Bikepacking the Colorado Trail - Day 9 - The hardest, scariest, beautiful, best day ever
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Cathedral to Carson Saddle
Featuring Slumgullion Pass, Spring Creek Pass, Jarosa Mesa, Coney Summit, and Carson Saddle. This section includes 20 miles of trail that does not drop below 12,000 ft providing epic views, an insane climb above 13,000 ft, the Colorado Trail High Point at Coney Summit, and a campsite above 12,000 ft.
In 2021, four roadies attempted to ride the Colorado Trail with van support. After seven long, miserable days, we had to pull the plug in Silverton exhausted and devastated. Three of us returned in 2023 with improved mountain bike and bikepacking skills to attempt the trail again, this time choosing to bikepack unsupported. This is our revenge trip.
The Colorado Trail bikepacking route goes from Denver to Durango and includes 539 miles, 72,500 ft of climbing, and an average elevation over 10,000 ft. The high point is 13,270 ft and is part of a 20 mile section of trail that does not drop below 12,000 ft a single time. Bikepacking.com rates the difficulty as a 9.
Despite the rugged terrain, altitude, remoteness, and logistical difficulties, the views and experiences along the way make for an truly memorable trip.
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Slumgullion is the word that best describes me after a long ride with you guys
It's also fun to say
Think you for the Christmas videos
Think you for Christmas videos lol good job 🎉
Thanks for watching. Merry Christmas! 😂
So tough breathing at that high an altitude. I'm making it all the way through your trip. I've ridden many sections of the CO trail but not these harsh far SE sections. Keep pushing!
You're right, that's another factor making this trail hard. We came from about 500 ft above sea level where we live but even if you live in Denver at 5,000 ft, 13,000 feet is tough!
Solid work on the videos!
This part of the trail brought back some good/ bad memories when I biked the CT in 2022. I woke up at 4am to push through the high point early because of thunderstorms. I was moving quick descending the high point, a rock was kicked up into my derailleur and snapped it in half. I ended up taking off the derailleur and chain and had to hike-a- bike down into Silverton. Luckily I messaged my gf from my Garmin after the accident - she was meeting me that evening.. She was able to get the new part in Grand Junction. I got everything working properly and was able to head out again the next day!
What a good time! I may bike the trail again this summer.
Cheers
Thanks! Sounds like a similar experience to what happened to me on day 7 of this trip.
@@FlyingWithBikes hahaha I saw that episode. It almost makes me want to go with a fixed gear.. ⚙️
@@AndyOnTheMountain almost...
This has been an enjoyable video set. I never watch a set of videos, and here I am waiting for Episode 10. You've successfully discouraged me from taking this on! Maybe 30 years ago, but not now. HOWEVER, I'd like your take on what is important to take on ultralight trips like this and on what worked and didn't on stowing, packing, carrying things. Any other advice.
Thank you. Very happy to hear you are enjoying the videos! I may try to work on a gear video for the future as there is a lot to cover. There is definitely a lot of trial and error, and going on a smaller trip first to gain experience and try out different ways of carrying gear is a good idea. Overall, I'd say once you get past the idea that you can get by carrying very minimal gear, the hardest part for us was finding places to stash enough food to last between resupply locations.
@@FlyingWithBikes Makes sense. Years ago I used to ultralight backpack. We'd sometimes start out with food in plastic grocery bags, carrying it by hand for the first day! There's some nice MTB tours feasible here in VA and nearby I'm checking out. Would be great to have people to go with. My adventure friends seem to have gotten old and fat, or died.
It doesn't seem like you are carrying much gear. Are you doing tent/bivy? Much extra clothes for cold nights?
I carried a two person tent that Nick and I shared. It's the grey bag on top of my handlebar bag. Jake carried his own tent. Very limited clothes but definitely had warm layers like pants and a nice warm puffy jacket. Warm sleeping bag as well. Good gear can stuff down pretty well!
There is a pretty good view of the tent bag in this video at the top of Slumgullion Pass