Little Cottonwood

Yesterday at noon I hopped on my bike for my lunchtime ride. The original plan was to drive up to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon and from there ride up to the top and back. As it got time to go work got crazy, so I thought that maybe it would be better if I just left from my office, did a short ride and came back to the office. So off I went heading east. As I rode I thought I'll go just a little further and then turn around. Soon I found myself at the mouth of the canyon. "I'll just go up a little further and turn around." It was such a beautiful ride that I couldn't get myself to turn around. Finally I thought "To heck with this, I'm going to the top." As soon as I made up my mind to go all the way I began to suffer. My legs didn't seem to want to go anymore. Despite the supposed cool temps I was dying of heat and my water was running low. I was hungry too. I had one GU gel with me but that didn't seem to help much. At least there is water at the top I thought. I can refill there. I really struggled but after what felt like forever I made it to the top. There I found that they had removed the benches and the water fountain for the winter season. I had no water left and I was a long way from my office, but at least it was mostly downhill from here. I took some quick pics of the recent early fall snow and down I went. Even though I was dying of heat on the way up I could now feel the cool air coming down and it got a bit chilly. Good thing for arm warmers. I made it back but boy was I thirsty. It took a while to be feeling better but my legs are still sore. I will go for an easier ride at lunch today. One thing of note; I've run out of my HEED Hammer energy drink so yesterday I had only plain water and I got thinking, perhaps that is why I suffered so much. Maybe it does make that much of a difference? Entirely possible. The above pics are slopes at the top with the recent snow. I can't wait to be skiing these slopes!