Sunday, November 29, 2009

(A)typical Day Ride on the Parkway

Mountains have moods. Ignore this anthropocentric faux fact at your own peril. I’ve made the mistake of ignoring the mood of the mountains a few times backpacking, too light and ill-equipped while peak-bagging, and found myself in dangerous and uncomfortable situations. And I’ve done it biking a few times as well.

Today Richland Balsam enticed me to play on her steep slopes with sunny skies, moderate temperature and the solitude of a closed and gated Parkway. Just above 5,000 feet, the mood turned gloomy as a half frozen rain began pelting me. Turning back, I found the weather had closed in from behind as well. Sneaky mountain.

Jack







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2 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 2, 2010 at 6:32 PM

    My friend "Big J" and I had the very same experience this past summer but on the Water Rock Knob side of Balsam Gap. The mountain closed in behind us and it was riding in a "white out." Fortunately, it wasn't raining and wasn't winter. Whew!

    - Zeke

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2010 at 7:13 PM

    Thanks for the comment Cecil, I read Jill up in Alaska and feel silly sitting inside complaining about the weather...not silly enough to go outside of course.

    Jack

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