Alpine Loop Adventure

Friday was the Fourth Ride; Saturday I went for a hike; by Sunday it was time to ride again.  A group of three, I was joined by the most-amazing Sydney and new friend Michael as we completed a loop I’d not done since Taf’s birthday late last July.

Being Sunday of a long weekend, the parking spot just outside the tiny mountain town of St Elmo was nearly fully with cars, many with trailers indicating the owners were out on their four-wheelers.  While we got bikes and gear ready, a couple of guys in super high clearance off-road 4×4 Jeeps got themselves ready for a day on the trail.  Well…maybe not.  All of a sudden, an engine was smoking while a huge pool of antifreeze leached into the ground below the now silent engine.  Bummer.

Riding out of St Elmo for about 8-9 miles of dirt roads, we arrived at the Alpine Tunnel East Portal just before noon.  Reflecting on the harrowing efforts of so many men to build a tunnel through the mountain–often times fatal–we looked up at the snow-covered single-track that awaited us.

With bikes on our backs, we gingerly made our way across the snow, through the mud and along narrow nigh-mountain technical single-track.  We climbed and we climbed, slowly turning the pedals as we broke through the tree-line, passed an alpine lake to a high point of over 12,000′.  There, surrounded by mountains with the the world below us we ate, laughed and sat in awe of our surroundings.  Now this is mountain-biking!

Descending that rocky terrain, we eventually found ourselves back in the cover of trees enjoying switch-back after perfect switch-back.  With four miles left to ride, we reached a dirt road that would take us back to St. Elmo, cruising down-hill with smiles on our faces.  Well, that was until we had about a mile to go.

All of a sudden there was an awful noise behind me; I knew exactly what had happened.  Slowing down and looking back, all I saw was Michael and his bicycle tumbling amongst a cloud of dirt.  Oh no!  Turning around, I rolled up to Michael who was still absorbing the crash he’d just endured.  Fortunately, his wounds were only skin deep; it could have been much worse.  A victim of trying to be too cool, his front wheel had washed out causing him to hit the dirt in grand style.  Tending to his bloody wounds while Sydney straightened his bars, I confirmed that Michael was pretty much ok.  Still, thank goodness for a first aid kit.

Despite Michael’s crash it was a wonderful day on the bike.  We hiked across the snow, we rode above the tree line and descended hero-dirt laden switchbacks within the woods.  We rode, we bonded, we ate dirt and veggie korma at 12,000′.  Just another day here in paradise.

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