Two Passes, Twice the Fun
In my last post, I mentioned that despite having spent two summers living in Salida, Colorado, and despite having completed a great many rides and routes during that time, there were still many more I wished to explore. Last week I rode the Cotopaxi Loop. On Thursday, I rode another route I’d long thought about; starting in Salida, riding up Marshall Pass Road, down to Sargents for lunch, back over the Continental Divide via Old Monarch Pass Road, and finally down highway 50 to Salida.
Being a bit cool Thursday morning, I started out at 10:30am, heading from Salida to Poncha Springs, turning south on highway 285. About a mile before Mears Junction where the pavement turns to dirt, the headwinds started. Not too strong, just enough to make me work a little bit harder. Seventy-five minutes into the ride, I left the Shirley Site and headed up Marshall Pass Rd for twelve miles of wonderful dirt road climbing.
Heading past O’Haver Lake and beyond the Aspens still holding their leaves, I climbed and climbed, never seeing another soul. Mindful of Earl’s advice that morning, I made a point to stop, look back over my shoulder and admire the view behind me. Thanks Earl, great advice.
After about ninety minutes of climbing, Irene and I summited Marshall Pass and the Continental Divide, elevation 10,842.’ As I started down the other side, riding into that headwind and within the tree’s shade, I started to get cold. Vest zipped up; arm warmers, knee warmers, second pair of gloves all on. Packed in my gear was the long-sleeve shell that normally lives rolled up in zip-lock bag, stored in my camel-back. It had been a couple of years since I needed it, but I knew it to be an effective piece of clothing. I opened the zip-lock bag and pulled at the zipper which was all the way to the top. Nothing happened. I pulled and tugged and swore. Nothing. After several years idol, the zipper had actually corroded in place! Unable to pull the zipper free or pull the jacket over my head, I rolled it back up, put it away and continued on down hill towards Sargents, laughing at the absurdity of that zipper.
In the tiny little agricultural town of Sargents–more like an intersection–I pulled into the Tomichi Creek Trading Post for a bite to eat. Warming up with a grilled cheese sandwich and fries and two cups of coffee, I was back on the road after a thirty minute stop. Thirty minutes more, I was at the bottom of Old Monarch Pass Road, ready to tackle the second climb of the day.
Old Monarch Pass Road is a series of seemingly endless twists and turns that snake their way up the mountain. It’s a part of the ultra-endurance Vapor Trail 125 race that many riders dread. But honestly, I’ve always kind of enjoyed it. Just find your gear, sit down and climb. Two hours and eleven miles later–not nine like the sign says–I had summited Old Monarch Pass(elevations 11,375′) to return back over the Continental Divide. The Vapor route takes you about a mile further on that dirt road before hitting a really cool piece of single-track that takes you to highway 50 and the modern Monarch Pass(elevation 11,312′). Not wanting to risk my foot on that trail, I chose the shorter option along the Continental Divide Trail. That started with me having to push my bike up hill before the narrow, rocky single-track started. I rode most of it, gingerly walked a few rocky sections, and grimaced just a little bit as I rode through the small snowy sections.
Arriving at the Monarch Crest Gift shop, I quickly ordered a piece of fudge and a cup of coffee. It was getting cold out and the sun was setting. Chatting with the ladies anxious to close for the day, I was reminded “you know you’ve got less than an hour of sun left?” Yup, I was well aware, thank you. I called Ryan to let him know where I was, since I was now an hour behind schedule and still had to ride down the pass to Salida. Finishing just half that cup of coffee, I put on all my[functional] clothing, including my black toque under the helmet. Throwing a leg over Irene, I finally took advantage of the wind as I flew down that road! The temperature at the pass was 44deg/F but it got warmer as I descended, reaching 58deg/F by the time I got to Salida, 7 hours and 45 mins after the ride began.
81 miles, 7,100′ climbing, two mountain passes, three cups of coffee, 6:18 ride time. A great day on the bike, though, certainly longer and colder than I had anticipated. With that long-considered ride now complete, it’s on to Steamboat Springs to visit some dear old friends and discover some new dirt-road routes! Damn I love Colorado.
https://www.strava.com/activities/751456467
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