July 28, 2019
Start: Alpine meadows
Turnaround: D’Arcy
Finish: Alpine Meadows
Route: HWY 99, Pemberton Portage Rd.
Distance: 149.3 km
Elevation gain: 1387 m
Time: 7h 28 m
Objective completed by fair means without the use of a vehicle to and from a starting location.
Notables: The meadows heading N from Pemberton are flat but can be hot. Continue straight through Mt. Currie avoiding the R hand turnoff to Lillooet. There is already a gas station here but a new Chevron coming soon will further this small towns amenities.
No more shoulder crossing the train tracks and the road does deteriorate consistently until D’Arcy. Still paved, the quality is fine and traffic generally respectful however at one point the “shoulder” is obviously slumping into the river.
Primarily climbing from Mt. Currie to Gates lake and primarily a descent from Gates Lake to D’Arcy.
Mountain scenery is fabulous and many opportunities to access various rivers; some of which seasonally bear salmon.
Gas station in D’Arcy with a modest corner store.
Keep your eyes peeled for basic old school farming/mining equipment retired in the roadside woods. I seem to notice an extra piece every pedal which nature has not yet fully reclaimed.
First road ride without a backpack. 2 new larger white, insulated 700ml+ bottles were the kicker. Spare tube, pump, tire levers, multitool and chain oil/rag round out the repair kit. Bars, gels, and nuts also onboard.
Focused on eating more prior and during. Big days really are too easy to under-fuel.
A bit of confusion navigating Ironman closures exiting Alpine. I felt quite peppy compared to those biking who had also already swam a lot.
1h 7m to Pemberton which is my quickest post-op.
Cruising through the meadows well before noon was much cooler and a strategy I will aim to employ.
In Mt. Currie I was tempted to turn R towards Lilloet and head up the Duffy instead recalling the fast descent. Sure do love it up there. New Chevron here seems very near completion.
Still felt relatively fresh upon arrival to the Birkenhead River by 11. This is a great rest spot.
Felt less fresh a few km’s up the road when a larger dude flew past pulling a huge gear. Still arrived at Gates lake feeling good. The lake was almost glass.
Nearing D’Arcy there was a black bear foraging roadside seemingly floating on a sea of bramble. I’ve seen a big bear defy gravity before but not this close. We seemed to notice each other at the same time and locked eyes no more than 10 feet away. A brief glimpse but a highlight no less.
Arriving to D’Arcy a stop at the gas station/corner store. There are sinks here to refill bottles.
Cars were parked everywhere. It seems a Sunday boat on Anderson Lake is far more popular than I was aware. Visiting here roughly 10 times, usually weekdays, this has not been my experience and I still found a quiet place by the lake.
The climb out of D’Arcy to Gates lake was warm. Turned around at one point to kick rockfall off the road.
Good Views of Mt. Currie nearing Owl Creek Rec. Site.
Leaving Mt. Currie there was another bear crossing the road just S of “Barn Nork”.
The meadows were much warmer than this morning so getting to Pemberton was hot.
Much less suffery returning S than a few weeks ago. Gen passed me climbing the N side of suicide hill so we met shortly thereafter for a quick rest. Also no headwind leaving Pemberton. There’s always a headwind.
Arriving back to Green lake I was awaiting entertainment from the remaining Ironman competitors to bring me home. After swimming and biking, now on their run leg, shadows and skeletons were all that remained and I was no longer tired.
Keep stoking the fire!
Stoking the fire 