June 6th - Crested Butte

After last weekend at Angel Fire we were motivated to compete in the Wild Flower Rush coming up in Crested Butte in a few weeks so we decided to head over to Crested Butte and start the mountain season. Things were not promising as we headed out with the reports saying that virtually no trails were ready because of the brutal and long winter we had this year.

We got there early on Friday so decided to see how conditions on Lower Loop were, it is a ride we had never ridden as it is just a short little loop that has a reputation for being popular.

Conditions were certainly not ideal with a lot of mud on the trails and plenty of snow still on the upper part of the loop. But the riding was fun and fast!


As always Crested Butte is just a nice place to ride mountain bikes. A late afternoon ride on single track is how everyone should be able to finish off a Friday work week.


There were a few other people on the trail but not many and as we came around a corner we surprised a porcupine. It was fun watching him climb up a tree to get out of the way, luckily I saw him before either of the dogs so I was able to grab Bishop and watch the prickly guy shuffle to safety.


It took a little gentle taps with a bike wheel on Bishops hind quarters but she quickly learned the ways of being a trail dog and when to get of trail and out of the way. She is incredibly fast and seemed happy to run forever!


The upper lower loop was still under quite a bit of snow. We had to walk across a couple of patches, but the riding in between was excellent.


Another snow patch.


Heading back to the car.