Day one! It was a grizzly day!

Well, we’re officially off! (Maybe off our rockers!🤣)

We left Banff at 0600 under cloudy skies and cold temperatures. About 37 according to Garmin.

The other weather related issues we faced were threatening rain/snow and a raging frontal pressure differential (we NEVER say the W word, right AMF Cyclists!!!?)

We were deliberate in our riding, trying to keep efforts manageable. That’s easy to say, but not easy to do in the Canadian Rockies! According to Luke we rode about 35-ish rated climbs. We ended up with about 7000’ in 106 miles. We also had a bunch of wet and muddy riding. I ALMOST endoed after my front wheel dropped into a puddle about 2’ Across and apparently about 14.5” deep as my front wheel sank hub deep. It was only by Hurculean strength I didn’t go down (ok, actually pure dumb luck!). But my bike is a TAD dirty.

But this days second biggest topic is the views! Stunning vistas covered in snow for miles. Incredibly blessed just to see this place.

But the thing that will stick with me/us from today was the grizzly. 40 miles in a car going the other way on a dirt road yelled out the window “ufduheifjs (something unintelligible )BEAR!! I got the bear part!!

About 200 yards up the road was a decent sized grizzly. Not huge, but big enough. He Criss crossed the road several times as we waited from a safe (?) distance and then started advancing towards us. This went on for about 45 minutes. Him advancing and then hiding, then advancing…us retreating!

Finally we waved down a car (the only one for the last 30+ minutes) and asked them to escort us past the Griz. They were super kind and did so. We had also been informed that there was a HUGE Griz a km or to down the road. Luckily we never encountered him, but we were definitely alert and yelling!

We were super aware the entire day as apparently this is a BAD bear year.

We’re beat and ready to turn in. Thanks for following along!

Ride On!

Shane