NORTH EMPIRE/SILVER CREEK LOOP

It was a beautiful morning for a ride. A bluebird day but I grabbed my rain jacket anyway. I’ve been looking forward to this ride. I even took it easy this week and trained specifically for this ride (lots of short steep climbs) ! I have been feeling stronger every day. I was ready for that 10+ mile climb to the ridge just above Fall River and then that hike a bike from Dumont to Silver Creek Trail. The plan was the entire loop! No bailing on the frontage road back to Georgetown from Dumont
RIDE LOG:.
We started from the bottom of my driveway. North to Empire . This always confuses logic because I-70 runs east/west right? Not here it runs north south!
Empire Pass is a pretty tough climb and I would have made it if I hadn’t bounced off a rock! Not a good place to go off the trail. Met another rider at the cave. (mine)
The big climb up to North Empire is long and difficult! I was just starting to get into my rhythm and mechanical failure happened. A few minor adjustments and we were on our way again. That was like 3-4 stops now. Some day I will have to do this climb by myself so I won’t be interrupted with stops here and there. This is a challenging climb and I like to see if I can do it without stopping.
Rode past Miller Gulch rd. to the turn off to Mill Creek . Stopped by the cabin for a snack and a well deserved rest. We were joined by another rider here our group was now 4. A couple more short climbs and we were up to Mill Creek.
Attack of the ATV’S !! Wow I didn’t realize this was becoming such a popular ATV destination. I should have seen it coming. On the way to the creek there must have been about 30 of them.

Well someone finally made the creek crossing. I usually take off my shoes and opt for the cool refreshing wade across.

A little more climbing to the Empire Hilton.

A little more climbing to the ridge.
Now people are asking me sarcastically “ is there any climbing in this ride?”
From here it’s about 10 miles downhill to Dumont.
After some fine singletack down to Fall River everyone was feeling better.
Chins Lake Road is always fun to blast down! People in vehicles don’t know what to think when you fly by. I always pass one or two.
Right just before the pavement down the creek. This is the old R.R. grade to Dumont. Seems like this section gets better every year as more of the rocks kicked off the trail . Saw some motorcycles I don’t know if this section is non motorized.

43 MPH on Mill Creek I was shooting for 50 MPH. Pretty scary I had a my left hand almost slip off my handlebars when I hit a pothole! Thought I was a goner I even felt it in my stomach, thought for sure I was going down!
The decision was made . Silver Creek was the decision. Across the creek on the frontage road right towards the new animal shelter left just before the church up the old mining road to Silver City. This 3 mile hike a bike section was named Godzilla Hill on this ride! It’s really not that bad it’s just hard after a long ride. Ha! Ha! I had a flat so it took even longer to get up Godzilla Hill!
Finally Silver Creek Trail. I was hoping I had enough energy to enjoy this treat!
I had enough energy left an it was fun as always.
I was spent but already looking forward to the next time I will do this ride. What a great ride in Clear Creek County!
27.5 miles 4hours 45 min