Mt. Lemon, Bitter Yet So Sweet…!

I got a call from my brother today and I told him that I had finally climbed up Mt.Lemon.  He thought each week I had gone to the top but this was not the case.  The furthest I had gone was mile 14.  That was until yesterday when I finally did the whole thing.

The day was perfect.  Temperatures were in the mid twenties and not a cloud in the sky.  This would come back to haunt me though!

Anywho, the way out to the climb was windy.   I’m talking 40-60km/h gusts that make you pedal in your smallest gears to just keep moving forward!  As I hit the base, I was praying it wasn’t going to be this way the whole way up.  I can’t think of much worse than pedaling up a mountain into the wind.  For the first 8kms it was on and off.  Hard.  Normal.  Hard.  Normal.  By normal I mean climbing a mountain so its still not easy!

As I said before the day was gorgeous as the sun beat down.  I brought along about 2 liters of water for the ride.  At mile 17, which I had pedaled non-stop to get to, I ran out of water.  There was no way I was going to conquor this mountain I thought!  I actually didn’t know how far the mountain went up.  I figured around 20 miles.  So, I had a choice: turn back and go the hour back to get water or keep going and risk dehydration.

Obviously I chose the latter but not after seriously weighing my options.  It seems an easy choice to make as you read this but think, your on a mountain, mouth is so dry, and your an hour ride from anything remotely close to a gas station.  Not to mention the sun is burning your already red skin. 

I sucked it up though and climbed the final few miles.  I was toast by the end.  I had climbed nearly 2 hours straight (try doing that on a trainer!).  The best part?  Downhill for 32Kms!  It took me less than half the time to get down, 45 minutes.  Ponder that for a second.  Think about just coasting downhill for 45 minutes.  Again, rediculous!

I biked back and did get some water.  What a day though!  That ranked as one of the toughest climbs I have ever done.  Tour de France is starting to seem a bit more rediculous now that I’ve done this!

Well, I’ve gotta pack up my house.  We are on our way to the Grand Canyon tomorrow for some more shinanigans!  Those videos will be up tonight!

Happy Trainin!

Cliff