WEEK 4: Crested Butte

Actually, this entry starts out on a backcountry adventure ride just west of Monarch Pass on the way west towards Crested Butte called Canyon Creek. Multiple shops in Salida recommended the ride, so with an open schedule I obliged!

Canyon Creek Loop:

This was a desolate 15 mile, 3,500 ft backcountry loop that reaches up to Tomichi Pass, tucked way back in behind Monarch Pass.

The loop starts on a 5 mile pedal through a creepy old mining town, White Pine, that is still host to some 20 residents. There are plenty of signs around to let you know outsiders aren't welcome. This was the nicest one I found.

Noticed this old wedding setup on the way up. What a venue.

I bumped into these two gents on the way up. Yet again, some locals enjoying plenty of Colorado's finest green on their bike ride.

700 feet of hike a bike to go. At this point I wish I took them up on their offer to numb the pain!

The final push. Even with hazy lungs these guys hung in there.

Always worth it. Scrappy backcountry rides might involve less riidng than purpose built trails but the other elements make up for it.

Party time with some rocky technical features on the way down.

Hartman's Rocks:

I'd heard plenty about this area as a little shoulder season desert playground just outside of Gunnison. The BLM did a phenomenal job making this space a multi-use haven for ATV's, dirt bikes and mountain bikes. With "designated" dispersed camping site with killer views, you can wake up and ride from your rig. While it wasn't quite shoulder season I figured I still needed to give it a go. It's like a tiny Moab tucked in the mountains with a spaghetti bowl of trails and loop possibilities. The place is loaded with technical features you can "session" over and over. I opted for a big loop that sampled all the tech trails. I'd go back in heartbeat!

Sandstone features pepper the desert sagebrush landscape.

Tomichi Creek runs up against the Hartman Mesa before feeding into the Gunnison River.

Crested Butte:

I'd been to CB before, but it was time to dive deep into what the area had to offer. Big mountains, unreal views and big elevation changes were on the menu. The apsen were just barely starting turn, prime time in CB! I did loops on Green Lake, Teocalli Ridge and Trail 409.5 and the highlight of the week...Star Pass!

PRO TIP: Mikey's Pizza has $2 monster "day old" slices after 8 pm! Used this trick twice. "We gotta feed the poor ski bums" they said.

Just above CB after a ride on Green Lake.

A whole lot of this on the way up to Green Lake.

Enough trucks and dirtbikes over time turned this talus field into a "trail".

Multi-use trails (AKA dirtbikes allowed) are often powdery and make pedaling a grunt.

Whetstone Mountain, from the Carbon Trail.

The approach to Teocalli.

I chatted with Aaron McDaniel, 2019 US Singlespeed MTB Marathon Champion, here on top of Teocalli Ridge. He loved Colorado but claimed to love his job in Texas more. Me and another guy called bullshit on him and told him to get his priorities right.

The Point Lookout trail, so rightfully named, connects into a few fun donwhills.

The bane of my biking existence. I think mother nature would agree too. The forest service lets these hosses trample all over public lands and contaminate watersheds. Also, they destroy bike trails with hoof prints and cow patties.

Grinding up Cement Creek drainage on the way to Star Pass.

Country roads, take me home...to the place, I belong!

Star Pass - 12,330 ft

Waterfall Creek downhill was one hell of a way to wrap it up in Crested Butte!