Day18, TAT day 2 Hancocks Pass, Lake City

Today was a day we have thought about since we first thought of this trip last year. My poor wife Jennie had to listen, ad nauseum, to me pondering all the permutations that this day might bring. Both on the net as well as friends who have ridden the TAT said there was no way you could get a big bike over Hancocks pass. It's steep and rocky and in fact has been removed from the official TAT as its considered too hard.
So, with all that on my mind I woke up with a few butterflies in my stomach today. Being a bit nervous I was keen to get going and just face it. So I was most appreciative when Dave decided to have a truly leisurely start to the day. I thought for a moment he was going to offer to mow the kerbs at our accomodation ( which he likes to do before he leaves home on any trip).
Eventually we did set off and once again were blown away by the views. See the pic as we approach the true Rockies again. Just stunning. We had a quick visit to the ghost town if St Elmos, which was anything but ghostly as it was very busy due to it being labour weekend here.
Then off to Hancocks. It lived up to expectations and proved to be the highlight of the trip so far. A real challenge but fun, fun, fun. The entire pass is a very rocky technical challenge. The photos prove we got there. No bikes were dropped( I came close, don't ask me how I saved it).
So we congratulated each other, beaming with our cleverness. Crap, of course the climb is only half the job and the descent proved to be far more terrifying. Even as I type I still have cramp in my sphincter! Steep and loose with rocks everywhere there were times when it was just a matter of surfing a 220kg sled down. The scope for a big accident was there and I have to say I was very relieved to get to the bottom. What a buzz though.
We rode 3 further passes today, Tomichi, Los Pinos, Slumgullion into Lake City.
Tomichi was no cake walk. The others delivered immensely on the scenic front. Just beautiful high Colorado valleys with the light painting valleys and rock faces through gaps in the usual afternoon storms. We didn't take enough pics due to the rain but the memories will do for me.
What a day.