​I woke up in the dark and immediately set to task to dismantle and get ready to ride.  The two bikepackers next to meet were quitting and already leaving the route in the pre-light.  As sunlight spun into the eastern sky, a flaming sunset strewn amongst the clouds began to really open up.  I finished packing and pedaled up the dark hill in the last remnants of night.  Once on top, the surrounding desert peaks tinged pink, then orange as sun slid down granite sides.  I pressed ahead to a lookout over Horseshoe Lake which was remarkably low (but unsurprising given our drought-monsoon this summer) as compared to when Janna and I rode the Sheep's Bridge Loop this past spring.  A long bathtub-ring-shoreline circled white with dead branches left from higher tides.  I realized I had made a wrong turn in my desire to see the overlook, so I backtracked and proceeded downhill to the Catfish Dispersed Area.  Here, I walked my bike towards the front of the dam proper.

Business defines the norm throughout this fall season.  Most of my riding and hiking has been confined to smaller allotments.  With no fall break, Thanksgiving has presented the first real week-long opportunity to get away on a backcountry trip.  I originally aimed to do the Stagecoach 400 in southern California, but the rising cases of COVID-19 made it increasingly untenable and unlikely.  I cancelled those plans and decided to stick locally by doing The Fool's Loop.