Saratoga Overnight Control

 Here are some photos from our overnight control at the Hacienda Motel in Saratoga, Wyoming, courtesy of Beth Long. Thanks, Beth!

Paul Foley, amiable chef-de-contrôle, handing out room keys and providing life-giving sustenance, aided by his son Will, and fellow randonneur Henry Snavely.

Strong winds in the exposed landscape heading from Walden to Saratoga took its toll on the riders. All but one made their way to Saratoga, but seven of those have DNFd, and have made various plans.

Next up for the other riders: the Snowy Range and Rabbit Ears Pass.

Walden Transit Outbound

The first riders reported into the Walden Transit #1 control around 2:30pm

on a brilliantly sunny day. But windy. Hefty westerly winds.

Those windsocks in the NWS forecast for Walden are for ... winds!

Riders will thus have to traverse a swath of smoky air from the Beaver Creek fire, 

before breaking into clean air again in Wyoming.

Thanks to Malcolm Fraser for the photos below, and for holding down the Walden Transit fort with Wayne Lawton, who is staffing the water stop between Walden and Saratoga.

Josh Horwood

Outside the checkpoint cabin with an official sign framed in blue duct tape at the North Park Inn.