2 Uber Classics - Crested Butte Mtn Biking

September 3, 2014

The Dyke Trail Loop (description from Mtn Bike Project)

The Dyke Trail should be high on everybody's list of rides to do when visiting Crested Butte. This trail throws just about everything at you from smooth flowy singletrack, loose technical descents, a leg and lung burning climb in the middle, several small water crossings and fantastic views of the Ruby Range and the Anthracite mountains. Use the New Wagon Trail singletrack to cut off several miles on asphalt.

Teocalli Ridge Loop (description from Mtn Bike Project)

Teocalli Ridge is another classic ride in the Brush Creek area. Along the way, take in some incredible views up-valley and remind yourself why you enjoy this sport so much. When you get near the top of the ridge you'll come to a nice view point and stopping area, with great views of Teocalli Mountain, Castle Peak, Pearl Pass, and the Middle Brush Creek drainage on your left. This is a good place for lunch. Drop you seat and get ready for some of the best downhill in the area!

Nearing the end of the brutal climb up Teocalli Ridge before a 2000' screaming downhill descent. To this point my favorite downhill in the CB area! Especially since the new descent was finished by the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association --- amazing job!

The stunning view of Castle Pk (14er), with a fresh 6" from the night before. As seen from Teocalli Ridge

K being engulfed by the massive aspen stand surrounding Kebler Pass on the Dyke Trail.

The Dyke Trail takes you through one of the largest aspen stands in the US. Confirmed as a clonal colony (single root system)...therefore one of the largest single organisms on the planet.

Part of the approach climb up brush creek. Teocalli is the peak seen right side of photo. The trail climbs underneath the rock bands to the lookers right

View of the final descent off Teocalli Ridge

So dense

One of Teocalli's two mandatory creek crossings

One of 14 new switchbacks established by the CBMBA - notice the cinder blocks they lugged up to help with solidifying the corners

The excitement ended shortly after, as the most challenging part of the climb was just ahead.

What a perfect time in CB...thanks Grammy D for hanging with Liam and making the biking possible:)

Tour de Colorado - Part 2 of Segment #8

August 4, 2014

Part 2 of Segment #8— Camp Hale to Tennessee Pass 10500'

Riders: Chuck, Kristin

Date:

July 25, 2014

Ride Type: out and back

Mileage: 13.95 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 1975'

Average Pace: 16 min/mile

Total time includes breaks: 3 hours 45 min

Trail description: Starts with a little adventure through the historic camp Hale passing a long line of old concrete bunkers highlighted with graffiti. The trail start with a consistently steep climb through dense forest before mellowing off a bit before crossing Highway 24 and continuing on the west side of the highway. The next section offers nice meadow riding with vast views. The last part of the ride ends with double track passing two partially collapsed coke ovens. The segment ends in a parking lot across from the road leading to Cooper Ski area. The return trip back to camp hale is a high quality very smooth downhill with only a few non strenuous climbs.

Interactive GPS track recording:

Looking along some of the old bunkers of camp Hale

In 1943, Camp Hale had as many as 14,000 men in training.[2] Conditions in the camp were harsh: the altitude required acclimation; the shallow valley created polluted inversion layers; recreation was non-existent because of the camp's high mountain isolation, which prevented even the USO from visiting; and many of the non-skiing trainees hated skiing.[7] Trainees were taught to ski at Cooper Hill by ski instructors, brought from the ski-areas such as Sun Valley and Waterville Valley[2] Located three miles from the camp, Cooper Hill had on-site barracks for the instructors and a newly built T-bar ski lift for the trainees.[9] Military use of Camp Hale included the 10th Mountain Division, the 38th Regimental Combat Team, the Norwegian-American 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate), and soldiers from Fort Carson conducting mountain and winter warfare training exercises. Trainees were taught skiing, mountain climbing, snow survival skills (such as building snow caves), and winter combat. Camp Hale was active for three years. In 1945 it was deactivated and the 10th Mountain Division moved to Texas.

Kristin waking up the lungs with the climb out of camp Hale on the way to Tennessee Pass

The remains of an old car sits just off the trail as you near the pass

A partially collapsed coke oven near Tennessee Pass.

Coke is a fuel with few impurities and a high carbon content, usually made from coal. It is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur coal. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made. In the 1900's beehive style ovens like this were used

Tour de Colorado - Part of Segment #13

September 30, 2012

Part 1 of Segment #13 — Cottonwood Pass Rd. (from Avalanche Gulch TH) to Chalk Creek

Riders: Chuck, Kristin

Date: September 30th, 2012

Ride Type: out and back

Chosen Direction / Route: From Avalanche Gulch Th to Mt. Princeton Rd. CR 322 (Denver to Durango Direction)

Mileage: 20 miles (10 to Mt. Princeton Rd.)

Elevation Gain: 3430' (one way)

Average Pace: 15 min/mile

Total time includes breaks: 6 hours

Trail description: A rather difficult section of the COT. The first 3 miles is highly enjoyable singletrack along Rainbow lake. Then the climb begins leaving S. Cottonwood Creek. 3 miles of torture and a lot of hike a bike due to steep / rocky / loose trail conditions. However you will be rewarded with 4 more miles of glorious fast adventurous sinlgetrack until meeting up withe CR 322 (Mt. Princeton Rd.) We choose to turn around at this point...as who wants to ride a jeep road after that. The Segment continues a short distance down to Chalk Creek. The approximate starting point for the entire Segment 13 can be seen below on the interactive Google map. We are planning on doing this section separate, likely as a one way with a dip in Cottonwood Hot-springs afterwards:)

Interactive GPS track recording for COT Part 1 of segment #13:

Among the Sawatch Beasts - From Mt. Yale to Mt. Princeton

Note the 3 Miles of Torture :) - This profile is only for one way

Pleasant Wakeup Call

Needed Blinders through the Blinding Aspens

Bart S.

One Smart 14er - Mt. Yale of the Collegiate Group

The Original Big Wheels

Til Next Fall - Bring the White Stuff CO

Tour de Colorado - Segment #5

September 18, 2012

Segment #5—Kenosha Pass to the Lost Creek Wilderness (LCW) Boundary

Date: September 18th, 2012

Ride Type: out and back

Chosen Direction / Route: From Kenosha Pass southwest back to the LCW boundary (Durango to Denver Direction)

Mileage: 16.5 miles (8.25 to LCW Boundary)

Elevation Gain: 2305'

Average Pace: 13 min/mile

Total time includes breaks: 3 hours

Trail description: The majority of Segment 5 is in Legal Wilderness (No Bikes), however the section that provides an excellent out and back, especially during the fall season, as the area is highlighted with aspen groves.

Interactive GPS track recording for COT segment #5:

Our GPS tracks overlaid onto Google Earth

Elevation with corresponding speed profilE

Riding the CO version of Oak Alley

Signs

Natures Highlighters

The COT isn't for everyone

Anyone for Elk or Buffalo Sausage?

- Bailey, CO

Tour de Colorado - Segment #3

August 4, 2012

Segment #3—Little Scraggy Trail-head to Wellington Lake Road

Additional Bonus Riding—Segment #4 to Lost Creek Wilderness Boundary, Redskin Creek, Gashouse (726), Homestead (728), Sandy Wash (730)

Riders: Chuck, Kristin, Drew

Date: August 4, 2012

Ride Type: Shuttle - 1)Little Scraggy 2) US Forest Service Workstation, Buffalo Creek Town

Chosen Direction / Route: Little Scraggy trail-head to Wellington Lake trail-head, 1.9 miles of segment #4 to Lost Creek Wilderness boundary, return on COT segment #3 to Redskin creek junction to Gashouse, climb to Homestead, ending with excellent descent of Sandy Wash to the town of Buffalo Creek

Mileage: 31.4 miles (13.4 COT section #3 one way)

Elevation Gain: 4215' with 5211' of downhill radness

Average Pace: 11 min/mile

Total time includes breaks: 6 hours

Trail description: A glorious segment of the COT! First 9 miles or so are for the most part downhill. Followed by a short climb to the segments high point, and segment #3's end (Wellington Lake Road). For a bonus ride segment #4 its an additional 1.9 miles will get you to the Lost Creek Wilderness Boundary. Once you decide to return, its all downhill to the connection with Redskin Creek Trail. Here you have two options either retrace your ride back to Little Scraggy Trail-head or enjoy some of Buffalo Creeks best singletrack.

Interactive GPS track recording for COT segment #3:

Our GPS tracks overlaid onto Google Earth

Elevation with corresponding speed profile

Homestead's Granite Slab Riding

Heart Rock Corner

The fastest portion of the COT - ride for your life

Don't Brake - Granite shreds tires

Drew rollin on his new "Clown Wheels"

Muffins of the Granite Variety

Tour de Colorado - Part 1 of Segment #8

June 9, 2012

Part 1 of Segment #8 — Copper Mountain Trail-head to Searle Pass 12044'

Riders: Chuck, Kristin

Date: June 16, 2012

Ride Type: out and back

Chosen Direction: Copper Mountain Trail-head to Searle Pass 12044'

Mileage: 19.3 miles (9.65 each way)

Elevation Gain: 2360'

Average Pace: 19 min/mile

Total time includes breaks: 6 hours

Qualifier: Copper Mountain to Searle Pass

Trail description: Great rolling singletrack including several bridges as the trail cuts across Copper Mountain Ski Resort. Once alongside Guller creek several creek crossings and a continuous moderate climb through treeline upto the alpine basin formed by Elk Mountain and Sugarloaf peaks. Here you can expect snow fields and muddy conditions starting around 11700' during early summer months.

Interactive GPS track recording:

A great place to park and start segment #8 is from the large dirt overflow parking lot for the Copper mountain ski area, which is just east of highway 91 and just south of the main entrance to Copper Mountain Resort. Once can park here or a 1/4 mile further north of the lot is a Conoco station and additional dirt parking lots. In the SE corner of the overflow parking lot is a perfect junction for Segment #7 and Segment #8. Look for a bridge crossing the Tenmile Creek, rather then crossing the creek Segment #8 heads directly south keeping the creek on your left hand side. In a short distance it crosses over 91 and skirts across the ski resort, follow well marked CT signs and glorious single track!

Our GPS tracks overlaid onto Google Earth

Elevation with corresponding speed profile

Ski Crossing

Copper Mountain Resort

Pitstop'n

Lookin to Far Away

Guller Creek, Sugarloaf peak and Searle pass

We Break Treeline

In Our Sights -

Searle Pass

Short Socks Suck

Snow Pending -

Some Rad Skiing: Pacific, Atlantic, Fletcher Peaks

Segment 8 continues for another 15 miles over the ridge-line to the right, over Kokomo pass, eventually ending at Tennessee pass. We plan on riding from Tennessee Pass to Searle pass to finish off segment 8.

12044'

- view north from Searle Pass

Now for the Fun

Tour de Colorado - Segment #2

May 24, 2012

Segment #2—South Platte Canyon to Little Scraggy Trail-head

Riders: Chuck, Kristin

Date: May 24, 2012

Ride Type: out and back

Chosen Direction: South Platte Canyon trail-head to Little Scraggy trail-head

Mileage: 23 miles (11.5 each way)

Elevation Gain: 1702'

Average Pace: 13 min/mile

Total time includes breaks: 4.5 hours

Trail description: Stays within the Buffalo Creek Fire area for 80% of the ride and is mostly flat, gravelly and flows well.

Interactive GPS track recording:

Buffalo Creek Fire (1996):

Burned for 1 week, scorching 10,000 acres of forest covering a distance of over 10 miles with a 2 mile width. The fire also destroyed 18 homes. More details

here