The One Early Morning Escapade

It’s pitch black, freezing, and for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to pedal a bike up a giant mountain and then climb up even higher - all for the sake of a sunrise. Guess every once in a while my ideas are, in fact, good ones!

With a pack full of water, snacks, and a camera (along with an incredibly stylish and not-at-all bulky head lamp) my mate Keri and I were on our way out the door at 5AM. At first the frozen grass and icy pathways were a sure-fire recipe for disaster, but luckily our lights were so dim I forgot about the frozen ground and instead spent the majority of my morning trying to avoid rocks, trees, and other semi-life-threatening objects. As twilight began to succumb to the morning sun Keri and I reached the Ben Lomond trailhead. The pathway became too steep and snow-filled for even the most avid bikers to continue up so we ditched our wheels and pressed onward.

Ben Lomond Peak in the background. First light.

Initially planning to watch sunrise from the saddle (the dip between two higher ridgelines), Keri and I quickly realized how much we had overestimated our fitness levels and decided the sun would rise well before we got to our planned destination. Turns out our poor planning worked to our advantage because, as we reached a lower lying crest called Bob’s Peak, the sky began changing colors. We figured out that the saddle faced North and that we would’ve missed the sunrise altogether had we ascended the extra hour (or been more fit)! A few low lying clouds made for a spectacular sunrise as Keri and I watched surrounded by the silence of a sleeping mountain.

When the brilliant colors finally faded into a grey-blue morning sky, we had a short debate about continuing up to the saddle. Despite our attire (or more appropriately Keri’s well-thought out skate shoes, complete with holes, and board shorts) we pressed on for more views and the challenge of an even bigger mission. Trudging through hard-packed snow and ignoring the increasing wind, we reached the saddle just as the sun washed over the valleys and peaks. With another awe-inspiring view to recharge our tiring bodies and waning motivation, we took a few glances at the Ben Lomond apex and couldn’t resist the temptation of a full-scale summit.

We made it!

On our way up through loose rock and icy snow, we chuckled over the ridiculousness of how unprepared we had been for what was turning into a huge undertaking. In the snow we could distinguish the prints of snowshoes, crampons, and the marks of hiking poles. I figured we both were stubborn enough to make it to the summit based on sheer willpower, despite our lack of gear. After scaling boulders and clamoring up the snow-covered face in our absurd outfits, we had a photo shoot and a laugh about how unnecessary most “high tech” outdoor gear really is. The daunting task of sliding and trudging back down the mountain was relieved by a welcomed break for breakkie and eventually, making it back to our bikes.

A short uphill pedal brought us to the beginning of a downhill mountain bike track aptly named Vertigo. Keri, riding a full suspension bike, screamed down the twisting path while I, lacking the fearlessness and suspension, jarringly followed behind her. One spill on my part and a whole lotta mud later, and we were safely back in town. Exhausted but buzzing from our morning escapade, I convinced Keri to ride down a massive flight of outdoor stairs before we called it a day. Muddy, sweaty, and ridiculously happy, I declared the morning a tremendous success. With incredible adventures like that one, I’m fairly sure that if I hadn’t already bought my plane tickets to travel onward, I’d be hard-pressed to leave this thrilling and remarkable country! 

So excited to be on flat solid ice-free ground! 

Fun Fact: The entire country of New Zealand is roughly 103,730 square miles. The state of California is 163,700... nothin' fancy, just a fun fact!