When my GPS told me I had pedaled my bicycle to 8,233 feet and the top of Emory Pass, snowflakes began to fall. I had labored up the switchbacks and relentless slope for hours. The view was absolutely amazing. And we were ecstatic. This truly was the climax of our trip. Our topo map showed a downhill ride all the way to Texas, hundreds of miles to the east.

The ride of a lifetime? Perhaps. My friend Jesse and I just finished our bicycle trip from Phoenix, Arizona, to Juarez, Mexico. We covered 514 miles, got 6 flats, destroyed one tire, broke two spokes, and endured near record low temperatures. This was a tough ride, but we had a great time.

Check back soon. I'll have the complete travel log and photos posted under the "cycling" menu as soon as I can.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get back into the routine of work. Work is good, but it's certainly not the desert highway.