Daniel’s Summit, a day for climbing
Today started at 5500ft and ended at 8000ft. There were some descents as well but a lot of climbing – most of it in a 1000ft climb before lunch and a 1200ft climb after lunch. Overall it wasn’t as much as I expected but instead an exercise of going into low gear and slowly climbing the hills.
The entire day was riding US 40. There were good shoulders and a moderate amount of traffic. Enough so that in areas with climbing lanes, the vehicles often wouldn’t move over because of others to their left. I saw many double tanker trucks and also many campers. The campers seemed to be mostly going my direction towards more populated parts of Utah.
![](http://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151513_3235.jpg)
Early morning Duchesne past the high school and then out of town.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151514_4801.jpg)
Starvation Reservoir was the first large reservoir I passed today.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151515_5893.jpg)
This bridge over Starvation Reservoir was start of a 1000ft climb. The grade was gentle so just a slow steady climb.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151517_7858.jpg)
Top of the climb. There was a Utah State Trooper just before this. I saw him make two traffic stops. First one headed my direction just after the climb. Lights on and the car stopped. Once this was done he pulled over a truck going my direction. Both stops were quick but I also had extra time since I was still climbing.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151518_8889.jpg)
Bridge to nowhere
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151519_9959.jpg)
Fruitland was just before the midpoint. There was a gas station/restaurant here. I got several things here for an early lunch. This area seemed to have 5 to 10 acre lots with vacation homes. Enough people lived around here that the LDS church a mile later had a full parking lot.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151520_0933.jpg)
Start of the second climb of 1200ft. There was a RV park here and the climb started by following a valley upwards.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151521_1942.jpg)
A little past top of the second big climb. Strawberry Reservoir is a huge reservoir and the road skirted around it for half a dozen miles. Bright sun, only a little wind and reasonable temperature.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151522_2964.jpg)
This valley is upper reaches of the Strawberry River. This goes through both reservoirs and then past Duchesne.
![](https://mvermeulen.org/gone2look4america/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Resize_20230917_151523_3954.jpg)
Daniel’s Summit and the top. The lodge is also visible in the picture to the left. I was there by 3pm which was earlier than I expected. Overall a good day of riding with a lot of climbing.
morning Utah feller,
Montreal feller here. Catching up on your last bunch of days this morning. Lots of climbing yesterday, 1158m , thats a good one. I like the landscapes you are going through now, more than the middle ish stuff a while back.
Safe riding as always, fall is just starting to peek its head up here, the beginnings of changing leaves. I liked that early morning shot of your looooong shadow on the road when setting out, from a few days back.
take care
Dave