Utah Cliffs - Day 2 Duck Creek CG to Hi Roads CG ( by Zion east entrance)

Utah  Cliffs  - Day 2   Duck Creek CG to Hi Roads CG ( by Zion east entrance)
Mon  Oct 1st, 2018

Start 8600'
High pt  9150'
Lo pt.  5825'
End Elv.  5825'
Climbing ~2400'
Miles 43.5
Total time 5:15
Ride time 4:37

Last night was the last night camping with Glenda in the camper.
A band of rain passed through close to dawn, and it was a damp and overcast greeting of low clinging clouds for my first solo foray on this Utah adventure. Still, the wild winds of the last two days are absent, and the pavement shows a wee bit of drying as we go through our departure preparations.
I have about 40 miles planned up to Navajo Lake and then down down down the North Fork of the Virgin River, then up and over to the east entrance area of Zion.  I am worried about more rain given the Utah backcountry dirt roads can become intractable when wet. The remnants of Hurricane Rosa are set to clobber the desert SW states come Tuesday and Wednesday.
I pack up, determined to make it to appointed (and reserved) campground spot just outside of Zion NP East entrance.
I take nice dirt backroads up to Navajo Lake. The rain was enough to keep the dust down, and no more. I gain pavement along the lake, and end up racing a deer on the road. I was gaining on him as I pedaled down a rolling section, until he decided to head for up the hills. Which, of course,  where not paved. Deer 1, Dan 0.
As I climb to over 9000',  the clouds get closer and are clinging to the mountains sides above me. I am having some doubts as I pedal on pavement for several miles along Navajo Lake. The route decends for over 16 miles on dirt when the pavement ends, and I have a decision to make before I commit. The sky has an occasion blue hole in the cloud cover, but rarely does old Sol share his radiance with me. Though, he makes me smile when sunshine slight some golden or red hillside.
Well, at the dirt junction,  the road looks in good shape, and I will be losing 3000' in elevation, hoping that lower down  and further from the plateau the weather is better.
The road parallels the Virgin rim for a number miles, going through cabin country, with some unusual examples along the way. Soon the pink cliffs of the rim come into view,  juxtaposed with flaming aspen and the deep green of alpine evergreens.
The North Fork of the Virgin River is tame here, though this same stream carved the Narrows in zion 800 to 1000' deep.
As I descend, plateau mesas rise to tower  above. While they still their coniferous crowns of ponderosa and fir, their shoulder have shrugged off the green summer mantle, replacing with a melange of reds, oranges, rusts and yellow,  all to celebrate Gaia 's annual fall festival. I stop numerous times just to gaze, wishing the sun was more generous today. I will take the bright spots I can.
The road is mostly good though there are many section of deep powdery dirt or sand. The plus tires work well here, but I still need to pay attention.
After 16 miles, the climb out begins, over a shoulder and down to the Orderville  drainage then along fairly mellow climb to the local maxima, during the climb, the tops of the zion canyon grow as i get closer, but mostly I only see to top most white grey sandstone layer. Hard to imagine those canyons are up yo 1000' deep.after cresting, I start descending through juniper and pinon, passing by some nice developments on pavement.
A couple of miles along scenic hwy 9 brings me to Hi Roads campground around 2 pm. While there is plenty of daylight left, I  have a reservation, so I will get to chill and relax, and avail myself to the amenities a private campground offers.

Utah Cliffs - Day 1 - Panguitch Lake to Duck Creek CG

Utah  Cliffs  - Day 1 -  Panguitch Lake to Duck Creek CG
Sat  Sept 29th, 2018

Start 8000'
High pt  8600'
Lo pt.  6900' Hatch, UT  
End Elv.  8600
Climbing 2000?
Miles 36.7
Total time 5:00
Ride time 4:33

Start of the Utah segment of 2018 bikepacking. My first portion of the route will be the adventure biking associations Utah Cliffs Route, about 290 miles.
Glenda and I have been camping near Duck Creek Village on the Markagunt Plateau outside Cedar City. The route spends a good bit up here and day one was a shuttle to Panguitch Lake and then ride back to camp.
It was cool and windy at the lake, and the aspen trees up on the plateau are in full glory along the way, with many groves sprouting from lava flows.
A minor climb on FS road 070 after I leave the lake and pavement behind quickly mellows to a long mellow downhill to Hatch, UT. I did meet many ATVs and OHVs along the way, and many dispersed camps for them, and or hunters I guess.
I also raced along a pronghorn antelope for a hundred yards or so before he over took me on my downhill and crossed the road about 10 yards in front of me. A very cool race I don't mind losing.

Hatch is a very small town, yet with several resturants and cafés catering to tourist shuttling between Bryce and Zion National Parks. I did get a nice view of the Bryce escarpment on the way into Hatch, with its reds and pinks winking at me in the distance.

After topping off water, it is acouple miles down the busy Hwy 89 until I turn onto the fish hatchery road. It slowly climbs through pinon juniper forests along Mammoth Creek. The trees slowly changes to ponderosa as I climb the gentle grade. Patches of aspen alight like torches on the north facing slopes.
I pass the turn off to Mammoth Caves, a lava tube Glenda and I explored just earlier in our stay. I top out and reach the paved road. While taking a break, I see that one of my panniershas lost a screw, and decide to nurse it a bit and stick to paved road back to Duck Creek Village. Will need to address that before departing solo.
The paved road is rolling through meadows, ponderosas and groves of flaming aspens scattered through lava flows cresting in long lines and ridges.. Run cross a herd of sheep and the attendent shepherds and dogs on the outskirts of the herd.
A glorious fall day, with the sunny weather a lighting the aspens at near peak!

Colorado Trail - Day 5 Georgia ridge to Breckenridge

Colorado Trail - Day 5 Georgia ridge to Breckenridge

Segment - part of 6

Thurs Aug 30th, 2018

Start 11031
High pt  11850'
Lo pt.     9500
End Elv.  9600
Climbing ~1600?

Miles 24 ish
Total time 5:30
Ride time 3:40???

Slept in and had a leisurely break fast and break camp. No rush today, as it will be mostly downhill into Summit County after summiting Georgia Pass, and I want to enjoy and appreciate the alpine environment.
Dave the hiker is long gone when I push my bike to the trail from my campsite below.
The riding is technically easier than the previous 3 miles of climbing and not quite as steep, but rarified air pushing to nearly 12000 feet compensates for it. I soon start breaking out of the trees and approaching tree line proper. The air is clear today, and the views humbling in their gorgousness. South Park slowly is revealed as it stretches out below  me, while each turn if the crank brings Summit County's Ten Mile range closer.
I meet a CT thru hike heading to Denver, all smiles now that the last continental divide crossing is behind her.
I reach the high point, and I dwell and soak it all in.

The route goes well above the pass proper, and I think of the handful of times I have been at the pass in the past. The first was to summit Mt. Guyot with Steve and Glenda, the 2nd was a mountain bike explore from the Summit County side, and the most recent was a shake down trip with the trailer in prep for the GDR phase 1 2 years ago. Of those, I have never take the CT from the pass, so new trails forward!
I have a net 2200' of decent awaiting me. It starts off mild and flowy above tree line for a few miles and the descent starts in eanest. The trail transitons to much more techical as the rocky mountains earn their moniker. The Steed is handling it well, in fact may be more stable do to the lower load on the back. After a final tortuous mile of rock gardens, I cross the first branch of the Swan. Up and over a ridge I get to the middle fork of the Swan and meet up with Dave the hiker. I exit the CT as the next section is a long steep climb up west ridge, which I have done before. Riding down the road along Swan River and meet the CT again after exploring Muggins Gulch.
Yippee kyYea -  flowing and mostly smooth trail awaits right through to Horseshoe Gulch. A small climb on the last section that leads a good downhill and the final super tight switch backs  to Hwy 9. Finally, the bike path to the Broken Compass brewery to celebrate my completion the front range traverse.

This was 150 miles, about 50% single track, some quite challenging. It was a good test of the replacement bolts for  rear rack, which I had sheared 2 factory bolts a couple weeks earlier on the divide.
All and all, pleased with results, and I will do more, but maybe not all segments will be with a loaded bikepacking rig.

Colorado Trail - Day 4 Teepee campsite to Georgia ridge

Colorado Trail - Day 4 Teepee campsite to Georgia ridge

Segment  5 bike portion and part of 6

Wed Aug 29th, 2018

Start 9800
High pt  11031
Lo pt.     9600
End Elv.  11031
Climbing ~3200?

Miles 22.7
Total time 7:40
Ride time 4:40???

Got up to a cloudy morning, ate and broke camp. Started my day cruising down the road off of Rock Creek Ridge followed by a climb up to the Rock Creek trailhead, where I caught the CT once again. Then it was up the trail to Kenosha. Got some nice views into Lost Park, would be good to explore some time.
The leaves are turning early this year, I hear due to dry year we have had. While the aspen above are turning yellow, so be the fern undergrowth, its verdency fleeing along with long summer days, racing to autumn and winter beyond.
The riding is a mix of aspen groves, bristlecones, and open park land. The grasshoppers are abundant along the trail in the parkland and my approaching alights flocks in waves of flight
before me, my bike a prow in the ocean.

I reach Kenosha, score some water at the campground and await the arrival of lovely Glenda.
She arrives and we share lunch and company, restocking on food for the next 2 days to Breckenridge.
Then it the modest climb up from Kenosha and more great aspen groves, with pretty flowy and mostly smooth trail down to west Jefferson creek. I had contemplates camping here, at one of the FS campgrounds but is only 3 pm. It is 6 miles to Georgia pass, but the CT databook says there is water and camp sites about 3 miles in, so up up and away.
I cross the creek and meet a CT hiker Dave who is just starting to setup camp. We chat and he says he is setting up early as the next campsite and water are 6 miles away. I share with him my info from the d latest CT data book (camp sites and water at 6 AND 3 miles) and he decide to go further as well.
So up up up. The climbing starts immediately and is quite technical, with many a roots and rocks to navigate. It is mostly rideable, though there many, many occasions I have to push the bike around a rock or root when I pick a bad line, or cant get over. It is some hard riding these 3 miles, toughest bikepacking yet.
I also stop many many times just to catch  my breathe, hydrate,  and , yes, contemplate. But persistence prevails, and the grade relents a wee bit. I pass a mere trickle at close to the right odometer reading, I am hoping this is not the ."small stream with camping near by". No camping so I go on, but am eager to be done today too. Another wee trickle.of water, and there is cample 50 feet further. Well this has to be the camp spots, but is this the streem? I park my bike and hike on,  fortunately a sizeable stream 30 yards further.

Setup camp in the spruce grove, do my nightly rituals, contemplating the push up to Georgia Pass in the morn.

Colorado Trail - Day 2 S. Platte TH to Goose Creek CG

Colorado Trail - Day 2  S. Platte TH to Goose Creek CG
Segments 2 and 3, part of Lost Creek Wilderness detour for segment 4
Monday Aug 27th, 2018

Start 6117'
High pt  ~8400'
Lo pt.     6117'
End Elv.  7716'
Climbing ~5300? !!!

Miles 43.3
Total time 10:20
Ride time 7:45

Up and at 'em, the hikers are early birds and so am I today. I watch as the sun work it's magic, slowly painting the cliffs  above the Platte across the canyon as I break my fast and pack up.
The ride starts with a stiff climb of switch backs out of the valley. I cannot ride hardly any of these switch backs, so a hike a biking I will go. The trail soon enters the Buffalo Creek burn area from 20 some years ago. Some nice vistas, and the area seems to be revegitating. The trails are all pikes peak granite like around Colorado Springs, and sometimes it is loose. I have a few uphill stretches that are too steep and loose to ride, but not many.
The dry segment 2 gives way to segment 3, where the CT is the anchor trail for the Buffalo Creek mtb trail system. The CT here is sweet riding, passing near the edifice of Little Scraggy Peak and its granite domes peak through the trees.
I now get to start the long 72 mile road detour around the Lost Creek wilderness area.
I soon reach Wellington Lake, and the private CG there, where I replenish my water. The gravel detour tackles some steep pitches, perhaps more challenging as I have already put in 20 miles of singletrack. My goal is Goose Creek CG where I know they have a well. The route travels mostly through the Hayman burn area, the denuded landscapes give great views of the granites knobs and domes, as well as the mosaic of groves the eluded the flames. One can spot large groves of young aspen sprinkled here and there. There are several long steep climbs between me and camp, and I am starting to have doubts, and also fret about water.
I push on and make it along day.
Surveying the camp ground, ther are a pair of bike packers and they invite me to share the campsite. They are Peter  and Adam from Oakland CA. As we chat about life the trial, no bikes and gear, it happens that Peter has made some of his bike gear, and it looks strong.

Colorado Trail - Day 1 Waterton to S. Platte TH

Colorado Trail - Day 1 Waterton to S. Platte TH
Sunday Aug 26th, 2018

Start 5522
High pt  7517
Lo pt.     5522
End Elv.  6117
Climbing ~3000?

Miles 16.9
Total time 5:30
Ride time 3:00?

Well, my original plan to ride from Breck to Grand Junction or Moab via the Flattops  and the Grand Mesa was shut down due to fires, so I have decided to try the Colorado Trail from Denver to Breckenridge. So I will start in the mile high city  and hopefully end at my place in Breckenridge, yet another mile higher.
If successful, I will crest the continental divide at Georgia Pass at 11,875' before descending into Summit County.

The trail begins where the mountains finally release the South Platte River from its grips to meander more on the great plains.
The first several miles are classic front range canyons, dry ecosystem where the sun shine the most, with the trees in more sheltered crevices, and valleys. Popular trail on the old road bed following the Platte upstream, perfect for making good time on the bike
After nearly 7 miles, the single track begins in earnest. This is the test for Dan and his steed (or a boy and his dog). Will this rig and rider be able to negoitiate the CT? Basically, this whole ride is higher than the highest points I hit in MT; will my lungs and legs deal? Still a bit gun shy from the rack bolts shearing in Montana just a few weeks ago, though I have a couple of hundred miles on the replacements.
 Fortunately the trail is smooth and flowy, even quite a few of the many switchbacks are rideable.
I soon gain the first local maxima and the trail is turning rougher. There are a few places I need to hike a bike. Once I start following Bear Creek, it is unrideable for long stretches. I remind myself I choose to do this 1/2 mile of joy. I do note that this is one of the steeper sections and it does relent after I leave a mile of the stream bed (no water tho).
Much more rideable now, and more switchbacks,  up up up. Most I ride and slowly crank toward the high point of the day, good views of the Buffalo Creek burn area.
Good traversing trail out to another ridge end as lightning and thunder assert themselves into my planning.
 I quickly descend a handful of switchbacks to get off the ridge before I stop and hide from the rain (2nd time today). As is the Colorado way, the rain passes in 15 minutes or so and I am back on my descent to the Platte, where I plan on camping to night.

I did meet 7 or 8 other bike packers today.  Most were using the under the sest bag system but a dad and son had fat bikes with both rear and front panniers.

Setting up camp, met Chris and Greg from San Antonio doing CT segments, and there are several other through hikers.

Phase 2 - Colorado Segment = Fires

I have planned 3 ~2 weeks bikepacking segments, the next on the list is Colorado River Rambling from Breckenridge to Grand Junction or Moab.
Unfortunately, there are 3 fires affecting my route, with one closing my route completely in the Flattops (Cabin Lake Fire), and the other two having forest closures right upto the roads of the route on the way to the Flattops (Sugarloaf and Silver Creek fires).
While I could find a less interesting way around the closure, it removes one of the primary reasons for the route since I would not be able to visit the Flattops, and I am not all that encouraged to ride close to a couple of fires due to smoke and their unpredictable nature, so I am forgoing this segment.
I am back in town, taking care of repairs, and re-evaluating biking options.
I may do some smaller bikepacking trips or just hit some bigger rides here in Colorado before heading out to Utah in September.