I really wish I had my camera
I left Bear Valley this morning (post watching the live coverage of the Tour de France which started at 5:30am because yes, I am that big of a fan) on a short ride up to Mosquito Lake. It’s less than a 20 mile loop and with the exception of a few short and steep hills, it is primarily a rolling, 1.5 lane, beautiful mountain road, passing Lake Alpine and many other vistas of the surrounding mountains. Bear Valley sits at 7,000 feet up in the Sierra Nevada and is primarily very mountainous terrain.
About 30 minutes into the ride on this narrow road I pulled off to the side to let a very large cattle truck pass going in the other direction. Then I stopped for another, one more, and a final fourth. All were empty. Just the weekend before I had passed ‘mountain cows’ in Hermit Valley, so I wasn’t too surprised to see the trucks, but I’d never passed any before.
A bit farther along the road I started to notice the evidence of the aforementioned cattle trucks. Many ‘landmines’ had been left in their wake and with me riding on skinny tires, I was doing all I could to swerve and weave around them.
When I reached Mosquito Lake I rode just past it to catch the grand view of the open canyon and mountains to the east. I had no intention of riding down Pacific Grade as the climb out is very steep, with some 18% grades. It wasn’t 100 yards past this corner where I saw the result of the four empty cattle trucks. In front of me were 7 cowboy hat-wearing ranchers on horses herding what must have been 100+ head of cattle down Hwy 4/Pacific Grade – this narrow, 1.5 lane, steep, rocky road. I couldn’t help but laugh at the cacophony of sound coming from the mooing cows, their many cow bells, hooves on pavement and the whoops of two of the ranchers who were precariously perched on the steep, rocky embankment on the left side of the road, trying to steer some of their daring mountain-climbing cows back into the group.
Cars were stopped behind the herd, I imagine in front of it and definitely in the middle of it. What I wouldn’t have given to have had my camera with me – it was quite a sight.
I give it up to the herd masters – it cannot be an easy task to guide 100 head of cattle down a steep mountain road with cars coming both directions and rambunctious cows literally heading for the hills. I learned later that they ‘reside’ in Hermit Valley for the summer eating the newly sprung grass. I now have a more defined understanding of why there are two cattle guards across the road on Ebbetts Pass – there are most definitely cows up here.
My ride back consisted of more bobbing and weaving to avoid the cow patties. Instead I hit a big pot hole (apparently only looking to avoid the color brown…).
5 days to go!!!
