June 8, 2024
I Hate Hayters Gap - Damascus to Elk Garden
The hostel was quite cold last night. And my knees were aching from yesterday’s hill fest. I didn’t sleep well.
At 8 I walked the block to the Damascus Diner where I ate dinner last night. I ordered “The Hogg” and I felt like one after eating it.
Before leaving town I stopped at a bike shop to use their floor pump. Next I headed along rolling country roads to Meadowview. It was a net gain of 100 feet of elevation over 15 miles.
The next 5.7 miles are a descent of about 500 feet to the town of Hayters (rhymes with highters) Gap.
Shortly after the town came the 3-mile, wooded climb to the eponymous gap at 3,000 feet. Fortunately, no trucks are allowed on this road so it is relatively safe despite numerous switchbacks.
I made the first mile without much difficulty. I could tell the grade was increasing with each switchback. I decided to climb 1/3rd to 1/2 mile then rest. This worked well for a mile. I stopped to rest and put both feet on the ground. When I went to start pedaling again, I couldn’t get enough momentum to keep from toppling over.
So I started walking. I soon discovered that pedaling bike up a grade at 3.2 mph is much harder than pushing it bike up at 2.9 mph. So I walked the last mile to the top.
The descent was equally steep, so much so that I stopped twice to let my rims cool.
I stopped for the day at a United Methodist Church bike hostel at Elk Garden, 33.5 miles for the day.
I’m accompanied by Peter from Los Angeles who is traveling light and arrived from Troutdale.
Tomorrow’s destination is the lodge at Breaks Interstate Park. Their restaurant closes at 4 and doesn’t reopen until Tuesday so I need to get up and ride. It’s about 50 miles with some short, steep hills.
Today's ride: 33 miles (53 km)
Total: 699 miles (1,125 km)
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