When I took this photo, a few things raced through my mind:

“Lars is a faster climber than I am. Undeniable fact. I’ve been unhitched.”
“How will I explain to people how majestic Gifford Pinchot Forest is?”
“Hmmm. This is strange. I am not suffering. It’s definitely not easy…but I’m actually enjoying myself, here.”
“I can’t believe how sweet this road is!”
“Every pedal stroke is more gorgeous than the one before. This must be the glory of climbing that everyone talks about.”

Until this tour, which has become an annual summer event, I’d never been fit enough to enjoy climbing in it’s pure form. The mountains. I trained for an entire year to make this moment a reality.

The glory of climbing.

A new reason why I ride.

—Patrick Johnson