There aren’t enough words to describe the beauty of larches in full swing. We hit the mythical Angel’s Staircase loop at precisely the right moment. My Lieutenant (pictured on the right, above) and I decided way back in probably February or March that we both needed to ride Angel’s Staircase this year. We set a date for early October. I’m not sure if either of us truly believed it would pan out. Life is complicated and sometimes weather just doesn’t cooperate. But the plan held and everything lined up, and we were even joined by my good friend and coworker Nate, Nate’s brother Bob and Bob’s friend. Incredible day with incredible views followed by 7-ish miles of an incredible, buttery downhill exit. It was… incredible.