Monarch Crest - 09/22/2007

I had really wanted to do Monarch Crest this summer but the logistics of needing a shuttle had always kept getting it moved further down the list. It finally came together that Amber and I got to head out there and do it - just in time for the Aspens leaves to be turning.

I asked around work to see who else might be interested and we ended up with a perfect little crew with Jon and Dave joining us.

We got going a little later than we had originally planned but it worked out really well as the trail head had a lot of people when we first arrived and they were well ahead of us by the time we finished driving a shuttle car back down to Poncha Springs (where we would finish).

Monarch Crest is 35miles of mostly single track. From the trail start at Monarch Crest Pass to the end of the trail where it joins highway 285 is 29miles of simply awesome riding. You have a few sections of fire road but even those are great fun as most of it is fast descending with lots of little whoop sections to play on.

This is the end of the first fire road section, it gives you a great chance to warm up and throws in a taste of the views to come.


One of the many, many scenic vistas you encounter as you ride across the crest.


We played leap frog with a couple of other groups as we alternately all to time to stop and take photos or recover our breath. Here above the tree line the riding was simply gorgeous.


The weather was perfect with blue skies and fluffy white clouds setting an amazing frame to the scenery.


It is sights like this where single track just disappears over the horizon that keeps me constantly searching for the next perfect single track ride. Monarch Crest is easily one of the best in the country so far from my experience.


A little game of leap frog never hurt anyone. The other groups we constantly passed and were passed by were all fun people and easy to chat to.


The conditions of the trail were perfect across the whole ride which somewhat surprised me since it was the end of the summer - but it really doesn't get any better than this.


Climbing one of the last sections of the crest.


Above the tree line.


Once you top out from the Crest you are rewarded with great downhill sections. Don't be tricked by the ride though as it has climbing all the way along the trail right to the very end. Fitness and strength are a good thing to have to make sure that the last part of the trail remains fun.


We didn't get very many photos of the descent sections as it was just to much fun to stop, but this section was great example of the faster non-technical sections. In and amongst the trees the trail tended to be steeper and more technical.


This is the end of the Silver Creek section and just before you join onto the Rainbow Trail section of the ride.


I really enjoyed the Rainbow trail section this time around, last time Amber and I rode it (2 years ago) we were physically wrecked from the previous sections. The riding had a great mix of fast flowing sections and fun technical pieces.

Oh, and it was pretty as well.

Amber


Jon


Dave


We were all starting to feel fatigued by the end sections of the ride as you were constantly riding up steep sections before flowing quickly down the other side.


The great riding literally just never stopped.


Neither did the smiles.


Although, we did have some mighty tired legs.


Back at the shuttle vehicle!

What an amazing ride, I can't remember a ride as epic as this or where you spent so much time with a smile from ear to ear.

Picasa Gallery: Sean & Ambers Monarch Crest Gallery

Steamboat Springs - 09/16/2007

Amber and I had originally planned on heading to Vail for some downhilling but Amber had been fighting a cold leading into the weekend and we opted to wake up Saturday morning and make a call on what to do.

I had wanted to get over to Steamboat Springs for a while since we have never been there let alone ride there so we decided Saturday to pack up and head to Steamboat.

Saturday we drove out there and just checked out things, the town was a great little town and Amber and I picked ourselves up a cowboy hat each.

We camped right near the start of the ride we had picked out to do - Rabbit Ears/Mountain View. This is a trail that follows the Continental Divide trail (1102) going past 4 high country lakes and the photos I had seen made it look like it would be great fun. It also had the advantage of being an out and back trail which I like when riding an area for the first time as you can always just turn around and head back the way you came at anytime.

I had hoped to follow the trail and then continue onto the Buffalo Pass section of the trail.



The trail started with a pretty steep descent away from the camp site with a great mix of rooty and rocky trail. It was very encouraging, but was daunting to know we would have to ride back up it on the way back.


Most of the ride was under dark timber and it constantly threatened to rain on us.


This is the first lake we came to - Fishhook Lake - very scenic!


The trail mostly was uphill on the way out with the surface mixing between loamy soft soil to rocky sections to rooty sections - amazing variety.


I wore an orange shirt because we camped amongst Bow Hunters. We didn't see any along the trail but near the start there was the constant call of Elk which I assume was actually hunters.


This is the second lake we came across - Lost Lake.


Throughout the entire ride the quality of the riding was amazing. I really enjoyed the rocky sections (of which we didn't get many photos).


About two thirds into the ride the rain started. We managed to stay ahead of the worst of it as once we returned these sections were flooded (and it was cold riding)


Single track in Steamboat springs is going to grow on us quickly, I expect we will spend a lot of time there next summer - hopefully in July when Crested Butte is overwhelmed by bugs.


This is the 3rd lake - Lake Elmo.


This is the last lake - Round Lake.

With the bad weather we decided to turn around and head back rather than continue out the Buffalo Pass section. Not a bad thing as it means we have to come back and do it again. There are a lot of great trail options from where we turned back.


The trails were pretty wet as we returned back to the car, Amber and I both ended up with cold, wet fingers and toes. It was evidence that Summer had past and Fall was here.


This was a great little section of trail both on the way out and the way back.


Most of riding on the way back was fun downhill sections.

Overall it was a great ride and if the other trails in the area are anything like this one I expect to be spending a lot of time out here next summer.

Vail downhill

Amber has a downhill bike! We found a great deal on Ebay for Amber - a 2004 Santa Cruz V-10. It was missing a few components that I had The Fix bikes store replace and it is now an awesome bike for Amber.

On Saturday we rode at Keystone and as usual had a great time. Amber found riding her new downhill bike to be a totally different style than her Ibis and was sore and tired at the end of the day.

Saturday night we camped up near Copper and went down to Vail for dinner and found that they had an Octoberfest going on so we were able to enjoy good food and decent beer as a reward.

Sunday we headed over to Vail to downhill. Vail has not kept their trails as well managed as Keystone does but there is still some fun riding to be done over there.


We found this sign on the mountain to be rather amusing. Hunting season has started in Colorado and it always sketches me out slightly but to see the signs on a popular lift assisted mountain seemed strange. We never saw anyone on the mountain that looked like a hunter so I can only assume they might have taken the gondola up to the summit and then dropped down into the back country bowl areas.


The best track there (at least for us) is the old 1994 world cup trail. It was officially closed last year but ridden regularly, i guess that Vail management figured enough people rode it anyway that they might as well officially sanction the trail. So it is not on the maps but is open for riding and pretty easy to find.


The drop in looks much steeper when you are starting down it but it is not bad and is a great fast way to get started on the ride.

As usual hardly any photos, but the riding has a great variety. The top section is tight riding in dark forest and then it opens up for steep wide open trail where you can get some great speed and have lots of fun corners and berms.


For Amber and I the trail offers lots of new things to learn and try. This is a hip-jump and Amber and I just rolled, but hopefully we can get into the airborne thing as we ride more often.


We did the trail twice since it was so much fun.


And amber started to get a much better feel for how her bike rides.


This is the exit of the trees, past here you get to fast fall-line section of the trail. Great times.

Buchannan Pass near Camp Dick

On the labor day weekend Amber and I decided to avoid the crowds and stayed close to home. We decided to head up to the Camp Dick area and check out the section of Buchanan Pass that was open to bikes. I had ridden this a while back and really enjoyed the descent down and wanted to see what it might be like as a possible after work ride.

We opted to ride up the jeep road and come down the single track. It was excellent times and we have since ridden it twice after work as an out and back up the single track.


The riding is a really nice mix of technical climbing on the way out. It doesn't have any brutal hills and has sections that may get you pushing but that you can totally visualize doing "one day". Much of the riding is like this - on great loamy track under lush forest.


This is a section in the starting part of the trail before you reach the jeep road. This is the most travelled section of the trail and has sections that are somewhat damaged by horse traffic. The horses turn of the trail after about 1/2 a mile so they are not that big a problem.


Once you cross the jeep road the trail starts to offer up more technical sections - both in flat spots and in climbing. The riding is outstanding if you enjoy finding your way over obstacles and through fun technical sections. Doing it as an out and back also gives the benefit of trying things in both directions and enjoying techy climbs as fun descents!


I love how the ride really requires your turn and move your bike smartly around and over obstacles.


It makes for a great afternoon ride during the week as there is no-one else out there and as you ride later in the afternoon it is cool and the feeling of solitude is enjoyable. On the weekends the trail can be more popular with hikers and occasionally other riders, but after work during the weekend you have it to yourself.

What you ride up, you get to enjoy in another way on the way back down!


The flow on the way back is really nice. You have sections of fast flowing riding where you get to pop of obstacles and drops and you have technical sections that you have to pick your path through.


The riding is mostly under dark forest but you also go through sections of aspen.


Coming down a baby head section.

Some fun rocky sections.


Some more rocks to play in.


This is just before crossing the jeep road. It is fun finding a way down the steps that works for you.