GDT Day 23 - Lynx Pass to Horseshoe CG near Ute Pass

Tues. Aug. 16, 2016

Start - 8947'
High pt  9524' at Gore Pass
Lo pt 7350'
End Elv 8400'
Climbing 2300'

Miles 57.5
Total time 8:45
Ride time
Day with BOB 22

Rocky Mountain High, it's Colorado!

Long day today as I push to do steamboat to breckenridge in 3 days. Todays ride all over 7300', with much of it over 8000' in elevation. Today's averages elevation is surely higher than most previous continental divide crossing, yet I was never very near the divide today. This was the highest 50 plus mile day yet for me. It was also with the most weight as I am solo now  with food, shoes, and fishing gear added to the BOB and I carried an extra gallon of water from Kremmling to boot.

I had to ford my first real.creekntoday, and did a little prep to aid the worst of the inevitable drenching. After drying out a bit, i summited Gore Pass, and those with access to route information will note that I went off route (actually, this is the wet weather route, but not a highlighted alternative on then map). The route suggests a  Kremmling RV park for the  overnight and then a 56 mile days to Silverthorne. My goal of our Breckenridge place is 12 to 15 miles farther and 1200' higher. Wanting to avoid a 70+ mile day with 4000 plus feet of climbing, I took the more direct route over Gore Pass. Gore Pass goes through some pretty darn nice aspen country.
This led to a ripping 11.5 mile downhill ride on the east side of the pass, on pavement, which made it even quicker to get to Kremmling. That is, until one gets stuck in a road contruction delay. Still, it got me into Kremmling in time for lunch at Los Amigos.

After lunch I got to experience Middle Park,  and some of Colorados sagelands as I road to Williams Fork Reservoir and then beyond.

Evening brought me to Horseshoe Campground along the banks of the Williams Fork River. The river serenaded me for my river side dining, and all evening; and as I lay down in the tent, and drifted in and out of semi sleep, it whispered to me over and again in the calm night. What it whispered, I cannot recall, but I enjoyed it very much, much more than winds tearing across empty lands, stripping away all other sounds of the evening.

It is good to be in the mountains.

GDT Day 22 - Steamboat to Lynx Pass CG

Mon. Aug. 15, 2016

Start - 6700'
High pt  8947'
Lo pt 6700'
End Elv 8947'
Climbing ~2500'

Miles 36.75
Total time 7:00
Ride time 4:54
Day with BOB 21

Today was all about the Yampa and it's tributaries. Started in the well watered hay fields south of Steamboat. After a short ride on Hwy 131, I turned toward Catamount reservoir. Followed the Yampa River Trail, an extremely nice and scenic 4 miles between Catamount and Stagecoach reservoirs, is mostly right along the river,  and which looks to be a fly fisherman's heaven.

After entering Stagecoach Reservoir State Park crossing the dam, I got to do some trail riding around the lake for a couple of miles, before splitting off to follow the Morrison Creek drainage for 16 miles to Lynx Pass. Also very nice country along the valley, though eventually one could see lodgepole devastation on the higher flanks and ridges surrounding the valley. Close to the topmof.Lynx Pass,.the thimble berries were ripe, and I enjoyed a mid climb treat.

When I got to the campground the pump worked and the water was safe, but it was an unpalatable shade of limenade. I asked the the freindly forest ranger lady if I could get some water from the work center a quarter mile back, and she agreed, indeed she filled up the water for an ACA group of riders as well.

Another personal milestone today, I have ridden over 1000 miles on this journey.
I am roughly half way done in miles, not clear if I am half way done time wise, or even mentally. I may never be done mentally, if this trip inspires more adventures in the great outdoors. Let's hope that is the case!