EMORY PASS - Highest elevation of the trip

Silver City- Kingston, NM Friday 3/19 48.4 miles.

The day started cool but sunny with a few high clouds. We were surrounded by copper mines on both sides of the road for about 10 miles. Lots of ups and downs but the real climb started at 22 miles . In Gila National Forest, climbing through deep rock canyons, switch backs, snow everywhere but not on the road. More clouds move in. Warm in the sun but very cold when the clouds came. Lively snow fed spring brook next to road for awhile- beautiful scenery but very hard climb. Winds were mostly tail and cross, sometimes head but not really a factor. Hardest day so far. Climbed to Emory Pass 8228 elevation. Took a few pictures but couldn't stay long- too cold and windy. And then the descent - 8 miles switchbacks the whole way, a few snow flurries and aching fingers from feathering brakes. As Carol advised us, “take the lane”--- no shoulder, one lane each way, nothing else to do but claim the lane and cars have to figure it out. Luckily traffic was very light. It’s amazing how life has simplified- with major concerns of the day being wind, shoulders ,road surface, traffic and mechanical soundness of my bike. First (and I hope last) fall of the trip today slowing to a stop at the sag and didn’t get out of my clips fast enough- no harm done. Staying tonight at a cool old lodge which is also a sustainable farm, outbuildings are made from hay bales, covered with mud , lots of chickens . Delicious homemade turkey dinner in the lodge and then everyone went straight to bed.