Tour de Colorado - Part of Segment #13

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:

View Part 1 of Segment #13 — Cottonwood Pass Rd. (from Avalanche Gulch TH) to Chalk CreekUntitled in a larger map

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

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

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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

Crank Yankin, Eddyline Feastin, Hot Springin - Monarch Crest Trail

We've had the Monarch Crest Trail on our todo list for awhile now...  As should everyone its that rad!  A few suggestions for after the MC trail and your epic ride will end perfectly!

1) Eddyline Brewery in Buena Vista, CO
2) Cottonwood Hot Springs in Buena Vista, CO

Date: Sept 29, 2012
Riders: Drew, Graham, Kristin and Me

Mileage: 32 miles

Elevation Gain: 2800' with 6500' of Downhill Bliss
Average Pace: 10 min/mile
Total time includes breaks: 5 hours 15 mins

Trail description: Its the Monarch Crest Trail - no description needed its perfect!  Get Out and Ride It!  

PURE BLISS - 32 miles of one of our nations top MTN Bike Rides

Elevation with corresponding speed profile - topped her out at 42 mph on hw 285 back to Poncha Springs :)

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K - Crank Yanking at 12800'

The only steady climb on the crest, below Chipeta Mtn and Mt. Ouray wth Pahlone Peak in the background

Drew - Clown Wheelin on that there 29er

Brothers looking for Oxygen at 12000'

Who Drowned my Trail

CD trail meets COT

Graham - Gettin his creek time

Tour de Colorado - Segment #5

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

The CoT

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 isnt 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:

View Segment 5: Kenosha Pass to LCW in a larger map

Our GPS tracks overlaid onto Google Earth 

Elevation with corresponding speed profile

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Riding the CO version of Oak Alley

Signs

Natures Highlighters

The COT isn't for everyone

Anyone for Elk or Buffalo Sausage? - Bailey, CO

A Summit County 5 Star Loop - Keystone Gulch to Aqueduct Trail

Following a day of recovery from our combo housewarming / birthday party K, Drew and I saddled up and set course for Keystone.  Our goal a widely suggested loop ride: Keystone Gulch to Aqueduct Trail.  Receiving 5 / 5 stars from Dan Hickstein's new guidebook:  The Mountain Biker's Guide to Colorado and ecstatic reviews from Tom and Anne who rode it the previous day.  We were primed for some rad riding!

Date: Sept 3, 2012
Riders: Drew, Kristin and Me

Mileage: 18.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 2958'
Average Pace: 15 min/mile
Total time includes breaks: 4 hours

Trail description: A quick climb via Keystone Gulch road passing several of the Keystone ski lifts, then escapes the road passing an iron gate.  After another climb on singletrack you join up with the COT (final portion of Segment #6 - Kenosha Pass to Gold Hill).  As usual the COT didn't disappoint,  I found the next several miles to be the best of the loop (all downhill).  From here you bid farewell to the COT and follow yet another piece of splendid singletrack north along Soda Creek eventually joining into Aqueduct trail and returning you to Keystone Gulch trailhead.      

A couple of important unmarked trail junctions along the way

Elevation with corresponding speed profile

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Trees Eating Bikes

Corner K

Beetles Eating Bark

Drew (aka CT 10k)

Only Bikes

CT 10k Gets Wet