We’ve climbed to the top of Mt. Hood and come back down the other side, making a rapid shift from the forested expanse of the mountain to the desert-like valley in the Deschuttes area. David has conquered the first 70 miles of the race in 4 hours and 53 minutes, an impressive time considering the majority of his journey so far has been uphill.

The descent into the Deschuttes River Valley was gorgeous, marked with rolling hills and a lovely palette of browns, creams, and faint greens against a rich blue sky. Pictures don’t do this area justice; it must be seen firsthand to understand its splendor.

Coming through the tiny town of Tygh Valley, we stopped off at a general store for refreshments while David continued on ahead. Not thirty seconds after pulling out, we were back in the relative wilderness. While it is gorgeous, there is a definite feeling of isolation out here. There are deserted shacks along the side of the road, residing on land that looks like it hasn’t been touched in at least 20 years. It’s practically something out of a movie or a story.

The challenge for me right now is juggling between writing, taking new photos and processing those I’ve already downloaded. I’m also trying as best I can to maintain some line of communication with civilization. Documenting the journey has occupied the vast majority of my time thus far, with chances to relax and take in the scenery being few and far between. Of course, this is a good thing, as I wouldn’t be doing my job were things any other way.

Now, half an hour after clearing the time station, we’re making another ascent up a narrow road on the side of a small mountain, the edge of which drops off into a steep grade with nothing but hard dirt, dry grass and some rocks below. It’s all great to look at, but both riders and crews alike need to be careful going through this area.

Initially, when we first met up with him at the 16 mile mark, David was somewhere in the middle of the first half of the pack. He has since been gaining ground on his fellow racers, using his strength as a climber to overtake riders on this long (and in places brutally steep) grade. He’ll have to make the entire run on his own though, as this climb is unsupported; crews are not allowed to stop to assist their riders until after the top. This is for challenge as much as it is safety; there is literally no place to pull off to the side of the road without obstructing other riders or non-race traffic.

As we drive past some of the racers at the head of the pack, who previously had much more distance on David and those in his proximity, I can’t help but hope by the time he catches up to us he’s managed to move up a few more positions, although finishing the climb itself is a victory all by itself.