Evergreen to Echo Lake Climb, 7/20/14

Jason and I will be celebrating our 11th anniversary together this year from our bike saddles, as we participate in our first Colorado Cyclist Copper Triangle cycling event on Saturday, August 2nd. 

In preparation for the climbing and altitude, we decided to bike from Evergreen to the base of Mt. Evans at Echo Lake. The climb took us up 3,871 feet over 18 miles to a max altitude of 11,248 feet above sea level. It took us about 2 hours of climbing with some pretty extraordinary views along the way!

 Jason is having a great time!

This was the halfway point of our climb.

Amazing views at 9,807 feet above sea level. 

I am forced to wear my Cupcake Mountain bike jersey 

any time I climb a big mountain. It's appropriate, I think.

At the top with views of Echo Lake in the distance. 

 At the entrance to North America's Highest Auto Road, which tops out above 14,000 feet. We did not go to the top. Maybe another day.

Breathtaking views from our return ride back to town.

Thanks to Nana and Papa who were at home with the boys, feeding them, entertaining them and setting up Tate's new big boy bed (that Papa built, 

of course)!

It was a great day and boy was Tate excited! (Sorry, Tate not pictured here.)