Al and I rode a nice loop from Gunnison with 222 miles and 21k of climbing, 90% dirt and 97% rideable (3% doesn't sound bad, but 7 miles of pushing a loaded bike uphill does!).  Here's a link to the Sage and Saddles route:  https://bikepacking.com/routes/sage-and-saddles/ for details if you're interested.  The first two days are through sagebrush country before three days going up and down over passes and through valleys.   My pedal died out in the boonies 45 miles into the route and if it weren't for Brad, who drove me to Gunnison to buy a pair, and Annette at Cathedral Ranch Cabins (very nice place to relax!) the trip would have been over. A long hot day got us to Pitkin where we sprung for an expensive room ($307!) and real food. Took us a bit to get rehydrated... From here it was uphill to the base of a pass, hike-a-bike, bounce down, cross a valley, repeat the rest of the way.  Riding these three days on a bike without suspension would not b...

I finished the southern third of the Western Wildlands route at Bryce Canyon. Noel and Margo drove out to pick me up, see the scenery and do some hiking.  Nice to be back with family after a nice ride! From Marble Canyon I rode through Vermilion Cliffs past this condor viewing site, where a trio of hikers included me in their very tasty post-hike celebration. I climbed, slowly, up and was looking for a camp site when I heard "Jeff" and turned around. Lee was the only other bikepacker I met going any distance.  He rode the Arizona Trail (longer and harder) which overlaps with and crosses the Western Wildlands.  We camped together and then shared a hotel room in Kanab the next night.  I enjoyed having company. Fortunately it wasn't Sunday... shake was better than the sandwich. Kanab is seeing an influx of remote workers, retirees and the wealthy.  But still has some his...

I left Flagstaff and climbed to 9400' (high point) in the San Francisco Peaks.  Almost nobody out there and nice riding, except For one big tree crossing.  I even got fresh tracks! I stopped early to not pass this campsite by  The snow-covered peak's been visible for days.  A day of nice riding on Forest Service roads got me to the Grand Canyon and a pretty sunset. You'll notice I've been wearing a windbreaker due to temps in the 40s and 50s and nearly constant 10-20 mph winds.  In the trees it's not so bad, but open areas have been chilly.  Better to be on the cool side, but headwinds are tough going. Day 3 from Flagstaff took me out in the Navajo Nation and a reroute.  They've closed part of the Western Wildlands so I missed staying at a campsite people say is amazing - first disappointment of the trip.  It also put me on the highway, ugh  ...