Rollins Pass: All Aboard

I took the dirt bike out to Rollins Pass this afternoon hoping to get a taste of Colorado railroad history.  Located just west of the Rollins Pass trail, the Moffat Tunnel is perhaps the most famous railroad tunnel in America spanning just over 6 miles through the Continental Divide.  To get to the trail head you drive through Rollinsville and Tolland, now a ghost town, and once an old stage stop and mining town serviced by the railroad there.  I've read that tourists used to ride the Moffat Line to Tolland by the thousands just to enjoy an afternoon in the mountains.  Stop along the way and take a few minutes to imagine life up in the mountains by the railroad back in the early 1900's.  Both in Rollinsville and Tolland you'll see reminders of their early railroad and mining days.  

The Ski Train from Union Station in Lower Downtown Denver will pass 28 tunnels before reaching the Moffat Tunnel on your way to Winter Park Ski Resort.  I have yet to make the 56 mile train ride but after my visit this weekend there is no doubt my wife and I will be making a fall visit to Winter Park by train soon.

Rollins Pass trail is a 4-wheel drive road although I think just about any car can make it on a dry day.  There are also plenty of camping areas just off the road and all with picturesque campgrounds.  The road is rough at times but passable on any vehicle but be prepared for a bumpy ride.  I arrived before it got busy and since I was on a dirt bike I could move along much quicker and for most of the trip I would be all by myself.

The views are beautiful and the early fall colors made the ride a moving picture.  The air was cool at over 9000 feet in elevation finally maxing out at over 11,000 feet.  The air was as fresh as you would expect and when the pine was thick the air carried that wonderful fragrance.  I was riding mostly in 2nd and 3rd gear but I kept my speed down because the road is very loose in areas and with a lot of shade it’s hard to see obstacles if you’re going too fast.

Towards the top you pass a small lake, which catches the winter’s snow melt, nestled perfectly against rock walls on one side and pine tree forest on the other.   The trail ends for motor vehicles about half a mile from Needle’s Eye tunnel, closed due to fallen rock at the cutting.  I understand you can traverse over the tunnel to find some old railroad beds and spectacular views of Jenny Lake below.  I would have liked to make the trek but I had no place to securely park the motorcycle.  At this elevation you can still see glacial ice and snow that despite the intense sun is unable to melt.

I took a few minutes to take in the views before heading back down.  The ride was casual, no obstacles or tricky turns and the wide trail would make a great mountain bike trip if you don't mind a long climb.  There are also hiking trails near the Moffat Tunnel and while you're there take some time to visit the old houses once used by miners and railroad workers.  It was a great afternoon absorbing all this natural beauty and all the railroad history in this area triggered thoughts of what life must have been like up here during the industrial revolution.

Click on connect.garmin.com/activity/226250963  to view my route and click on the green arrow to watch as I make my way up and down the Rollins Pass trail.

Find some time to enjoy the outdoors, it's a marvelous escape from the daily grind-Happy Trails.

AR

Picture Rock: Chute To Thrill

I was watching a video the other day of an upfront point of view on Six Flags’ Judge Roy Scream and as I watched I imagined the thrill of rolling up and down at high speed, tucked in tight as the adrenaline heightened my senses.  Most mountain bikers will tell you that the best part of climbing is the descent.  My favorite trails are those with smooth rolling twists and turns.  The speed and the sensation you get can only be described as a roller coaster.  Picture Rock is one of a handful of trails in Boulder County that come as close to a roller coaster ride as I’ve seen.  My bike would be car one and holding on while bent over the handlebars would send me back on that familiar thrill ride.

Picture Rock is located just outside of Lyons, Colorado and this trail is a local favorite among mountain bikers at all skill levels.  This is a multi-use trail so make sure to watch out for hikers and riders on horseback.  From the trail head, the climb is gradual on a smooth single track.  At about the 0.05 mile mark the trail gets a little rough with some rocks set into the trail; great section to practice line choice.  Slowly the brown dirt turns to red and smooths out once again.  The trail climbs gradually and as the trail passes underneath your tires you start to get a sense of the exciting trip back.

The trail twists and turns through brush, cacti and pine trees in direct sunlight and the scent of juniper gently floats in the air for the next 2 miles.  Somewhere near the 3 mile mark you’ll come across an old abandoned vehicle, perhaps the most recognized landmark on the trail.  From this point you can see the remains of another old truck on the disappearing road that was once used to access what appears to be an old homestead.  The trail continues to climb on an exchange of smooth and rocky tread with 8 switchbacks up to Wild Turkey trail-I’m still not sure why they call this Picture Rock, perhaps I’m just too focused to notice.

I chose to loop around Wild Turkey starting right at the trail junction (5 miles).  From here the climb continues on rocky tread.  I had decided that I would live on the middle ring up front and the 4th tallest on the rear.  My technique had predominately kept me on the seat so to help with conditioning I would come off the seat and use my weight when the trail got rough instead of switching to an easier gear.  It would take a lot more leg strength on this 14 mile ride but I know I’ll have to limit riding on a granny gear if I’m to improve my performance.

On and off my seat I power through some of the rock sections and in a taller gear I can pick up speed on the level sections.  On the slight declines some of the turns come quickly with rock and trees just out of sight so you have to keep your eyes focused 3 or 4 bike lengths ahead.  At about the 6.25 mile mark the trail turns level and smooth; reminds me of our local walking paths in town.  This section was a welcome relief from the previous pedal mashing.  The trail leads to a scenic overlook area where I find other mountain bikers taking in the view of Saint Vrain Canyon and Hall Ranch.

After snapping a couple of pictures and a little hydration I continue up Ponderosa Loop on very rocky but passable tread.  I finally reach the top of my ride at 7.7 miles at another Wild Turkey, Ponderosa Loop trail junction.  From here you can take the Ponderosa Loop trail up a few meters and catch another of my favorites in Boulder County; the Wapiti trail down to the Heil Ranch trail head.  I would continue down the Wild Turkey trail in anticipation of lower Picture Rock.

My ride is all downhill from here with few turns.  Speed and control is critical because rocks and trees are all around and you don’t want to get caught off guard.  Now at the Picture Rock junction I turn and maneuver down rocky tread.  Feathering the brakes keeps my speed steady and in control.  At speed it’s easy to lose control especially on loose tread but at the same time you want to try and avoid sliding on your back tire. 

Back on red dirt the roller coaster ride begins.  The trail is smooth and loose in spots.  At first it’s up and down then the twists and turns appear, many blind corners so be ready to hit the brakes.  If all clear let the bike roll, you'll find it impossible to lose the huge smile on your face.  You’re threading through the brush area and with some skill it’s possible to make it through without ever spinning the cranks.  Parts of this section will get slightly rocky so feather the front brakes a bit at higher speeds.  A couple of switchbacks are mixed in to slow you down but don’t despair, it’s not over yet.

So you come out of the brush and the trail opens up.  You’ll be tempted to roll unabated but beware, the trail is smooth but lightly dusted in red dirt and you can find yourself quickly out of control.  Visibility is great for the most part but there are areas with blind turns and you may find yourself up on hikers and be forced into hard braking.  The trail is perfect, focused on the trail I imagine rails underneath, those 26’ tires rolling, shocks absorbing the g-forces, sticking the berms, shooting down and up-yahoo!

I did almost 14 miles on this ride but for you adrenaline junkies, do the gentle climb up about 3 miles then turn around and enjoy the ride.  At this distance you can do it more than once and believe me it is worth it.  

Click on connect.garmin.com/activity/223673520  to view my route and click on the green arrow on the map and follow along.

Click on the g+1 icon or share on your Facebook or Twitter page, your followers will dig it.  Thanks for checking in and Happy Trails!

AR

Caribou Classic: Suffer Fest

I just learned that Caribou Ranch was home to one of the most popular music studios of the 1970’s.  Recording artists from Joe Walsh to Elton John recorded in this studio located just north of the sleepy little community of Nederland CO.  This weekend, Caribou Ranch was the starting point to the Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance 2012 Caribou Classic and yours truly would be participating.  Nicknamed “Suffer Fest,” this ride would take us on a 40 mile journey on a combination of dirt roads, double track and tight single track trails throughout the area.

I arrived promptly at 7am, the fog still laying over the landscape and it was a brisk 40 degrees.  As I exited my car I could hear the bugle of Elk in the background as the frost from my breath floats into the warming air.  The night before I spent preparing my bike and packing for my first extended ride on mountain terrain.  I had no idea what I would need on a ride this long so I stuck to the suggested list provided by the hosts.  This was an exclusive ride open to BMA members only and my first event with the group.  I had no idea what the skill level of the membership would be so I was curious how I would measure up.

I retrieved my number (111) and at about 8:00am 150 mountain bikers lined up for the start.  The most hard core riders took their place at the front and the rest of us filed in behind them.  By the time I got to the lineup I was almost at the very back of the line.  We start after much anticipation up a slight climb on dirt road towards Caribou Ranch.  Quickly I find myself in last place convinced I’ll catch them on the descents.  I knew I wasn’t a strong climber but now I know I'll need to pick up the pace.

The road levels off around the homestead for a few meters then suddenly descends.  Here I would pass half the group as they slow around the corners.  From the road we turn onto double track and the first trail junction; Flume Loop to the left and Sherwood Creek trail to the right.  Some of us chose to take the Flume Loop trail through dense pine forest.  The trail was in perfect condition; single track under a cool canopy of lodge pole pine and damp with plenty of traction.  The loop was short and met back at the trail junction with Sherwood Creek. 

Sherwood creek continued on double track and pleasant tread which later met with Caribou Road.  I was able to keep a steady pace and before I knew it I was all alone.  The course was marked for the most part however when direction was needed most, markings were nowhere to be found.  At one point I had to retrace my route hoping I’d come across other riders to help me get back on track.  After a few minutes with no other riders in sight I decided to look for tire tracks, which I then followed luckily to the next check point.

Here we would catch a dirt road leading up to Caribou Flats trail head.  This road was incredibly steep for a mountain bike and took a lot of strength and energy to climb.  Fearing I was once again in last place I was pleasantly surprised to notice more riders behind me.  I would take my first water break as my fellow participants did as well.  I was the first to depart and would not see most of the riders for the rest of the ride.

Now up at the Caribou Flats trail head I would take another break from one of the most exhausting climbs on the course.  At this point my legs were suffering from incredible fatigue and at just over the 10 mile mark I was starting to wonder if I would finish.  From here I would descend onto trail 505 as I did before on my Sticks and Stones post.  I would pass a number of riders on this descent as well.  The trail this time had even more water holes and mud became a major obstacle not to mention the extra skill it would take to negotiate rocks on wet tires.  My bike and my shoes were covered with mud but I knew there would be a creek crossing up ahead for a quick rinse so I didn’t mind too much.  Once at the creek crossing I misjudged the depth and as I rode past two riders contemplating their crossing my feet plunged beneath the water.  After 5 revolutions I would make it past the freezing cold water with soaked feet and a bike still caked with mud.  I ended up stopping a few hundred feet ahead just to wring out my socks.

From here it was a steady climb through packed dirt, mud and very rocky tread towards the top.  Once on top (13 mile mark) we take the dirt road down to the Sourdough trail head.  On this leg of the course I would reach speeds of 26 miles an hour on a road of loose gravel, rock and packed dirt.  This road would take us to the Sourdough trail head and our next check point.  I’m now on mile 17 of this 40 mile trek and my legs shake with fatigue and my seat is starting to feel like a cinder block.

I knew what Sourdough was like; a great deal of climbing, very rocky in sections and long.  Before heading up I started to work the math; OK this is a 40 mile ride, I’m at 17 miles, if 40 miles ends at this check point then I probably only have a 10 mile climb and a 10 mile descent.  I wasn’t sure I could make it but I wanted the challenge.

I take off up the trail knowing I may not finish but I wasn’t ready to call it a day.  The trail is just as I remembered and even more difficult after 17 miles of agony.  Slowly, I make my way stopping often just long enough to stretch my legs.  To avoid cramping up I try to keep pedaling on my granny gear with little relief.  At about 1:00pm I start to encounter the top riders on their way down.  These guys and gals have incredible skills as they speed down the trail as fast as is possible on this trail.  At just over the 19 mile mark I just can’t safely go on any longer and I turn around.  Normally the downhill would be a welcome change but on weary legs the ride down seems almost as difficult.

I finally reach the check point on my way back.  The route back to the ranch took us down hill on Highway 72.  On the highway I will reach almost 36 miles an hour; made for quite a short trip back.  As I pull in to officially finish, I’m greeted with burgers and beer provided by Oskar Blues.  I finished the day with over 27 miles logged in just under 6 hours, certainly room for improvement but not bad for a first timer.  After meeting some of my fellow participants and a juicy burger, I load up the Rover and head back down to Erie.

I’m not sure how many actually finished but one thing I know is that everybody had a great time.  I met some great people and it was nice to ride with someone other than myself.  I have some work to do if I expect to keep up with this group.  This should be a great reason to ride more during the week.  Google Caribou Ranch and click on the wikipedia link, you'll be amazed at all the recording artists who've recorded there.

Follow my route at connect.garmin.com/activity/220371383

Click on the green arrow in the map to launch the player and follow along.  Click on the g+1 icon if you'd like to share my adventure and don't be shy about leaving a comment.

Thank you for checking in and I hope you can find the time to enjoy the outdoors on two wheels-Happy Trails.

AR 

Grays Peak: View From the Top

Sir Edmund Hillary along with his Nepalese Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, were the first to reach the top of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.  I used to ask myself why anyone would risk so much for what seems to be an exercise in futility but Sir Edmund Hillary said it best; “it is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”  Colorado gives us those opportunities everyday and this weekend I chose to climb one of Colorado’s famed 14er’s.  A 14er for those unfamiliar is the term used to describe a climb that takes you above 14,000 feet in elevation and Colorado is littered with them.

I chose Grays Peak in the Arapahoe National Forest primarily because of its proximity to my home town of Erie.  Grays Peak is a category 1 climb which will indicate that this climb is possible without the assistance of ropes or harnesses.  It’s no Mount Everest but for the average person any peak over 14,000 feet is going to test your abilities both physically and mentally.

This was my first 14er and although my Garmin Edge recorded a max elevation of 13,665 ft, the official height is 14,270 ft.  My Garmin eTrex recorded 14,267 this afternoon.  I’m told the Edge is not the ideal tool for hiking so I brought along my eTrex just to make sure I would have two devices to record my first attempt at a summit over 14,000 feet.  It took me almost 5 hours to complete the 7.2 mile climb but I will most certainly feel it for most of the week.

Fourteen thousand feet is way up there and you have to be prepared.  The sun is more intense, the temperatures are much cooler and the air is very thin.  For this hike I packed a fleece, a wind jacket and a ski parka; I still don’t handle cold that well.  I also wore hiking pants that converted to shorts, a long sleeve hiking shirt a hat and of course water.  I also had some first aid items and other miscellaneous items found on most mountaineering checklists.  I chose to wear hiking shoes as opposed to hiking boots and next time I’ll go with the latter, on these mountains you need some ankle support.

The drive up Stevens Gulch (Forest Road 189) to the trail head is beautiful; leave your windows open and breathe in that fresh mountain air.  This road is closed in the winter so I’m glad I made the time to tackle this mountain this weekend.  The road is a bit rocky but most cars can make it up just fine as long as you take it slow.

I arrived at the trail head at about 7:00am, the temperature was in the 60’s and at 11,000 ft it’s cold enough for a fleece and long pants.  There is a very small bathroom at the trail head and because this can be a popular climb on the weekends, be prepared to stand in line.

The trail begins just under timber line (eTrex-11,252 ft) so the first few meters have a light population of pine trees that don’t offer much shade.  The sun at this time of day was not a factor but the wind was a bit too cold for a fleece so I switched to the parka.  You start by crossing a well constructed pedestrian bridge that crosses a small mountain stream and almost immediately the climbing begins.

At first it doesn’t seem so steep but it’s very exhausting as your muscles are using more oxygen than your lungs can deliver.  The tread is rocky and there are many step ups along this section to help control erosion.  These step ups are all about 2 feet high and take some leg strength to get over not to mention the strain on the knees.  I try to alternate legs on each step up to save knee strength for the steep sections I'm sure lay ahead.  It seems like I’m only hiking for 15 minutes before I need to take a breather; I certainly underestimated the effects of altitude on this hike.

The trail is a continuous climb with few level areas.  I chose a slow and steady pace so that I didn’t wear myself out too early.  Once over tree line the scenery is uniquely alpine-no trees, colorful vegetation but predominately rock.  Mountains surround you with absolutely no shelter from the elements.  The wind blows furiously at times and sometimes not even a hint of a breeze. 

As I approach the 2-mile mark the trail becomes increasingly rocky and more unstable.  The sun still creeps behind the mountains and casts a shadow on me for most of the day so far.  The temperature is dropping with every step it seems.  Aside from the toll on the lungs, the most strain is felt on the quadriceps.  My legs begin to shake from fatigue and I’m not even half way up.  Grays and Torreys are two 14ers that stand right next to each other and my plan at this point is to summit both but the way my legs are feeling right now I begin to doubt that I will summit Grays at all.

Energy is what I crave and beef jerky just isn’t doing the trick.  I start to feel light headed and I fear altitude sickness is starting to set in so I stop for a few moments.  Close to the 3-mile mark there is a junction; the left takes you to Grays Peak with the option to loop around to Torreys Peak while the right takes you to the saddle which offers the route to Torreys to the north and Grays Peak to the south.  Most will go left at the junction, summit Grays then continue on to Torreys.  I chose to summit Grays Peak first then continue on to Torreys from there too.

The trail from here is extremely rocky and in some areas the trail is impossible to identify.  I found myself off the “trail” once and if not for other hikers I would have easily lost the trail and any chance of a summit.  Slow and steady was the key to my strategy and before long I found I had picked up 4 other hikers following my lead.  On a water break they tell me that they found my pace was helping them with their climb and were happy to follow me to the top.

There’s really no section on the way up to Grays where you would fear paying the ultimate price but with the size, shape and quantity of rock even a minor fall would have painful consequences.  The final few meters seem to be the hardest but before you know it you’re at the top.  The view from the top is spectacular (picture at 14,267 ft).  You can see almost every mountain range in Colorado and many of the peaks are piercing the soft white clouds above.  In fact, Grays Peak was hidden behind clouds most of the day and I was very fortunate to have clear skies when I reached the top.  The one issue that I found myself most unprepared for was that of my hands.  With the wind and high altitude temperatures, my hands were freezing and dry and for me this combination was painful.

I have used up just about all the energy I had to reach this summit and although Torreys Peak sits just about half a mile away, I can’t seem to convince myself that I can continue.  I make the loop down to the saddle and head back down.  A little disappointed I couldn’t knock two out on one trip, I’m still proud to have completed my first 14er.

Coming down was almost as difficult because my legs were extremely tired, my knees were in pain and the loose rock was causing me to slide on the steep grades with nothing but jagged boulders to land on.  It was the most difficult downhill I’ve ever done on my feet; I couldn’t wait to get back to the car.

A casual hiker would not like this trail.  There are a lot of rocks, no real resting spots, full exposure, steep and unstable towards the top.  The scenery has its own unique charm and exactly what one would expect of an alpine setting.  I must say that you learn a lot about mountain climbing on your first run like how to pack.  For this climb I was carrying about 10 or 12 extra pounds and I could probably reduce that by half next time and I will never again forget warm gloves.  Plan this climb as you would a day hike; have something to protect you from sun, rain, wind and cold temperatures.  Have plenty of liquids but I think 2 water bottles is good enough, you may not realize it but you begin to dehydrate the moment you step out of the car.  Lightning is what climbers fear the most so get an early start and if you're not at the top by noon you may need to try another day-people tend to forget about the long way down and you don't want to be exposed when storms blow in.

Grays Peak is one of our easier climbs but never forget that this climb will take you from over 11,000 feet to a peak over 14,000 feet and many things can go wrong at that altitude especially if you’re from lower elevations.  If you’re visiting from lower elevations, you will probably need a day or two before attempting a climb like this and I would go even further in saying that you will need to take some time at the trail head to acclimate further before you begin.  This was my first 14er but certainly not my last.

You can view my route at connect.garmin.com/activity/218161200 and note that my route was posted using my Garmin Edge so the elevation is not quite accurate.  Thanks for checking in and Happy Trails.

AR