Today I headed into Rocky Mountain National Park for a side trip from the TransAmerica trail. I camped a few miles outside of the west entrance to the park and set out early for Trail Ridge Road, a road that climbs up and over the Rocky Mountains, at the highest point it is just shy of 12,200 feet, it’s the highest continuously paved road in the US.

The road starts out relatively flat travelling up the side of a long valley, and once it gets near to the back it starts its over 3,000 foot ascent. At first I switchback up the side of the mountain at the back of the meadow, through trees I catch interrupted views of the meadow, and the mountain range above. After almost 2,000 feet of climbing, and passing 2 miles above sea level, I cross the Continental Divide again, back onto the Atlantic side.

From here the road keeps climbing, this time up the side of a valley flowing eastwards. The trees start to miniaturize before disappearing altogether and I enter tundra. The Alpine Visitor Center has almost 360 degree views down 3 drainages. Far away a large herd of elk is grazing in one of the meadows, and a glacial cirque sits adjacent to the center.

From the visitor center it’s a short climb to the highest point on the pass, the air is getting thinner and my legs are getting tired and I spin in a lower gear to reach the top. The views are expansive across the mountains ranges. The wind is picking up and clouds are starting to turn grey. Every day in the Rockies there’s a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, which seems to mean someone is going to get rained on. Again today that meant me.

I just finished up lunch and a couple of spots of rain fall on me, I decide to head down the other side and see if the clouds are just building up on the ridge, and not more than a minute after pushing off huge drops of rain start pounding me, so large it feels like hail. I was getting wet quickly, and as I have a 20 mile descent I stop and put on my rain gear so that I don’t chill on the way down.

Tonight I’m staying in Estes Park just on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. It continued to shower the rest of the day, and only now in the evening are the clouds brightening a little. I’m going to take a day off the bike tomorrow and let my body rest, after almost a full month of intense daily activity it will feel good to take it easy. From here I need to plan a route back across the Rockies to join back to the TransAmerica.