TransAm alternatives (Seeking input on route)
#26
Senior Member
Seems like a fair consideration that West to East gives enough time for released erythropoietin to facilitate additional red blood cells and make for less huffing and puffing at altitude on the relatively gentle climbs. Keeping the total weight down also helps. It is doubtful the East approach has enough elevation on the plains to prepare the body for elevation whereas starting in Astoria, one gradually goes higher and higher.
I know what not to do. Don't fly into Denver and go over Trail Ridge the next day. The climb is easy. Puking down the backside isn't much fun.
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#27
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Sometimes it seems pretty random when you feel the altitude and when you don't.
Going west, I had more trouble with Togwotee than I did at Hoosier Pass, despite Hoosier being some 2,000' higher. Approaching Hoosier, I had a rest day in Canon City (if you can call it a rest day with a half a day of whitewater rafting), overnighted the next night at Guffey (8,500' or so), and then cruised into Breckenridge with no more trouble that that kind of climbing incurs. Before Togwotee I had a real rest day in Dubois, leaving about 3,000 feet of steady climb to the pass. One might think a week or so over 5,000 feet, including 3 nights over 8,000', would have made Togwotee a comparative walk into the park, but 'twasn't so.
Going west, I had more trouble with Togwotee than I did at Hoosier Pass, despite Hoosier being some 2,000' higher. Approaching Hoosier, I had a rest day in Canon City (if you can call it a rest day with a half a day of whitewater rafting), overnighted the next night at Guffey (8,500' or so), and then cruised into Breckenridge with no more trouble that that kind of climbing incurs. Before Togwotee I had a real rest day in Dubois, leaving about 3,000 feet of steady climb to the pass. One might think a week or so over 5,000 feet, including 3 nights over 8,000', would have made Togwotee a comparative walk into the park, but 'twasn't so.
#28
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While riding a couple of Colorado passes last summer, I saw folks (assuming day riders, since they didn't have dunnage) with little personal bottles of oxygen. Hmph. I'd never seen such a thing - but then it's been several years since I rode the high passes. Checking the internet (and if you see it on the internet, it must be true), the jury still seems to be out on the efficacy of retail supplemental O2.
Anyway, if anyone is put off by climbing and all these breathless tales of trans-American cycletouring, they might try the 'flat' route with a maximum elevation of ~8500 feet on Sherman Summit just east of Laramie, Wyoming:
On this route, the Pacific/Atlantic Continental Divide is crossed at South Pass, Wyoming @ ~7400 feet.
Anyway, if anyone is put off by climbing and all these breathless tales of trans-American cycletouring, they might try the 'flat' route with a maximum elevation of ~8500 feet on Sherman Summit just east of Laramie, Wyoming:
On this route, the Pacific/Atlantic Continental Divide is crossed at South Pass, Wyoming @ ~7400 feet.
#29
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- There seems to be a fairly sharp effect at what point it cuts in for individuals. For example, taking out of town guests to Frisco (elevation ~9000ft) rarely had much effect. There is a surprisingly large difference in effect between Frisco (9,000ft), Cameron Pass (10,300ft), Hoosier Pass (11,500ft) and Trail Ridge (12,200ft). The worst scenario seems to be flying into DIA and then immediately going to altitude - did that once with a friend flying from LAX and within 12 hours we went up Longs Peak. He was in good health and had hiked up Whitney but still needed time to adjust. Next trip after he visited we did Longs Peak but spent a few days around Frisco first.
- So assuming going up Cameron Pass all in a day from Fort Collins - particularly if you hadn't adjusted to Front Range altitude by cycling via Eastern Colorado would be a stupid assumption but I don't see you need to make that assumption - particularly given distances involved.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!