock. :-)