This was the weekend for big nobbies. Snow comes early up in the mountains and down
here on the Front Range we can’t put summer riding off for very long. This time of year I thought Caribou Flats
would offer some prime riding conditions so I packed up the YZ and headed up
Boulder Canyon to the town of Nederland.
Nederland is rich in mining history dating back to the
mid-19th century. Caribou
Flats just outside the city limits is littered with abandoned silver and
tungsten mines. By 1890 the mines at
Caribou were no longer productive and Nederland soon became a ghost town. Since then, there have been booms and busts
but none more popular than the 1960’s boom when Nederland became the ultimate destination
for “hippies” looking to escape the more developed Boulder.
My ride would begin at the Sourdough trail head along the
very bumpy Dirt road of Hwy 116. Despite the road conditions, this ride up to the trail head was
picture perfect. The road winds through
some of the prettiest forest Colorado has to offer, also a great experience
from a car or SUV. Pine forest to my
left and to my right, a cool breeze flowing through the trees fills your lungs
with fresh air and the scent of damp dirt adds to the ambiance. In 3rd gear I ride leisurely up to
trail 505.
The trail drops down into the forest on very rocky
tread. With sensitive throttle and
clutch control I make it past this first obstacle. In hindsight full padding would have been a good idea. The trail clears a bit and rolls with ease;
damp, blankets of shade, cool air and the occasional water puddle. I soon come to a stream crossing and before I
make my attempt I wait for a couple of 4-wheel drive vehicles to pass so that I
can judge the depth. The last thing I
want to do is fall over in the ice cold water.
The water is about 2 feet deep so I give it a go in 2nd
gear to keep my rear wheel from spinning.
Once across I’m greeted with mud holes and slippery rock. The next couple of miles would be a mud fest. There were many water holes, some as long as
20 yards and all concealing their depth and tread. I would need to keep my front end light and
brace for the rocks lying underneath the muddy water.
There was a section
that was completely obscured with shade with a sliver of light shining through just enough to reveal sharp boulders extending up from beneath the
murky water. With no way around I
considered retreat for a few minutes because I couldn’t imagine this was
going to be pleasant. Downed Blue Spruce
pine poked out of the forest like swords daring you to pass. As I sat there staring at my two choices; a
huge water hole or deep soggy mud I went for the water hole but it didn’t end
there. The next section would include
more water holes, downed pine trees, roots and a small boulder section.
Now through I would meet with another trail head with two additional
options. The first would be a steady
climb on fairly easy tread. As I come up
out of the woods the forest opens up to a spectacular view of Bald Mountain
(picture). This trail would dead end so
I made my way back and tried my other option.
The first section of this trail was such a treat but just as I was getting
comfortable the boulders made an abrupt appearance and would stretch another
mile or two up to tree line. Once on top
I head down the other side on more rocky tread.
Mostly downhill I knew it would be much more difficult on the way back. After
a couple of miles of this abuse and a brief fuel check I would turn back. With more throttle I would need to be much more alert for pine tree branches sticking out into the trail or become an ornament for Vlad.
Climbing on rocky tread is very tricky, you have to
keep a steady speed while keeping your weight on the back wheel and at the same
time your eyes are focused two or three bike lengths ahead to locate the best
line. The bike is bouncing, sometimes uncontrollably, my hands are straining to maintain
grip, obstacles at every turn and no level landscape for rest.
My trip back would be equally challenging. Back over tree line, lightning is always a concern but skies are clear today. At this time, campers are settling in from
their day hikes and the campfires begin to flare. There’s something about campfires that just
seems to complete the whole mountain experience. Most will gather firewood from around their
campsite while others will bring their own.
The scented smoke from hidden campsites fills the air and I slow to add
another impression to my ride today. After
a full day of skills testing I was exhausted both physically and mentally.
If you’re not the two wheel type, you can try these trails
on an ATV. Riders of all ages were out
today and although some sections should only be attempted by experienced riders
there are still plenty of miles for riders of all skill levels. For those with high clearance vehicles, pack
up your buddies and give these trails a try, you’re sure to make your own
memories.
Hiking our back country trails can certainly be an unbelievable
experience but there’s nothing like covering ground on two wheels. Catch this latest adventure at Caribou Flats
Thanks for checking in and Happy Trails.
AR
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