WEATHER

Weather can vary from 110 degrees to frost and hail…

LAYERING IT UP

It’s important to have the right clothes for layering up or down. I wear my skyrts every day! The moisture wicking fabric is great in the heat and when it gets cold: I just add leggings.

While the weather can be unpredictable with sudden storms, bitterly cold nights and even hail, it is generally sunny each day. I really appreciate that I never have set up or take down my tent in the rain. Some nights dip down to the low 30’s or below and it is always warm on my insulated air mattress and wool sleeping bag.

FROSTY NIGHTS

One night, I don’t bother with the air mattress and it’s still toasty warm and I wake up with frost covering my tent!

The nice thing about wool is that it feels great next to my skin and I can tuck my head inside for a quick heat up without any condensation buildup.

Check out Lucky Sheep wool sleeping bags.

WHAT A RIDE!

One day, we have a 48 mile ride from Cooper Lake, Montana through the town of Lincoln and then up towards Semple Pass. It’s a hot day and after Lincoln, we start going up and up.

I catch up with Jo at a stream and we dunk our heads in the cold mountain water. Refreshed, we take our time tackling a steep 4 mile climb. Before we get to the top, we see a storm blowing in and then hear threatening thunder and see cracks of lightening!

Once at the top, we quickly descend into the forest for the cover of trees. We stop to put on our rain gear and hurry down the mountain like bats out of hell to beat the storm.

At one point, I’m going so fast I feel like one of those cartoon characters careening to an unknown fate… just holding on to my handlebars on the edge of disaster on a runaway bike! All I can do is pray for an uphill to slow me down. When it finally comes, the uphill is preceded by a particularly jarring cattle grate - especially when going over it at full speed!

RAIN PROTECTION

We get to the end of the forest and face the full force of the storm. With an all-out sprint, we make it to the entrance of an Alpaca farm where we are camping for the night.

As soon as we get inside the farm gate, the sky lets loose with a furious downpour.

We find four of our teammates holding down the canopy covering the kitchen area, and the rest of our group took refuge in a small cottage.

Suddenly, the storm blows over; the sun comes out and the cooks-of-the-day prepare a much appreciated dinner.

FAVORITE PLACE

Aside from the drama of getting there, this is one of my favorite overnight places.

Barbara, our host, opens her Alpaca farm to passing bicyclists. We love watching the Alpacas with their calm demeanor and innocent looking faces.

We camp with a view past the valley to the next mountain range and enjoy an outdoor shower made from bicycle parts.

The adventure continues…