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Frost Valley

Red Hill Road is a gravel road. And it’s fast and dusty and riddled with ruts and holes and covered in rocks. Through the dust I see snow hiding under a washed-out bank in the shade on the side of the road. Sugarloaf is perfect.

Once down, we move steadily uphill through an Alpine wonderland, a stunning and pristine valley filled with lakes, rivers, forests, bridges and meadows. The road is shaded, clean and empty of cars. Every corner opens to postcard worthy landscapes and scenery on our way up the valley. The pass is barely perceptible as we roll over and into the first major descent of the day. Down which big sweeping turns and a clean road surface encourages high speeds and optimism. Mid way, the hillside tightens and gravel and sand make a uneasy appearance. The bottom is long and rolls large as if unwilling to let go of the rush. We regroup quickly once the road is actually flat.

I loved the dirt descent down Red Hill and New Hill Road. I rode from the back of my saddle but it still took body language, muscle and intent to make a few of the tighter looser turns.
- Pierre

The sun starts to really beat down and it's getting seriously warm as we pop periodically out of the shade of the trees and into the open. The salt on Richard’s back is starting to take on an almost beautiful shape - a map of some small pacific island - no, when I tilt my head to the side it looks like a woman in a pointy hat playing the flute.
- Piers