Day 5: Wickenburg to Prescott, AZ

 At 7am this morning, the skies were clear and the temperature was a comfortable 64F, and winds were predicted to be mild -- a great day for a bike ride.  I also knew it would be a day of climbing into a cooler zone, a welcome change from riding against the hot wind in the desert.

The first climb was west out of Wickenburg on SR93.  Grades were typically 1-3% for the first 16 miles. I caught up to Randy Germeraad (Springfield, IL) along this stretch at the Granite Mountain Hotshot Memorial sign.   

Memorial on the climb to Yarnell paying tribute to the
Granite Mountain Hotshots -- elite fire fighters overrun by the
Yarnell Hill Fire almost a year ago (Jun 30, 2013).

Randy and I rode together from that point.  He didn't want to go any faster because of nagging ITB pain, and I didn't want to go any faster because I couldn't.  After a quick stop at a convenience store at Mile 16, we began the first major climb of the day -- a 7.3 mile stretch to Yarnell with steeper than usual grades in 

the 5-9% range.

The elevation at this point is 4500-4800 feet on the climb to Yarnell.
The temperatures were in the high 90Fs at this time.

We crested the Yarnell Pass around Mile 24 at an elevation of 4868 feet, a point approximately 2800 feet higher than Wickenburg.  

During Miles 25-36, we descended approximately 800 feet, but our average speed wasn't all that great because a slight headwind had developed. At Mile 37, we started the climb to Prescott.  

Miles 37 to 54 were characterized by constant climbing and many false flats.  False flats are deceptive stretches of road that appear flat, but are actually ascents at 1-4% grade so you end up working hard and going slow when you think you should be going fast.  It like...screws with your mind, man.  This section of road also contained many switchback ascents and descents.  The climbing was hard work and we peaked at approximately 6100 feet.  We reaped climbing rewards during the twisting exhilarating descents, especially the final plunge into Prescott. 

  
These bright yellow and white beacons atop thistle-like stalks
 were abundant along the roads today.

Randy Germeraad and CrossRoads staff member
 extraordinaire Jan Lewis (Summerville, SC) on the climb to Prescott

Jan Lewis riding strongly on the long 19-mile climb to Prescott.

Prescott is the "Mile High City" in Arizona

Day 5:  Google Earth image and Elevation Profile
Wickenburg to Prescott, AZ

After reviewing tomorrow's route during Route Rap, 3 American (Randy Germeraad, Chuck Hardesty, me) and 3 British (Richard Hedges, Geoffrey Sales, Tim Walmsley) tour riders went to the Prescott Brewing Co. to foster cultural exchange and international understanding.  It was a fun and informative group with whom to share food and beers after a hard 5 days of riding through heat, headwinds, and hills.  From this day forward, I will always remember that "you can tell where the top of the bloody hill is because that's where they place the bloody cell phone tower."

Tomorrow, we head to Cottonwood, AZ.