GDT Day 29 - Sargents to Luders Creek CG

Fri. Aug. 26, 2016

Start - ~8400'
High pt  10067'
Lo pt. 8100'
End Elv ~10000'
Climbing 2100'

Miles 49.2
Total time 7:00
Ride time
Day with BOB 27

The clouds where back this morning, after a shower over night, re-wetting the tent and gear that kinda dried out yesterday's sunnier morning and afternoon. We packed up camp, rolling up tents and tarps wet. Richard and Neale shuttled me back to Sargents so I can continue where I left off on Wed. They then got themselves showers, hot breakfast and went fishing.
It was sunnier at Sargents, but still cool as I descended toward Gunnison, but with a headwind as I cruised down US Hwy 50. I left the close forest behind, and entered hilly sage lands again. But as the norm here in Colorado, I always had forest skirted hills and mountains ringing me not too far away.
Exiting US 59 at Doylesville,  good gravel county road is the rule for the next 26 miles, not counting a short strech Hwy 114. This is a lightly used part of Colorado and there was very little traffic along the way.  Fortunately, the clouds never got their act together enough to rain on me, and the sun actually was warming during the midafternoon, a nice change of pace from the last several days.
I met one fellow rider today, Dick from Iowa. I caught up to him when he stopped for lunch. I had a slight niggle of familiarity, but thought nothing more of it. We chatted again at the top of a local rise, and again at the bottom of the climb to Cochetopa Pass. Here we realized that our paths had crossed before, last November. Dick was the ranger interpreter when I stopped by Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument last November for a guided tour of the ancient dwellings.

After topping Cocheropa Pass, it is an easy 2.miles to the campground, I am first of our group and start setting up; later Neale, and then Richard arrive and a dinner spread is setup by Reeshard. My buddy Dennis shows up to camp with us as he is heading west on a couple week tour. We have all biked together multiple times in Utah, and warm friendships are renewed around the warmth of Neale's cooking fire.

 

Monarch Crest - Rest Day 😆

Thurs. Aug 25, 2016

Despite expectations after a couple of days being socked in and raining, Thursday dawned clear and sunny. Richard rousted the camp with the glad tidings, and we commenced preparing to ride the crest after all.
On the trail at 9:30. It was clear and sunny, but chilly has we climbed over the side of Mount Peck, but the climb kept us warm. Being midweek, there were few others out enjoying the trail, though a number of backpackers were met as this section is also part of the Colorado Trail as well as the Continental Divide hiking trail.
We pushed on steadily as we did see clouds forming to the west. Decided to do the leg over to Silver Creek and the great single track there. Neale and I had just started the Rainbow trail, when Neale's derailleur was viscously attacked by a stick and damaged. Fortunately, it was good enough to get back out to the Silver Creek road and scream down to our campsite.  Just in time as those clouds finally caught with us and it was a rainy camp night again.
Still, it was over 20 miles of backcountry trail riding topped off with 4+ miles of road back to camp. All riders thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Once back, it was a quick change of clothes and then off to Salida for repairs and dinner at the Poco restaurant.