- My bike adventures during October embiggened my noble spirit. Looking around the internet for an exciting bike ride, I stumbled upon the ride up to the peak called “Dante’s View”. Towering 5,575 ft (1,699 m) above Badwater Basin, on the ridge of the Black Mountains, Dantes View is a favorite spot for photographers as well as bike riders.
- Dante’s View is named after the 14th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who wrote the Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy), in which are described the nine circles of Hell, the seven terraces of Purgatory and the nine spheres of Paradise.
- I drove to Henderson NV, spending the night in a Hampton Inn. Even though it was quite a bit out of my way, I decided I should have a comfortable place to return to.
- I emailed the following message to one of my friends before I left: “If you don’t get at least a text or phone call from me on the evening of December 9th…… Look for my dead body….. anywhere along this trail”
- His response was: “I’ll be sure to tell the search and rescue teams to focus on the washes and side-road ditches”
- When I was within 10-15 miles from Furnace Creek, I saw a rest stop, with a Park Ranger. I stopped and asked him how far away I was from the turn-off to Dante’s View. He said I was just 0.5 miles away. I made a mental note about the place and terrain.
- Shortly thereafter, I arrived at the National Park Service (NPS) Visitor’s Station. The Park Ranger (his name is Mike) at the front desk gave me a FREE lifetime pass to all US National Parks. That’s like giving candy to a baby!!!
- I unloaded my bike and headed out. I was probably 30 minutes later than I had planned. I was slow packing things into my bike pouches…. lunch … repair kits, etc.
- I started the ride a bit anxious. I let other people’s worries for me, “get into my head”. It took me an hour to just relax and enjoy the ride.
- Here’s the turn-off that the Park Ranger told me about.
- I am so proud of my bike. I have trusted my life in it, and it has saved me, and done a wonderful job….. ok ok …. I know it was God all along…. LOL!!!
- Since the road dead-ends at the top (no pun intended), traffic was light and people stayed out of my way.
- 1.5 miles away from the top of Dante’s View, my bike couldn’t go any further. I had to pull over and swap batteries. The road was so steep, I had to dig a hole for my back wheels and put a big rock behind the tire to keep my bike from rolling backwards 13 miles downhill. It was the biggest struggle of the entire trip.
- The last 0.25 mile to the top was 15% grade. My bike almost didn’t make it, even with a fresh battery. My bike and I were MAXXED OUT.
- What a spectacular view. “I don’t pay much attention to scenery, but I know one view that made me stop and look.” These words were spoken in 1926 by Charles Brown, a local man from Shoshone, when asked by the governor of Nevada for his opinion of the best view of Death Valley.
- The view from the top is worth the climb. The entire Death Valley is spread out in front of me with Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the 48 contiguous states directly below.
- I ate lunch… took pictures…. and was ready to go back. I probably spent too much time lazing around… I really did enjoy being at the top and I didn’t want it to stop.
- At the top of Dante’s Peak, I was eating my lunch (Turkey sandwich, with a pickle and french fries). Visitors from Scotland started talking to me, and we discussed my ride up the hill. After I finished eating, and put my trash away… they took my picture.
- Turns out that I ate too much and had an upset stomach as I rode my bike back to my car. On the way back, it was late in the afternoon (December, low sun angle) and I was freezing. The way down was twice as fast as the way up, but the wind was a killer.
- I got back to my car and started loading everything into my car. I was so extremely exhausted. I saw a Park Ranger nearby and I went over to him to ask for a little help…. It was the same Park Ranger I had met 5 hrs earlier. His name is Jake. He helped me lift my bike into the back of my car.
- I drove 2 hrs back to my hotel room, drank a gallon of water and crashed in bed. I slept for 12 hrs. I woke up late the next day, …. sore from top to bottom. I took a long hot shower, and drove 3 hrs to get home.
- When I got home, I unloaded my bike and put it on the charger. It deserved every amp. I then supervised the serving of adult beverages.
- This now ranks as my new #1, best bike trip ever! The more I think about the experience, the more I enjoy having done it. It was my 9th “Half-Century” ride (50 miles).
PS: After reading about my trip, my Pastor wrote to me…
“I’ve got to imagine that there is a powerful feeling of solitude accompanying such a slog in the midst of desolation. What a bold move—soloing up to Dante’s Peak to survey the seven circles of Hell below.”
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PPS: I was so grateful to the Park Rangers that helped me, I wrote to the Park Service to thank them. Here was their emailed response…
NPS Death Valley Information <[email protected]> Tue, Dec 13, 2022, 9:50 AM
Hello, I’m glad you had such a great time in the park! That certainly sounds like an adventure, Dante’s is a pretty impressive climb to do with a bike. I’ve passed along to your email/special thanks to the supervisors of the rangers you mentioned as well.
Sincerely, The Death Valley Information Team