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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Bodie to Bridgeport, part 1, June 2019
Over the mountains in the snow: A Photographic Log
13 June, 18 miles
Before bicycling the dirt road through the mountains from Bodie to Bridgeport, while I was still home in Santa Rosa I consulted four local "experts" via email and phone about what conditions to expect. All agreed cars could not get through due to deep snowdrifts at multiple locations. Beyond that, everyone had a slightly different opinion about bicycling that route under current conditions. The general consensus seemed to be, "Well, you might make it through on a bicycle, but don't call us if you get stuck in the snow." That was probably a joke, because there was no cell service anywhere along the route. Joke or not, my ace support crew—already concerned about my hare-brained scheme—was not amused.With such a ringing endorsement from my ace support crew, the ranger, the director of Public Works and Roads, and others, after driving to Bridgeport I pedaled to Twin Lakes and back on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday morning I caught a ride in Gregorio's pickup truck on the paved route up to Bodie, spent a couple of hours exploring the ghost town, then started pedaling up Bodie-Masonic Road on decent hardpack. I could see some snow on slopes in the distance, but as I departed Bodie at 8300 feet in elevation the road was clean and dry.
I should have realized that wouldn't last.
At the start of Bodie-Masonic Road, by the main parking lot at Bodie, I found this warning sign.
In four different languages it basically said "Deep snow. Impassible. No towing available. Don't try it."
"Ha," replied Old Grumble-Face. "Ha!"
Much of the climb—roughly 1000 feet—occurred within the first couple of miles.
Looking back at Bodie.
Looking uphill. Yep, that's snow.
Farther up the road, the mighty snow-capped Sierra began to appear in the distance.
Looking beyond Bodie and the nearby hills and across Mono Lake toward the Sierra.
Still climbing. More Sierra peaks and more snow.
Here's Old Grumble-Face grinding uphill.
The temperature is definitely dropping and the breeze is picking up, so I pulled on my windbreaker.
At around 9000 feet in elevation I stopped to take four photos, one in each cardinal direction.
Looking west.
Looking south, where I was.
Looking east.
I was well above the timberline from the start.
Looking north, where I'm going.
Right after I snapped this, a tricked out off-highway vehicle (huge tires, roll bar, cage, flashing lights, tall antenna with pennant, driver and passenger wearing helmets with headphones and mics) came roaring up the road. I heard it before I saw it. The driver was shifting gears constantly and the pitch of the whining engine kept changing. When he popped into view, I could see he was intentionally swerving and kicking up enormous clouds of dust. As I hustled to get the Ogre out of harm's way, he screeched to a stop beside me, flashed a thumb's up, revved the engine, and sped off. I don't think he came all the way through from the Bridgeport side, because there were no tracks on some of the snowdrifts across the road. With that little OHV it's possible he might have avoided those snowdrifts by detouring off road across some steep, rugged terrain. Or maybe he went up from Bodie, couldn't get through, and turned around.
At around 9200 feet in elevation I encountered the first snow blocking the road.
No choice but to dismount and push the Ogre across until we hit dirt again.
More snow. No tracks across.
More snow across the road.
At first I tried to take a picture of every patch of snow covering the road, but I lost count, gave up, and stopped photographing all of them.
This should provide a good idea of the terrain, the snow, and the weather.
Fortunately, as the road twisted and turned and dipped and rose, the Ogre was on more dirt than snow.
This view looks east into Nevada.
Plenty of dark clouds and rain in every direction. I heard thunder off and on for most of the ride. Only a few brief sprinkles came down on my head.
Another drift across the road, but I lost count of them.
This one has a vehicle track.
More white stuff. Something has crossed this patch. Maybe the little OHV?
Pushing the Ogre across snow started out as fun, but I was getting tired of it.
Tough luck. More to come.
Continue to Bodie to Bridgeport, part 2
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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