Day 6. Avon to Frisco-Vail Pass from the West

A 40 mile day today up the steep side of Vail Pass. More blue skies and warm weather, even at 10,000 ft. elevation. 

Leaving Avon at 9:15 on US 6, bike trails or frontage roads along I-70.  It’s about a 25 mile climb to the summit of Vail Pass but the last 10 miles have some pretty steep grades in places we’re not looking forward to on our 6th day of riding. 

11 miles of a steady climb out of Avon, we’ve ridden through Vail for the Rich & Famous and now heading into East Vail where you only need to be rich. 

At the last Summit Stage free bus stop in East Vail Ang and I take a little break and eat a leftover donut with raspberry sauce from last night before the steepies come.  

We met our first long distance cyclist today. Her name is Nancy, she’s a school teacher in Eagle, CO and this is her first day on her summer long journey to Alaska before school starts.  She apparently is running 3 marathons this fall too. This isn’t her first rodeo either. She cycled from Oregon to Maine on the Northern Tier and painted a wonderful picture of her tour on the Sierra-Cascades Route. 

Climb, climb, climb....

And climb some more. 

Out of water and 4 more miles of the toughest part of the climb to the summit, grrrrrrrr. 

And just up ahead is Vail Summit

Where we find Nancy again, having finished her peanut butter and pickle sandwich and about to head down the path to Frisco for the night.  Peanut butter and pickles is the name of her blog she just started for this trip. I looked it up and copied a link below if you want to follow her or check out her past trips. 
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=20730&v=1F

Good luck Nancy!!!

A 5 mile cruise down Vail Pass takes us through Copper Mountain ski resort. 

And 10 more miles of downhill coasting brings us to the great little mountain town of Frisco where we get cleaned up and take a walk down Main St. to Peppinos for salads and pizza. 

And here’s a snap shot of the elevation profile for today.