|   Durango (and Fruita) revisited - ride pics... | cooldaddy
Oct 7, 2002 6:16 AM | | 2 weeks ago I (re)visited Durango for 4 days of excellent riding... Brought along a ridding buddy for his introduction to CO riding. Just wanted to post a brief ride report and some of the pics I took (for those who want to know - I used my 8 year old Sigma 35mm SLR).
Marcel.
Day 1 - Telegraph Hill Trail System
After finishing the drive from OKC we checked out the Telegraph Trail System. We rode up Horse Gulch road and Telegraph hill. Then Sidewinder to the Old Car Loop, back to Sidewinder, Crites Connect and down to Telegraph and town. An excellent 20 mile ride...
Very clear trail markers/signs on the Telegraph Trail System...
Charles climbing up Telegraph...
The 1950 Ford on the Old Car Loop. All that's missing is the Yakima rack...
Day 2 - Colorado Trail near Durango
From the hotel we rode up Junction Creek road to the Colorado Trail trail-head (or should I say trail-end?). We climbed up the Colorado Trail to Hoffeins Connect. From there we climbed further up the Colorado Trail until we were out 15 miles. We then turned and rode back the way we came, all the way down the CT. A 30 mile ride.
Colorado Trail Sign...
Crossing Junction Creek...
On Hoffeins Connect...
Colorado Trail... (pic by Charles)
Big Boulder Field...
Day 3 - Colorado Trail, near Little Molas Lake, and Fruita
Woke up to rain. We decided to go up North. We stopped at Little Molas Lake, at 10,000ft?, and rode a short section of the CT. Storms were moving in and we could see the lighting getting closer and closer. We got off the trail and drove the 4 hours to Fruita. The weather there was great with a dark clouds around us but no rain. We rode up Prime Cut and down Joe's Ridge and Zippedy's (sp?). Back up Prime Cut and down Chutes & Ladders. And twice up the road and down Prime Cut. 25 miles of good stuff!!!
The Colorado Trail at 10,000ft. The views are terrible :-)
Dark skies and storms moving in... (pic by Charles)
Little Molas Lake...
Near Silverton...
click on the panorama pic to see the full size version...
That's me on Chutes & Ladders... (pic by Charles)
Nice Sky...
Charles on Chutes & Ladders...
Day 4 - Hermosa Creek Trail
Back in Durango we arranged a shuttle to get to the Hermosa Creek trail-head. I have ridden this trail several times and was very dissappointed to see the first 7 miles so wide and damaged by all the ATV trafic. Luckily the trail got narrow and we 'dropped' those pesky hunters :) From there on the trail was great with fast flowing sections and some good climbs. Excellent trail. We finished up with 10 miles on the road back to Durango. Another 30 miler...
21 miles of great trail...
Taking a break and enjoying the views...
Fall colors...
THE END!
We managed to ride 107 miles in 4 days. Not bad for 2 flatlanders... |
| Very nice | scorcher seb
Oct 7, 2002 7:36 AM | | Makes me want to go to Durango and Fruita.
;o) |
| Right on!! | mugg
Oct 7, 2002 9:47 AM | | I like the "fall colors" shot the best. That's the kind of road trip I look forward to.
Thanks for the passion hit. |
| OUTSTANDING!! ride pics... | cbchess
Oct 7, 2002 10:45 AM | | what a great ride- Nice photos the colors were great! looks like a ton of fun! |
| Great pictures! | jonny boy
Oct 7, 2002 10:54 AM | | Thanks for the recap, this has been properly bookmarked and will be reviewed when I get out there next Summer.
So you drove from Durango to Fruita for a day ride? Hardcore man, how long was that? I'm guessing 3 hours.
I thought Hermosa Creek trail was near some of the fire damage, did you see any evidence? |
| Re: Great pictures! | cooldaddy
Oct 7, 2002 11:08 AM | | thanks!!!
the drive from Durango to Fruita was around 4 hours each way - including stops for gas, drinks & food. It was worth it. The drive back, in the dark, over the million dollar highway was cool! I ended up with a driving buzz - forget about sleeping after checking out all the deep canyons. Blink and the car and you are gone :-)
There was no fire damage near the Hermosa Creek trail. Missionary Ridge is on the other side of the highway. We could see significant damage there. Bad stuff but hey it's Ma Nature! |
| Those are some great write-ups/pics!!!!!!!!!!! | Zonic Man
Oct 8, 2002 8:50 AM | | Man, gotta get out there..... |
| re: Durango (and Fruita) revisited - ride pics... | mody
Oct 8, 2002 12:25 PM | | Nice! Rode in Durango end of June/early July. No views due to the fires and smoke. Glad to see its blown out.
mody |
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