Today we were challenged with a climb to the top of Monarch pass at 11,312 feet on the continental divide. This was 19 miles of climbing from our camp in Salida to the crest of Monarch Pass. The climb seemed to go on forever and in many places the road had little if any shoulder, but everyone made it in good shape. 

We spent a lot of time at the top and even took a gondola ride to the top of the mountain. From that vantage point you could see Pike Peak to the south and two other 14,000 peaks. It was a beautiful site.

Then downhill at a high rate for speed. We seemed to fly until reaching Sargents CO. 10.5 miles from the summit. Speeds in the upper 30s were noted by most of the riders. Even after Sargents we had gradual downhill but as we got closer to Gunnison we hit a headwind which slowed our progress.

In Gunnison the alumni provided us with a B-B-Q lunch and then yet another open his house and backyard to us for camping and lasagna dinner. Great day.