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Road Trip Eastern Sierra: Twin Lakes ::: Bodie, pt 1 ::: Bodie, pt 2 ::: To Bridgeport, pt 1 ::: To Bridgeport, pt 2 ::: Mono Lake, pt 1 ::: Mono Lake, pt 2
Bodie to Bridgeport, part 2, June 2019
Over the mountains in the snow: A Photographic Log
13 June, 18 miles
After starting up the dirt road from Bodie (see part 1), I gained elevation and repeatedly ran into snow covering my route. It was impossible to ride across the white stuff, so I always had to dismount and push until I could get back on bare dirt. Every time I thought that would be the end of the snow, more blocked the road ahead of me. Where there was no snow, I had to contend with a few water crossings where meltwater streamed down hillsides and crossed the road. In sum, it was a challenging and highly enjoyable ride. Eventually I turned away from the high country and blitzed downhill to Bridgeport.
I'm still gaining elevation, and in some places snow continues to cover the road.
Here's another stretch of snow I need to walk through until I can get back to dirt.
This is probably the highest elevation of the day, and the weather closed in for a little while.
Definitely colder up here, but I have more clothes if needed.
Maybe a fatbike could roll across this crusty snow, but the Ogre just sinks in.
Ogre down.
Tired of dragging the bike across one long stretch of snow, I stopped to take a photo.
At a slightly lower elevation, melted snow is draining downhill. Maybe the road will be clear now.
Just around the bend I met a couple in a pickup truck with two small kids. They had driven up from Bridgeport, but could see this was the end of the line because of the snow up ahead, which I had just walked crossed. They turned around and went back to Bridgeport. Other than the OHV, that was the only vehicle I saw on the entire ride.
Farther along, looking back at part of the road.
It looks like it's raining on the road between me and Bodie.
This was a challenge. Wide and deep, and I could see some big rocks on the bottom. Very swampy on both sides of the lake.
I looked upstream and downstream for a good crossing place. Finally danced through the swamp farther off to the rightway too mushy to rideand emerged with wet boots.
I pulled off the road, sat on some rocks, and squeezed the water out of my socks.
Unexpectedly, I encountered yet another patch of snow covering the road.
More Ogre pushing ensued.
After losing more elevation, these trees appeared. I think they were the only ones I saw all day.
Note more snow just beyond them, and rain in the distance.
Now I'm a little farther down.
The terrain is changing, and I can see Sierra Nevada peaks toward the north and northwest.
The body of water in the distance is the reservoir just outside Bridgeport.
I think I'm back down to roughly 8400 feet now. Terrain and vegetation really changing. Also getting warmer.
Within another mile or so, I turned left onto Aurora Canyon Road for the descent to Bridgeport.
From the T intersection with Bodie-Masonic Road, Aurora Canyon Road drops 2100 feet in 8 miles. Banzai!
No pedaling necessary. Glad I adjusted my brakes in preparation for today's ride.
Looking down Aurora Canyon Road when I stopped to remove my windbreaker.
Decent surface, but enough rocks, ruts, gravel, sand, and corrugations that I couldn't just let the Ogre fly.
Looking back as I emerged from Aurora Canyon. Temperature up to at least 80° F here.
Almost at the end of Aurora Canyon Road at the edge of Bridgeport.
From here I soon ran into Sweetwater Roadpavedand rolled the last half mile to base camp.
All done for today. More on the agenda for tomorrow, but right now I need to notify my ace support crew she won't need to mount a search and rescue expedition.
(This view looks west toward the Sierra Nevada peaks beyond Twin Lakes, where I was riding yesterday.)
Continue to Mono Lake, part 1
SummaryDate: 13 June 2019
Time: 11:30 - 4:00
Weather: 60-50-80° F, partly cloudy with a few sprinkles, windy plus distant storms and thunder
Route: Bodie to Bridgeport via unpaved Bodie-Masonic Rd and Aurora Canyon Rd
Distance: 18 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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