Day 38: Making the Grade…
“Always do what you are afraid to do.”
The Quest today was a drive–but not just any drive. It was a drive that drives me crazy with fear. I am not used to fearing things like heights or a tough drive. But this rocky, desert mountain road is precarious. In my region, it is common to see newspaper headlines declaring “Another fatality closes Geiger Grade”. There is no doubt that the ride up Geiger Grade is a real cliffhanger.
Geiger Grade is a winding, twisting narrow road that leaves Reno and heads up to Virginia City, an old high desert mining town that dates back to the mid-1800’s and has been preserved to reflect the time period. The entire town is so well preserved the United States Government declared Virginia City a National Monument. Visiting Virginia City is always a treat–when someone else drives! I have been plagued by the fear of driving this road for the entire time I have lived in this great state. I have a hard time placing all those fatal headlines in the back of my mind and taking on this feat.
Today is a new day… this airplane pilot has handled some stressful and downright scary situations. A drive is hardly something to fear. So, today…. I decided to take on Geiger Grade!
Here are a couple of interesting facts about Geiger grade:
-The climb is about 2,083 feet and extends for about 8 miles
-The first part of the climb is about a 9-10% grade
-The second part of the climb is about a 5-6% grade
– Greg LeMond would ride this road as part of his cycling training for the Tour De France.
Here is a video clip of a motorcyclist driving this route from Reno to Virginia City. Make sure to pay attention to the partial views over the guardrail.
So, if LeMond can do this on a road bike, why can’t I do this in a car?! With that thought, I looked to my inner pilot and decided it was time to take this historic flight path and drive into the wind! I made sure to have plenty of music to occupy my mind during those hairpin turns and views from way above.
As I approached the grade, I had forgotten about the challenge that lay ahead as the sun was prominent in the afternoon blue sky. It was a windy day and all I could think about was what things I was eager to see in Virginia City. I do enjoy visiting this very old town. I always feel as if I have stepped back in time and can’t help but envision what life was like for those pioneers who traveled on horse and by wagon to get to this city of hope and fortune seeking.
As soon as my mind began to wander, I could feel my breathing increase as it was apparent how much thinner the air was at this higher altitude. The straight road started to twist and climb and my SUV unfortunately provided a great view over the guardrail and down the incredibly steep mountainside. Had I not been driving, the views would have been breathtaking…. Well, you could say they were just that, “breathtaking”…. perhaps more so for the person driving as I had to remind myself to breathe and stay focused. I did stop a couple times to take some pics at the overlooks and it allowed me enough time to settle my nerves, catch my breath and remind myself to enjoy the scenery. Just when I thought I couldn’t get higher, or the turn wasn’t that tight, I went higher. I was more than hugging the road; I was holding on to the road for dear life! I repeatedly reminded myself that I have experienced worse. This mountain road is no problem… but my mind wanted to counter that claim and I had to use every ounce of focused energy to ignore the doubts. Alas, I had reached the Geiger summit. I took a big, deep breath out of relief, but also because I wasn’t accustomed to being at an altitude of 6200ft. I really needed to breathe deeply.
The remainder of the ride to Virginia City was tolerable and the worst was in the rearview mirror… I had done it… In the many years I have lived here, I have refused to drive up that Grade by myself and always requested someone else to drive. Today, this pilot was in command of her own vehicle, climbing higher, taking on her fears and tossing them over the cliff… today, I conquered Geiger Grade and lived to tell about it….. Wondering what Virginia City will bring….
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