A shower evaporating before hitting the ground.
Gravel switchbacks, no worry if have a rig.
Leaving Grand Junction, headed north, into more
mountains and the past at the Dinosaur National
Monument.
Seen your dentist lately"
Outside the clouds were building. It do not look the
best.
The road ahead wondering iffen one can gain the left
before
the right closes in.
Tis still clear to the right but 'pears to be
raining.
The road behind and below. Clouds continued to close
in as I climbed, it seemed like a good idea to take
pictures so if in 10 thousand, or so years, my
frozen carcass appeared at the bottom of the
glacier, there would be a record of events.
The road ahead - ominous. After several miles of
rain, followed by corresponding miles of hail I
passed two snowplows and a crew truck parked
roadside and wondered if they knew something I didn't.
About a mile after passing the plows a sharp curtain
of snow appeared and I was traveling fast
enough (30-35 mph), going down a slight slope, and
the road was slippery enough that slid much longer
than was comfortable with wheels locked. Managed to
turn around without slipping off the road (but had
thought out plans for that contingency amidst the
rain and hail) and went back to check with road
crew. They would be heading in my direction, down
the mountain in a half hour or so and I could follow
--- BUT --- the nearest motel/lodge was some 60
miles away and they would take another road in 30
miles, leaving me to negotiate 30 miles of
unplowed/untraveled road, in hopes that there would
be room at the inn.
Retreated back down the mountain, back through
the hail and rain, never having reached the clear
places on the right.
Had passed this sign 2x yesterday, on the way up and
on the way back.
After
a night's rest with a roof
over head as opposed to a sleeping bag in a hack, went back up and
over the mountain. This was the view the next day and a nice view it was
- no precipitation.
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