SNOW!

It's been snowing about timberline for 2 days now. They temporally closed Loveland Pass today. No rides just recovering and resting a bit.

Argentine Pass

“In 1869 the Georgetown and Snake River Wagon Road Company gouged, hacked, blasted and otherwise built the Argentine Pass road from Georgetown to Kokomo via Decatur, Chihuahua, Haywood, Dillon, and Frisco. A branch was of it was built from Chihuahua to Montezuma.”

Rode and pushed my bike to the top of Argentine Pass today. It’s hard to believe that they took wagons over this pass!

26 miles 5 hours 5.2 AV

WOODS CREEK LOOP

Since the completion of the CDT between Jones Pass and Herman Gulch I have been putting together a route in my head. Today I thought I would give it a try. My idea was to ride up Woods Creek and see if I could find the CDT and ride it down Herman Gulch to the BLT and back to Georgetown .My guess 20 -30 miles The reason I wasn’t starting at Jones Pass was I had heard it was a death march. The CDT guide book described the route between Jones Pass and Woods Creek as rocky with some boulder hoping. I don’t know I might try it that way next time it didn’t look that bad and it’s only 4 miles from Jones Pass to Woods Creek. This route was pretty sweet!

I left my house about 9 a little late. Now I would have to hurry it was suppose to rain this afternoon. The last thing I want to do is get caught above timberline in a lightning storm.
My shifting problems started just as I started up Empire Pass! **#@#** I thought I had it fixed. I was getting frustrated now! Soooooo many delays this morning I was beginning to think I was going to have to put the ride off. I would wait in the trees if I had to but I was going to finish this ride!!

The ride up US 40to Berthoud Falls kind of sucked there was a lot of traffic. Berthoud Falls was only 10 miles from Gtown 1 hour an 15 min. Now if I could make it to the saddle above Woods Creek before it started to rain. Another 5 miles and I was up to Urad Lake listing to Knocking on Heaven’s Door G+R version. It still looked like a long way up the creek. And I didn‘t know how much further the road went.. A couple pictures and I was on my way. Past the lake the road turned into a jeep trail a short distance later it ended. Now I was listening to The End my beautiful friend the end…. I love the Doors There was a faint trail to the right. I decided to go for it. It was only a couple miles to the CDT and I could carry my lightning rod for a couple miles if I had to! I started pushing that only lasted for about 10 feet before I had to hoist my bike on my back and pretend that it was my backpack. There were rock cairns so I knew someone had been this way before. It was tough going and way steeep. I made my way through a marshy area to the creek. That looked like the easiest way up. It was beautiful the wild flowers were spectacular. How many steps could I take before I had to stop? 12345678.…….about 50 that was it. A couple breathes and then 123456789.…. The ridge was getting closer. I figure I had to carry my bike for about 2 hours! I could see the CDT coming down the ridge across the valley and knew I would run into it soon. And I did it kind of took me by surprise. I had it made now if could get over the top and down to the trees before it started to rain. The saddle was 16 miles from my house (Plus a two hour hike). Time? I lost track all I knew it was all downhill to home! I stopped for some much needed refreshment at the Herman Gulch Trail. Herman Gulch Trial is a sweet gnarly trail with lots of roots and rocks with sections of sweet singletrack. The FS has even built some nice stunts for us mountain bikers. I like it! Really it wasn’t that hard!

30.5 miles 4 hours 30 min. 6.7 AV Probably 6-7 hours total

HIGH LONESOME, CARIBOU AND STRAWBERRY TRAILS

WOW! These are some hard technical trails. They kick my ass every time! Get me lost every time! Keep me out after dark every time! I got back to the truck at 11p.m. last night.
I was able to find the trails alright but took a wrong turn on FS 129 and was almost in Tabernash before I realized it. That was an extra 5+ miles. I must like it I’m ready to go back next week. Rode it as a loop by returning on FS 128.

31.5 miles 6hours 50 min. 4.6 AV