Training for the 2007 Best Buddies Challenge - Hearst Castle is well underway in the mountains of Southern California. It's going to take lots of training too. I am so out of shape. The last couple of days I've ridden from the cabin (5500') up to Camp Condor (6500') and back. Climbing 1000' in 2.5 miles is not all that easy when you're just getting started. Take a look at the road, and it is that steep!

PMC road West of Pine Mountain Club

Cerro Noroeste road going up to Camp Condor

By the end of the week I plan on being able to ride from this point, just below Camp Condor (6500') to the top of Mt. Abel (9000') nonstop. Last summer the ride took me 2 1/2 hours to get to the top. It's an elevation gain from PMC of 4500' in nine miles. It's a great ride down though.

Tomorrow I plan on riding down to my moms in Taft. Even though the ride is from PMC down to the floor of the San Joaquin Valley there are several tough hills. The entire ride is about 46 miles. I'll take a few pictures and let you know how it goes. Hopefully the fireworks will be after I arrive. Keeping an eye out for bears and lions since it's been very dry out here. They move down to the more populated areas for food and water when it's this dry.