Trish & Phill's Tandem TransAmerican

Tour 2003 

June 25 Hartsel - Frisco 52mi                  Hoosier Pass Yippee

Trish was much better today but still not 100% yet. Last night it was our turn to shop for breakfast and lunch. The rancher's daughter gave us a lift into town. The town was DIFFERENT.

Second breakfast was at Fairplay this morning - this place has a heap of history with 3 Gold rush era's during the 1800's

The ride today takes us to Hoosier's Pass. It is the highest point in our journey. We have talked about going over this pass many times and considered if we would ever make it this far. The ride up was hard. We had worked so hard yesterday we little energy left for today's ride. We climbed from just over 5000 feet to 11500 feet in the two days.

Hoosier Pass (elevation 11,542 Feet)

At the top of the pass I don't mind telling you all that it was an emotional time for us both. We had planned and discussed this moment for such a long time and here we are on top of the mountain - other peaks around us many with snow on. It was a special time and we will remember it for our lifetime.

The scenery on the road up was breathtaking, not just beautiful. The air is thinner at these altitudes and we are both breathing very hard (harder than normal) to the point that I have a headache.

The decent from the pass down into Frisco our next stop was very steep. I took the time to let a fair amount of air out of the tyres. After every three or four switchback bends we pulled over and let the brakes cool down. The last thing I want is another blown tyre on a steep decline. I would be riding the bike on my own from then on if that had happened. Trish's comment at the bottom of the hill was "well that was an anti-climax eh" - thank goodness.

We rode from Breckenridge to Frisco (12 miles) on a great bike track and nearly down hill all the way. Reaching Frisco we needed to find the camp site because although we are staying in a motel as a treat we have to drop off the community kitchen stuff we are carrying. After going off route 2 miles and some up hill we find the camp but then we take half an hour or so to actually find the right place only to find the site is to be abandoned. The group are now staying in hostel in town which will be so much better and closer to all amenities.

Page owned & maintained by Trish Collins email to  trishphill@aapt.net.au.  Last Updated 28/07/2003