Mountain Top Sunset Point

 

YouTube Channel:  Ethereal Calm Journeys

First of all...

I had blundered big time on my trike ride this evening.

Although it was a few degrees above freezing (approximately 35 F / 1.6 C)

when I left for my trike ride...

and although the air was crisp...

there was no real wind blowing...

just a light mountain breeze.

So...

I just wore my normal triking sweat pants...

and a light jacket over a t-shirt...

and I wore a balaclava since it was a bit chilly...

but I didn't take any gloves.

And so...

Bandi and I headed up the mountain to enjoy the sunset.

The clouds in the sky were nice.

I had arrived at the top only to find that the wind was gusting at 10-20 MPH 

(16 to 32 kilometers an hour).

The top of the mountain is over 10,000 ft in elevation (over 3000 meters)...

and the wind blows much more strongly up there

(I live at aproximately 9,650 ft - 2,941 meters).

The top of the mountain is above some of the lower clouds in the sky.

Bandi and I arrived about 30 minutes before sunset...

so I just sat on my trike and periodically took photos as the sun set.

After the colors faded...

it was time to go.

I had to keep my hands in my pockets until I took the photos...

but while riding...

my hands had to be out and on the controls.

I rigged my trike for night running

(forward headlights and rear red running lights)...

and Bandi and I then made our way back home.

It was far colder at the top than I had predicted...

and I had paid the price.

I could barely type this article at first...

as my hands were still frozen.

Even now...

over an hour after arriving at home...

my hands still feel puffy.

I will learn...

I should have prepared for colder weather.

Suffering is a great teacher in life.  :)