We headed down Friday night, meeting up with Suzy, Julie, Kristie, Justin, Walt and Donna at our normal 285 meeting point (Park and Ride).
The trip down was relatively un-eventful until we got to Washington Gulch. This road exits the highway into Crested Butte less than 1 mile outside of the town Mt Crested Butte. It was dark, it was around 10pm, and we were looking for camp!
The pavement ended about 2 miles in, and we were heading up a dry well maintained gravel road. A couple stops to check on sites, but we found one with a crazy dip climb entrance. The Truck with us had no trouble getting in, but the subaru next did have some trouble. Two tries, the first 2 wheels were off the ground... Karyn took us in the Jetta (Two bike racks) and with careful guiding, made it into the spot.
Everything has to be pink!
'the 401'
The next morning we browsed the map. We came all this way just to ride 'the 401 trail'. Turns out the gulch we were staying on was 1 ridge away and we could connect. Do we ride up this gulch and connect? Do we take the upper connection trail (1500 foot climb we then loose all of that elevation prior to 800 more feet of climbing and down 'the 401')? Of course we can drive. The decision was head up this gulch and hit 'the 401' from the top.
Washington gulch is a heck of a climb, but the view was incredible. (I'm still waiting on pictures.) We regathered at the top, had a snack, and headed out for the top of 'the 401'. Once hitting the road connection from the Washington gulch and the Sugarloaf(?) gulch, we met up with about 20 other riders, just to head up the last 600 feet of climbing (Now on single track).
A few breaks, and at this point most of us were walking the steep climbs (thanks for showing us up Justin). We had another snack, regrouped, adjusted for the down hill, and AWAY WE GO!!!
I've got a few great pics on this stretch, but not on my camera, so I'll post them when I get them. We had a few miles of a side hill single track, this was just incredible. Deep valley below, and you trying to cling to the side of the hill on a fast downhill with only two pieces of rubber on dirt! We crossed several micro ecosystems on the way, dropping from steep side hill into the aspens on some long switchbacks with sweeper corners, and down into evergreens and out into wild flower meadows flat and sloped, finally reaching the valley bottom (road). We're still above the town of Gothic and way above Mt Crested Butte. We scan over the map deciding whether we go left for 200 more feet of climb and 2-4 miles of single track, or just hit the road.
We all decide, hit the single track, so heading up the road we don't get far before Justin is having problems shifting, finally I can keep up with this guy! But he stopped to fix whatever his issue was, and was not successful, but he did manage to improve things. We continued up the road before arriving at my turn around point and decided we were on the wrong road... 100 feet of climbing for what? We're all pretty tired at this point.
We turn back and find the right trail, and head on up that. Climb after Climb, corner after corner, Justin way out in the lead, Kristie says "Justin! Are you positive this is the right trail?" I think that about sums it up...
We finally reach some down hills for a small rest, but for 2 miles it was up and down, in very vegetated areas. This section had more great sweeper corners. Finally hitting the road at Gothic, we started searching for the 'lower connect' to our gulch... This one looks like about 500 foot climb then drop back to the road, but we still had a mile left to climb to the site.
We began searching for cell signal... If Walt, Donna or Karyn would just come to the bottom of the road and pick up someone we could shuttle the rest... 1 failed attempt at connection, we continued, then finally we connected. Both Karyn and Walt were going to come down and shuttle all of us. So now all we had to do was get to the bottom of Washington Gulch...
We picked up the pace on the downhills, and just exiting Sugarloaf(?) gulch we found the 'lower connect'. At this point it was only Justin contemplating the ride. We headed off down the road through Mt Crested Butte, one of those downhills Kristie on my tail, we hit 43 MPH. Pretty fun sweepers through town. Ending at Washinton Gulch Kristie and I first, stopped and said "I really thought they would beat us here". There was no mention of "Let's head up the road until we find them".
Kristie and Justin traded bikes... I'm not sure what is wrong with this guy, but he headed up, "I kinda want to complete the loop"... So we ditched him. We waived when we drove by... The trip ended in 28 miles for me, and Justin was around 32.
After 'the 401'
Margs and Chips for a great after ride snack... Cleaned up a bit, and headed into Crested Butte for dinner.
That place is Dead this time of year. But somehow there was a tour bus of retirees trying to eat at the first restaurant we found that looked good, so with 1/2 hour wait, we kept walking. We ended up at the town brewery for some great conversation... After we headed back up for more Margs, I lasted about 1 drink, and can't finish the story of what happened that night, I was sleeping.
We woke in the morning to rain at 6 am, Kristie was the only one to get up briefly to move some things under trees etc. I got up at 7:45, Karyn at 8. We took a walk, got prepared for the day and started seeing other heads around 9am. Another phat breakfast, and Karyn and I were the only ones picking away at loading up, it began to rain. We all hustled to get packed up, done in about 30 minutes... I wish I could order rain for a camp pack up on demand all the time!
We headed into town to the bike shop to check on Justin's bike and some trails. We found the weather to report 12-3 was going to be good weather, so we headed to Heartman rocks for a gentle ride we could all go on.
We hit some nice trails, and a few occasional "technical" off shoot trails. I managed on 1 trail to fall once left, and once right. I'm having a little trouble with my egg beater peddles.
Heading down the front side I was ahead and got to the car first, Karyn took a bit of a spill herself. Kind of a cross endo sort of thing, I only heard about it and helped clean the wounds... This trip ended with about 10 miles, and my soar butt.
Then we chased rain all the way back to Denver, and didn't manage to get a good washing of the bikes...
What a great weekend. We'll have to plan another like this again!
