3+ segments being eyed.
#1) Northern Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
Finish the USA portion of the Great Divide Route. 2 years ago I road from just north of Helena MT to the Board of New Mexico and Mexico. Don't ask why I did just stat at the border, please don't ask.
Any ways, gives me an excuse to travel up to northern MT and get the ~ 400 miles between Roosville ( on the Canadian border) to near Helena.
My lovely bride Glenda will be sagging on this section through some of the wildest lands in the lower 48, given it is home to wolves and grizzly bears. (we carry bear spray).
Journey up July 27/28, explore for a few days and commence riding on 8/2, end up in Helena ~ 2 weeks later
#1B) Union Pass area between Dubois and Pinedale Wyoming.
This section was on fire two years ago, I will start at Togwotee Pass (a bit north of the alternative on map below) and ride over Union Pass to at least Whisky Grove campground north of Pinedale. This is about 70 miles, 2 days of riding, and 1 over night. Expect Glenda will sag for this night as well.
If I do both #1 and #1B, I can rightfully say I've biked North to South, border to border
#2) Rio Colorado Ramble
Commute back down to our place in Breckenridge. Plan is to ride backcountry, 4WD roads and a few trails From Boreas Pass on the Continental Divide above Breck to Grand Junction or Moab staying in the Colorado River watershed (a fairly loose constraint in the west). Will get a good scenic tour the Blue River, Williams Fork, Flat Tops, Glenwood Canyon, Roaring Fork Valley, and then the Grand Mesa before diving down over the edge into Grand Junction/Fruita on Lands End road. Still puzzling over water for the Kokpelli trail section from Fruita to Moab. If weather is hot, or running late, may not get it the Kokopelli this trip. The section from Breck to near Gore Pass follows the Great Divide Route. On my original trip 2 summers ago, I missed a section of backcountry main route between Gore Pass and the Colorado River, so that empty space on the map will be empty no more for me.
For either destination, Glenda (with the camper) will pick me up on the way to Capitol Reef and Zion National Parks for a couple of weeks of camping, hiking ( and meeting up with our son from CA)
#3) SW Utah.
There is some fantastic country out this way surrounding Zion, Bryce and Cedar Breaks. The Adventure Cycling Association has a ~ 300 mile loop through this country, and at looking at some variants to add in. Notion is, after Zion, have Glenda drop me off for a few weeks of bikepacking and exploring.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/utah-cliffs-loop/
Variants are being mulled
- 84 mile desolation side trip out to Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada, never been to that mountainous park (11,00' peaks) and there are caves to explore to boot. This section is part of the Western Express ACA route my friend Mike did fall 2017 on a road tour. Sez to do it in a day, tho he was on a skinny tire road touring setup, hmmmmm ......
- Link in some of the Plateau Passage Route sections that cross this area. The whole route is not for this adventure, if ever, though toying with the Virgin Rim Trail, amongst other sections.
https://www.bikepackingroots.org/plateau-passage.html
- Eventually I will need to be retrieved ( err, rescued ) at some point and might need to head east to facilitate. Could do some of the ACA Western Express paved route into eastern Utah.....
Decision decisions.........
