Day 32 - Up And Over Our Biggest Mountain

City To City: Breckenridge - Canon City

Miles: 91

Miles Total: 2,091

Flats: 8

Video: https://youtu.be/kENtu_wnCEk?si=0bmdmqWXh0skLsFT

Up Hoosier Pass

At The Top Of Hoosier Pass

Hanging At The Pool

    We had a great night of sleep and a tasty, filling breakfast in the morning.  We only had twelve miles to the top but a little less than two thousand feet to climb.  So, those twelve miles, our legs were burning, and we were huffing and puffing mostly due to the high altitude.  In the last three miles, we climbed fourteen hundred feet out of the nineteen hundred.   Finally, at the top, a feeling of relief came over us.  We climbed the highest mountain of the trip and lived (naturally 😉).  We had a short break up at the top, where it was cool and a nice breeze.  There was some snow up there, but next to Hoosier was a taller mountain that stood at thirteen thousand with more snow and a rock peak.

    From there, it was easy downhill.  We stopped halfway down the mountain for groceries, and the woman behind the counter told us some of her funny, unrealistic ideas she had, and her funny reactions once her husband told her the realistic details.

Once we reached flat ground, a decent tailwind and a slight downhill kept us flying on the road with little effort.  Henry raced ahead trying to get a record on Strava, and my dad and I just cruised it.

We stopped for lunch and ate in the hot sun and down where it was a lot warmer.

    When we got to one of the options for a campsite, it was too early to settle for camp, only a few mi uses before three.  So, we decided to push it thirty more miles.

So, for those last thirty miles,  we went up and down the hills and back up over and over.  By the time we got to the campsite we were sure on stopping for the night.

My dad and Henry walked into the registration building,  and I was being slow and was a step behind them.  All of the sudden hear an excited voice say, "Hey!  Are you guys doing the Trans Am too!!  So am I!"

    An eighteen-year-old guy, named Philip pops up out of nowhere with a happy grin on his face.  So, Philip and I chatted about the trail and what to expect until my dad and Henry came out.  We parted ways and went to set up camp and eat dinner.  After dinner Henry and I jumped into the pool to cool off before taking showers.

Later Henry and I were by the registration office doing bloggs and videos when Philip came back from a restaurant.  Originially he had asked us if we wanted to go out to eat with him and hang out.  I had been in the shower when the event happened but later my dad said, "YOUR biker friend asked us if we wanted to eat out."

So, Philip starts charging his phone nearby and starts chatting with us.  When my dad came by, Philip still had his helmet on, and my dad teased him about it.  Philip joked back, "Hahahaha, I don't want another brain injury!"

Philip ended up telling his story of his brain injury and now is doing a fundraiser for a charity group who helps sponsors people with brain injuries.

    Philip's injury story started when he was skiing and had hit a metal light pole at 35 mph.  He then was in a coma for a week with twenty-three bones fractured.  But all within a month, his brain bleed had subsided, remembered who he was, and could walk again.  And that was a miracle!  The doctors had said that there had been a good chance that Philip wouldn't remember who he was with other mental effects from the injury.  But here he was standing before us with enthusiasm, and determination to conquer to the best of his ability what life threw at him.

    Philip also gave us some more tips on what to expect during the second half of the trip and shared stories of a baby copper head in his tent and others of venomous snakes.

We left for our campsite and went to bed later than usual.  But we had a wonderful time talking to Philip!