Vail Pass, 1st of the day
We started at 6am; I got up Fremont Pass, down to Copper, and up Vail Pass (westward) by 9am, and I thought, 'I'm doig GREAT, I'm going to finish so EARLY.' HAH. Funny how you forget what a slog going up Vail Pass eastward is. The support from volunteers, from all the other riders who are cheering each other on, the fans (thank you DHP and Ellie for being there at a crucial moment when you think you're at the top but you aren't, really) was invaluable.
