A Snowy Accent on the Eve of Summer!

Last Saturday at 4am I had the pleasure of sending off three dozen avid cyclists on the 400km brevet, then heading off on a shorter foray into the mountains. Dawn promises a fine, sunny day, with some cheerful semilenticular clouds dotting the foothills:

After hefty snows and deep snowpack, the sudden warmth has sent Lefthand Creek and others churning:

At the top of Super-James, a scenic view of the Indian Peaks:

Brainard Lake still has some ice floating on it, and it's still pretty quiet there, as "winter conditions" preclude hiking on the snowpacked trails:

But they've plowed the main road, providing a nice place to lean your bike:

At the base of the Brainard Lake road, whom to encounter but cheery Vernon Smith and Catherine Shenk at the Millsite Inn 400k checkpoint! While taking a break, Vernon was called into service to help the Millsite staff move a pool table.

Most of the way up Lefthand Canyon, Brent and Beth Myers are taking it easy (if that's not a contradiction in terms climbing Lefthand) on their way to a successful 400k finish:

... while KC Heck pauses briefly at one of the new, paved cyclist turnouts in the canyon:

Lots of smiles to go around both in the snowy realms and on the 400k, as attested by Steve Le Goff, Michelle Grainger, and Catherine:

Now that summer is evidently with us, enjoy!

-jle