Sunday, October 28, 2012

Riding the White Buffalo

The Front Range got a dose of winter this past week with a cold winter storm dropping a few inches of snow  or more in most of the riding areas.  Buffalo Creek ended up getting less and has dirt that handles moisture really well.....in fact riding there is prime when there has been some recent moisture.

Trails in the burn areas were in the best shape with little to no snow on the trail and really nice conditions.  Up higher in the Green Mountain area of the CT there was more snow; I ended up staying off the CT through there opting for the prime dirt in the burn area.

The recent snow and cool crisp air made for some really amazing scenery throughout the day.....











Chair Rocks


Mt. Evans in the background


Pikes Peak in the background


Pikes





Thursday, October 25, 2012

Eagle, CO

Finally made it up to Eagle.....another large network of trails 2 hours from Golden and about 30 miles west of Vail.  There is a mix of desert riding with forested alpine riding all in the same network.  A really unique trail system in an area that has huge potential for more.  The riding was really fun rivaling the 18 Road network in Fruita.....I think Eagle is better.  Looking forward to riding more up there.

Day 1: 3rd Gulch > Pipeline > Firebox > Abrams > Scratch > Abrams Ridge

Starting the day out climbing 3rd Gulch.


Pipeline



 Top of Pipeline.

Firebox

Holy Cross wilderness in the distance.


Descending Abrams 





Scratch






Hermits....at least what the locals call the gypsum formations.....makes for some really fun riding.



Day 2:  Abrams Gulch > Catwalk > Easy Rider > Star Wars > Tick Alley > Elmer's > School House Rock

Starting the day out.

A few fall colors left.



Really cool landscape around here.

Catwalk



Easy Rider....good times on this one.









Working over to Tick Alley

 Elmer's






Finishing up.....

We both had a great time up there.....the trails are unique and diverse, with a lot of climbing.  We were both pretty surprised by how much as you are expecting desert riding, which typically doesn't have big long climbs.  Not in Eagle....we rode only 36 miles in two days, but climbed 6,500 feet.