DISTANCE TRAVELED: 32.71 Miles
AVERAGE SPEED: 6.28 MPH

          At 7:30, I started to get ready for the day and since I had yet to hear anyone get up, I thought that I must be one of the first. When I climbed out of my tent, Al had left and Mike was the only other person who had not taken down his tent! For breakfast, I had frosted mini wheats and orange juice, which was a great break from oatmeal and water. After packing lunch and gathering food for the day, I rushed back to take down my tent. As soon as I finished with the rain fly, Brian, the last person in camp left. 15 minutes later, I was packed and sped out of camp to find Brian on the side of the road with a flat tire, not even two blocks from where he had started. Just as I had arrived, he finished the repair, so we rode together and soon caught up to Mike. Brian continued on as Mike and I went to the grocery store so Mike and I rode together for the rest of the day. The first few miles were easy and on the pavement so we covered ground quickly. I looked ahead, saw the pavement change to dirt, and realized that the 4,000 feet of climbing had begun. For most of the next 15 miles, we climbed steeply, stopping for great pictures of the valley we had come up and of nearby mountains with snow on them. (Picture160) To my surprise, we caught up to Tom and Marnie where we stopped for awhile to eat and throw boulders down a steep incline. (Picture161) Once again, we were on the road and continued up to Indiana Pass. About 2/3 of a mile from the top, I thought we were there so Mike and I stopped to take some pictures. (Picture162,Picture163) However, it wasn't so we continued on and 1/3 mile from the top, we stopped again to eat and talk with Brian, Scott, Stu, and Marianne. (Picture164) Gray Back Mountain was right behind us so Mike, Tom, Marnie, and I hiked to the top. (Picture165,Picture166) On the way up, the trail looked over a hillside that looked like it was made of green velvet. (Picture167) When we reached the top, the elevation was 12,602 feet at the geological survey marker but next to it was a pile of rocks like a cairn that was at least 6 feet high. I grabbed a rock and made the mountain 3 inches taller! (Picture168) We looked out and saw Del Norte in the valley below. (Picture169) I found it amazing to think we had climbed so high in one day. Mike and I then took turns climbing out to a pinnacle of rock with a drop on one side of at least 100 ft. (Picture170,Picture171) The view was incredible over the valley we had just cycled through and on to the numerous mountains that lay ahead. (Picture172) By the time we hiked down the mountain, (Picture173) it was 4:15 so I ate a chocolate hazelnut bar that Stu had given out in Whitefish and said to eat on our highest pass. (Picture174) I think I was the only one who did! We then rode 4 miles to Summitville where we expected a small town but found a superfund site and a completely abandoned ghost town where we got some great photos. (Picture175,Picture176) After this short stop, we had another 6 miles to go so we pushed to get to camp. We climbed for a mile, had a good descent, and then began to climb again. For the next 4 miles, we climbed up to camp through more great scenery. When we arrived, we saw the tents and then a steep drop-off a few hundred feet below with large mountains in the background. (Picture177,Picture178) This site was the best one yet in terms of the view. We did have to hike to get water, but since I had enough for myself and I was not cooking, I did not have to pump at all. I set up my tent and then went to dinner at 6:30 and had burritos! Although it is a frequent food, it still fills us up. We sat around the fire with our warmest clothes on as the temperature dropped. After watching the sun set of the mountains, I went to bed at 9:00 thinking about how much easier the day was than everyone had been making it out to be. It was one of the best days so far and the last major obstacle of the trip.