Adirondack Sports December 2023

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20 Adirondack Sports DAY 15 - STEEP CLIMB IN NORTHERN MONTANA. COMMUNITY continued from 19 of Eureka, Helena, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge and Salida. I felt like I was in a Ken Burns documentary as I took in the sights and learned the diverse history of the land and people. My journey came to a sudden end on day 43 (Sept. 22) with about 300 miles to go. I was speeding effortlessly down a long gradual downhill dirt road with a stiff tailwind (this a rarity) and my thoughts turned to how hard it was to get here and how thankful I was to be so close to the finish. In my mind I praised my old bike for holding up so well over the many steep rocky roads and through the infamous mud in New Mexico. I should have knocked on wood, because as I reached the bottom of the hill and turned onto a short section of paved road, both tires flatted and my rear derailleur hanger broke. I was rescued by a local sheriff who drove me 38 miles to the nearest town of Grant and offered to drive me back if I got my bike fixed. Sadly, my flight home was already booked and there was no room in the schedule to fix the bike and finish the ride. Instead, I rented a car and spent a few relaxing days hiking in the Grand Canyon and Sedona before catching my scheduled flight home from Tucson. On my long journey south, I met many people who helped me and wished to hear of my adventures. I am thankful for these trail angels who provided me with the physical needs of food, water and lodging, along with the pleasure of human companionship and the inspiration to continue onward. They had many of the same questions about my trip which I’ll answer as best I can. Why did you do this? This is a difficult question, but I think my life’s loves, inspirations, and events both good and bad blended together and led me to this DAY 16 - MY HOME FOR THE NIGHT AT LLAMA RANCH IN NORTHERN MONTANA. DAY 20 - SCENERY IN SOUTHERN MONTANA. place I was destined to be. I don’t know that I completely understand the reasons myself, maybe someday I’ll figure it all out. It could be that the answer is simpler than I believe it to be – maybe I just like to ride and be outdoors. Were you lonely travelling by yourself? I know this sounds cliché, but it is true – I was alone but never felt lonely. While I missed my family, the trail had become my best friend – the one who I could tell all my secret thoughts, hopes and fears. I always had the company of the winds that blew, the rains that fell, and the hypnotizing sound of tires rolling over gravel and asphalt. At night the sounds of the forest and plains were like music to my ears, and I felt the presence of nature all around me like a warm embrace. What did you think about? This is one of my favorites and a big reason I enjoy doing solo treks – how many words did you say I had for this article, Darryl? This DAY 27 - ROLLER COASTER HILLS ON THE GREAT DIVIDE BASIN IN WYOMING. may sound bad, but without the “distraction” of others, I was free to let my mind wander where it would. Of course, there were simple thoughts like where will I get my next food, water and stay the night. Otherwise, days went by when I was “in the zone,” and thought only of the motion of my body moving over the earth like a butterfly effortlessly floating along with the wind. You might think this boring, but I loved those times when I felt I could ride forever like a machine and my mind was a clean slate free of worry. When thoughts did enter my mind, they were random, like a magician fanning a deck of cards and asking me to pick one – turn it over and that was my thought for the day. Hours went by like minutes as I pondered whatever was dealt to me. I wish I could remember it all, but usually the thought was erased when I stopped riding, like a dream that disappears when you wake. Where did you sleep? Most nights I DAY 23 - GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK. slept in my tent at designated camp spots or at stealth sites located in wild areas. The best of these were located along beautiful trout streams and lakes or in wide-open plains where I was lulled to sleep by the songs of the coyote. I also spent several nights in motels, hostels and hunting cabins, or camping behind saloons and cafes. One night I slept in a teepee at a llama ranch, and another under the stars on a hillside overlooking the city of Butte. Each day was a new adventure and I have so many memories and stories I wish I could share. Some of my favorite times were camping in the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming, the very long – 10-20 miles or more – steady climbs and descents in Colorado, beer and elk meatloaf in old west saloons, and the beautiful trails and dirt roads in the Rio Grande National Forest. Long bikepacking trips are special adventures that aren’t for everyone, but
DECEMBER 2023 21 DAY 27 - SUNSET AT MY HOME ON THE RANGE IN GREAT DIVIDE BASIN. DAY 33 - CLIMBING BOREAS PASS OUT OF BRECKENRIDGE, COLO. DAY 34 - RIDING THE OPEN PLAINS NEAR HARTSEL, COLO. DAY 39 - INFAMOUS ROCKY ROADS AND MUD IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. DAY 43 - START OF MY FINAL DOWNHILL IN NEW MEXICO. they can be the most satisfying thing you have ever accomplished. Be forewarned that at times you will be tired, dirty, wet, cold, hot, hungry, thirsty, afraid and generally uncomfortable. Things don’t always go as planned, but you learn to adapt and move on. If you make it through the first two or three weeks, you should begin to find your “trail legs,” and a physical and mental strength you never thought you had. Any extra pounds you have will melt away as you transform into a lean mean biking machine. I started out relatively fit and lean, but still lost 15 pounds along the way. EPILOGUE – Two days after I got home, I hiked with my daughter Emily, her husband Christopher, and grandchildren Sophie and Eddie to the top of Whiteface Mountain. My wife, Chris, met us at the summit to celebrate them all becoming ADK 46ers. I would not have traded this day for anything, even for the final miles of the Great Divide that I missed. The thought of those missed miles was always there in my mind. I got my revenge in my own twisted way, when I boarded a train to Buffalo and started riding at 11pm from the shore of Lake Erie towards home, and I didn’t stop until I covered 300 miles closely following the Erie Canalway/ Empire State Trail. Now my mind is at peace, and I can put away my bike and rest for a while, or at least until I come up with my next great adventure. Ed Gravelle (edgravelle20@gmail.com) is a 65-year-old retired geotechnical engineer living in Ballston Lake with wife Christine. When not running, hiking or biking, he is otherwise a couch potato who enjoys reading and doing crossword puzzles. His favorite sport is watching his grandchildren Sophie (12) and Eddie (10) run cross-country and, more recently, race cyclocross. DAY 43 - LOOKING SOUTH FROM MY BIKE BREAKDOWN, TOWARDS THE FINAL 300 MILES I MISSED.
Page 1 and 2: COVERING UPSTATE NY SINCE 2000 FREE
Page 3 and 4: DECEMBER 2023 3 CONTENTS 5 NEWS BRI
Page 5 and 6: News Briefs Double H Ranch Pays Tri
Page 7 and 8: BICYCLING DECEMBER 2023 7 SMBA’S
Page 9 and 10: DECEMBER 2023 9 GURNEY LANE POWDER
Page 11 and 12: SKIING, RIDING & SNOWSHOEING Get On
Page 13 and 14: DECEMBER 2023 13 FAMILY-FRIENDLY NE
Page 15 and 16: DECEMBER 2023 15 ■ MARBRY WITH MA
Page 17 and 18: ATHLETE PROFILE continued from 19 D
Page 19: COMMUNITY DECEMBER 2023 19 Bikepack
Page 23 and 24: CALENDAR OF EVENTS DECEMBER 2023 TO
Page 25 and 26: DECEMBER 2023 25 11 Osceola Festiva
Page 27 and 28: DECEMBER 2023 27 2-11 Saranac Lake
Page 29 and 30: RUNNING & WALKING Winter Races By M
Page 31 and 32: DECEMBER 2023 31 HIKING & SNOWSHOEI
Page 33 and 34: RACE RESULTS 1ST ANNUAL FLUTTERS &
Page 35 and 36: RACE RESULTS MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 4
Page 37 and 38: RACE RESULTS 11TH ANNUAL REVOLUTION
Page 39 and 40: RACE RESULTS 48TH ANNUAL MVP HEALTH

Adirondack Sports December 2023

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