The Outlook

This Saturday is Rudolph’s “Over the Lemmon” ride for SDMB.

114 miles
9000 feet of climbing
around, and over Mt. Lemmon

I’ve done the loop before, with Erik K on his road bike, and it is not easy.

With each passing day the ride is looking more and more epic.

Tuesday – While riding on Via Entrada I was chased by a snarling, barking and incredibly fast dog. I was riding as hard as I could and he was gaining on me… until finally he ran out of breath. In the process my knee started hurting again.

Wednesday – The challenge has been taken to another level. A snow storm is coming, Friday afternoon and night. From the NWS:

FRIDAY…NUMEROUS SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL LOWERING TO AROUND
5000 FEET…WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 5 INCHES. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.
FRIDAY NIGHT…SNOW LEVEL LOWERING TO 2500 FEET BY MORNING WITH ISOLATED AREAS OF FROST. COLDER WITH LOWS 31 TO 36.

2 to 5 inches in the mountains is ok and would make the ride nice. But we’re leaving at 6am Saturday morning. It will be below freezing with snow in Tucson! (2500 feet). We could be riding in the snow for all 113 miles. The control road may be closed, the catalina highway may be closed.

In addition, our fearless leader is talking of bailing on the ride (for family reasons). He sent out email today to that effect. I volunteered as the new ride leader. But will anyone else show up?

Thursday – I woke up with a scratchy throat. Am I getting sick with the flu that almost everyone I know has had in the past month?

The outlook is bleak. But I still plan to be there, at 6am, packed and ready for a real adventure. I’m going to bring every piece of clothing I own and twice as much food as I’ll need.