The ride was 105 miles with a total elevation gain of 3700 feet. The temperatures in the morning were in the low 70s but got into the 90s in mid-morning and passed 100 F shortly after noon. I carried 3 28 oz water bottles and refilled them 5 times. My Polar A-5 heart rate monitor calculated that I burned about 7700 Calories over the more than 8 hours of the ride with an average heart rate of 141 bpm. I was burning nearly 1000 Calories/hour! This is a challenging, strenuous, and awesomely beautiful ride.
Entrance to Death Valley National Park
View of Death Valley in the distance from Zabriskie Point
Sea level and the route before us
On Jubilee Pass 1285 feet above sea level
44 miles back to the starting point
At a water stop - the temperature was about 100 degrees by now
The end of the ride - cold beer beckons!
