Smoke at Sunrise 6/28/03

We met at 6:45 AM at to the end of Golder Ranch Road. The plan was to ride the slickrock lollipop, possibly for one last time before it burned. On Monday, the Aspen fire crested Samaniego Ridge and began burning down the west slope towards the 50 year trail and the myriad trails above it. Alas, the smoke was too thick. We decided we would be taking our health in our hands by riding in it. So we abandoned that plan, and drove north of the Catalinas to Black Mountain, where we did nice ride (in 99 degree heat, by the end of the ride). On the way back, we had a spectacular view of the north side of the Catalinas. We could see the columns of smoke rising from Canon del Oro Wash, and Charleu Gap, and heavy black smoke, connoting a fire storm, further along Samaniego Ridge.

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