July 17, Crested Butte

Hooked up with Ellie, who spends about a month every summer in Crested Butte.  We let her choose the ride, and she picked two that were on Francine's hit list.  She met us at the Hostel at 8:45am.  We climbed 3 miles on the paved bike path up to the ski area.  Then, we headed out Gothic road for 11 more miles to the 401 Trailhead, 10,700 feet at Schofield Pass.  The road was perfectly damp, so we had no dust from the cars.  The views were incredible everywhere we looked.  14.25 miles at the 401 Trailhead.  Then we climbed a little over a mile on the 401 Trail.  Thankfully the rain over the last 2 weeks made the trail tacky and damp.  We reached the highpoint at 11,350 feet.

The downhill was fast, smooth and narrow.  Normally the wildflowers would be up to our handlebars, but they came early this year, due to lack of snow and no rain in June.  After about 5.3 miles, we hit the intersection with Rustler's Road.  We bailed out to Gothic road, so we could add Snodgrass Trail to our day.  Ellie said the condition on this popular trail was the best it could be.

Then we retraced a few miles on Gothic Road to Gothic Townsite, where we had a snack.  Soon, the public bus from town pulled in.  Francine asked the driver if she would stop at the top of the 3 mile road climb, at Snodgrass Trail.  She said yes.  She was in.  Ellie and Kevin joined her on the free bus ride.

We huffed and puffed, with Francine walking most of the climbs, for about a mile on Snodgrass Trail. This was another sweet, smooth, with technical sections thrown in, trail running thru the aspen trees and open hillsides.  After 3 total miles, we dropped on the Washington Gulch Road.  Went left to Gothic Road.  Hit the paved trail back to town.  33 miles at over 9,500 feet all day.

Had huge burritos at Teocali in town after the ride.

Francine climbs Gothic road

Schofield Pass, where the singletrack begins.

Kevin and Francine get higher

Ellie charges through the alpine meadow

Highpoint for the day, elev. 11,350'

Kevin and Francine

Sweet downhill!

Francine

Ellie

Francine in the Aspens

Postride Burrito at Teocali

July 16, Crested Butte

Woke up Monday morning to a beautiful day, feeling a little tired.  Decided not to ride today.  Went out to breakfast at another bakery that bakes all their own bread.  Then, we headed out on our leisurely 4 hour drive from Telluride to Crested Butte.

We arrived in town to nice, partly sunny weather.  We were able to check into the hostel, and shortly the monsoon rain, thunder and lightning started.  The thunder was literally on top of the lightning, meaning the storm was overhead.  We did not bring water proof pants for our 4 days on the Colorado Trail. We do have waterproof coats.  Hmm.  If we get weather like we've seen in the past few days, we will be toast.

Walked into town about 5pm.  No riding today.  We are meeting Ellie Booher, Firefighter Chris Booher's wife, tomorrow morning for a ride.  She spends the month of July in Crested Butte with her Mom and 2 boys.

Francine in town after the torrential downpour, thunder & lightning  passed

July 15, Telluride

Francine crosses a talas field on the Prospect trail, Telluride, Co.

Saturday was another drive day, to Montrose, Colorado.  We drove from Provo, Utah, thru serious monsoon rains and wind.  It was weird to see the desert all wet with rain runnels everywhere.

Sunday, we drove 1.5 hours to Telluride.  We arrived to a rainy, wet town.  Luckily, we were able to check-in to our hotel early.  Rode the free town gondola down for lunch.  Finally headed out on the bikes around 2pm.  Rode the gondola and headed out on the Prospect trail.  The rain was heading in again, so after 1/2 a mile, we turned around and opted for a shorter trail, Village trail.  When we got back to the bottom, the skies cleared again, so we rode the gondola up again, and started out on the Prospect trail again.  We climbed for 6 miles.  We were really feeling the lack of oxygen at over 10,000 feet.  Luckily, the trail was designed with climbs followed by flat sections, followed by more climbs with flat sections.  The first couple of miles, the wet trail in the trees reminded us of our wet Washington trails in March.  I'll take the wet trails over the dry moon dust they had before the monsoon rains started about 1 week ago.

Francine - looks like a winter Washington ride

Francine on Prospect Trail

At the end of the Prospect tail, we took a service road to the bottom of the Sunshine Express lift to Jurassic Park trail.  This climbed out of the hole we were in.  Took Boomerang Trail to the valley floor and rode the River Trail to town.  Boomerang Trail was a total waste of elevation.  It was just a steep, rough, rocky jeep road.

Once we arrived in town, we were told that the naked bike parade was going to come thru any minute.  The main street was packed with people waiting for the scene.  We waited around for a while, but we were hungry for dinner.  As soon as we got on the Gondola, we heard the cheering, and could see the naked riders rolling thru town.

Downtown Telluride - waiting for the naked biker parade

Our last descent from the top, down to the hotel was only double black expert trail, so Francine rode the gondola down, while Kevin hit the trail.  20 miles, mostly flat or downhill.

July 13, Adams Gulch mini loop

Today is Friday, the last day of the Sun Valley trip.  We have to vacate the house by 10am.  Kevin, Kelly, Jack & Jimmy went out for an early morning ride at 7am.  They did a shorter loop than our previous Adam's Gulch ride.  Kristin went out for a run.  Pat & Larry made it out of the house by 8:30am.  Kris and the gang left next.  Kelly's gang left shortly after.

We made a liesurly drive to Provo, Utah, a little south of Salt Lake City.  No ride today as we rested our legs.  We are on the road tomorrow, headed to Montrose, Colorado.

July 11, Mt. Baldy

Jack

Time to hit the lifts at Sun Valley.  Kristin, Len & Jimmy hiked to the top.  Jack, Kelly, Kevin, Jen and Fran biked to the lifts and did a short lap before meeting the entire family for lunch at the Roundhouse Lodge at the top of the Gondola.  Lenny hiked to the top of Christmas Lift on Bald Mountain Trail, and rode the chair back to meet us for lunch.  Kris & Jim hiked part way up the same trail, and walked back down to find Pat, Larry, Maddie, Hannah & Hillary as they got off the Gondola.  The bikers arrived about 15 minutes later.

For some strange reason, we were given $10 off vouchers for $20 spent on lunch with the purchase of our lift tickets.  Pat and Larry were treating lunch, and the waiter let us stack all our vouchers.
After lunch, everyone rode the Christmas lift to the top for the obligatory family photo.  Hikers rode the chair back down, and the bikers headed down on Broadway Trail to Warm Springs trail.

Sun Valley had a huge fire a few years ago.  They also ran some championship mountain bike races on the same trail over the weekend, and the trails are real hammered.  Add that to the lack of tree cover in the burned out places of the trail, and you have a rocky, bumpy trail.  We remembered a sweet, smooth, fast trail.  Our plans for multiple loops ended after one descent on the Warm Springs Trail.  No need to do the Cold Springs trail, which is rockier, steeper and rougher.  Of course, Jack said this was the best downhill trail he had ever done.  He was up for another.

Jennifer

July 10, Oregon Gulch Shuttle

Jack

Time for an easy day.  Francine needed a day off.  So, she offered to shuttle Jack, Kelly and Kevin to the top of the Oregon Gulch Trail.  Maddie came along for a car ride to see the view.  Evidently the road is only open to cars during the month of July. Unfortunately the Oregon Gulch trail was too steep, rough and loose. The initial drop was steep but rideable for all but Jack.  Then we intersected Oregon Gulch and Fox.  We went right for a one mile climb.  We thought we would have a sweet 3 mile descent after that, but the trail was loose and just not flowing.

Jack with Kelly following

Kelly

July 9, Salmon River

Kevin hasn't been sleeping very well, so he wanted a day off from biking and played tennis.  Kelly, Jen & I left around 10am to do the White Cloud loop in between Sun Valley and Saddle Road.  I think it was only 7-8 miles round trip from the house.  Fun little loop.

Everyone except Maddie, who went to the spa, rallied for river rafting in the afternoon, out of Stanley, Idaho.  We drove about 1 hour north, over Galena Pass, to the offices of White Otter.

Hillary, Hannah, Pat, Larry, Jimmy & Fran in the raft

Jen swimming on "Piece of Cake" rapid - Class III

Kevin with Kelly following - "Piece of Cake" rapid

Kevin goes deep on "Piece of Cake"

And Quickly goes over

Kevin surfaces for air

Kris navigates "Piece of Cake" like a pro.  

Jack 

Kelly organized the rafting adventure.  Since we were only on a Class II - Class III river, they let anyone over 15 choose to either raft or go down the river in an inflatable Kayak.  The Duckies, as the guides called the kayakers, were Kelly in his own hardshell kayak, Kristin, Jack, Len, Jen and Kevin.  Rafters were Hannah, Hillary, Jimmy, Pat, Larry and Francine.

The kayakers were given very little instruction on how to navigate the river.  I guess the guide said he would point if there was anything special to navigate.  I guess he didn't point much.

There were only two Class III rapids to navigate, the first one being "Piece of Cake", about 10 minutes in.  The sun was out and the rafters sailed right through, swamping Hillary just like she requested.  We pulled over to wait for the kayakers to come thru, as a 50% success rate was considered normal.  We needed to be ready to "catch" them. Jen was the first through, and she swam the entire rapid.  She came thru with eyes wide open, eventually hanging onto the guides kayak.  We weren't sure if she was going to get back on her kayak.  Next was Kevin, who was popped off his kayak before he knew what happened.  He said he was pinned under his kayak for quite a while.  He got out for a second, and was promptly pulled back under.  He eventually surfaced, still holding his kayak.    Kristin was next.  She was petrified after watching Jen and Kevin "swim" the rapid.  She made it thru looking like a pro.  Next were Jack and Len.  Kelly had no problem as he knows how to kayak Class III's with no problem.

After this, it started to rain and things clouded up.  The kayakers wore farmer john wetsuits and dry tops, so they were not cold.  The rafters froze, and unfortunately couldn't wait to get off the river.

The next Class III rapid was about half an hour later.  Jack was the only "swimmer", who swam twice.  We stopped 10 minutes before the end of the 2.5 hour float for a snack and a hot springs warm up.  The rafters did warm up a touch, but were still quite miserable.  Pat says she doesn't need to raft again.

July 8, Adam's Gulch

Francine, Len (in orange) and Jack

Today was supposed to be a Larry ride, since we left him yesterday because he went to pick some friends up from the airport.  He opted to hang at the house.  So, we all headed to Adams Gulch for an 8 mile ride.  Rode up Shadyside to Adam's Gulch to the intersection we were at two days go, after our 19 mile prelude.

We all huffed and puffed up to the top.  Then descended Adam's Gulch trail to Harpers to our final climb and down to the trail head.  8 miles.  Pretty tough, short ride, due to the elevation and heat.

Kelly's High definition Link

Jack

Francine with Jack in background

Jack with Len in background

Kelly

Jack with Len in background

Jen

July 7, Family Ride - Corral Creek downhill

Jen

Kristin on Corral Creek Trail

Jack, Jimmy, Lenny & Jen

Hannah and Kelly

Kristin

Jack

Lenny

Hannah descending Proctor Mountain Trail

Today was a nice shuttle family ride.  We had Hannah and Jimmy with us.  Drove the cars up to the top of the Corral Creek Trail.  Rode basically downhill to Trail Creek Cabin (our Saturday night dinner location) along the base of Proctor Mountain to paved Fairway Road and back to the house.

At Trail Creek Cabin, Len, Kelly and Jack decided to ride back up the trail to get the one car we left there.  7 miles?

July 6, Baker Creek to Fox Peak to Adam's Gulch

Hard.  We signed up to the Baker to Adam's Gulch shuttle.  The Ride Sun Valley bike festival is in town, and they offered free guided rides all week, with free shuttles to the ride areas.  They were hooked up with the city with use of a city bus to transport us.

We still had to climb 2100 feet after the bus dropped all 22 of us off.   Shuttle was free; guides were free; and beer at the end was free.  Kevin & I ended up basically having a private guide, Wendy, because Francine was the slowest in the entire group.  Thank goodness Wendy raced the day before, and had tired legs.

We climbed about 12 miles on the Baker Creek and East Fork Baker Creek roads to the intersection with the Fox Peak Tail Connector, #938.  Trail 938 still climbed until we reached the Warm Springs Ridge trail, #142.  Here we went left on upper Adam's Gulch trail5 miles.

July 5, Sun Valley - EZ ride

Franicne on Eve's Trail, right before the first turnoff to Forbidden Fruit

Francine on Harper's Trail

Pat and Larry arrived in Sun Valley a few days before the 50th Anniversary extravaganza.  We joined them as we finally finished work on the rental houses.  Stone house is Rented and keys given to the new renters.  Dropped the keys for the Riverbend rental off at the renter's son's house on Tuesday.

We don't do the best at altitude, 6,000 feet, so we went for a short ride today, leaving from the condo at River Run, headed for Adam's Gulch.  Still no bike computer battery, so I have no idea how far we rode.  10-12 miles?

Rode a connector trail from Warm Springs to Adam's Gulch area, to Shadyside, up Eve's to Forbidden Fruit, out Adam's Gulch Loop trail, right on Citizen's trail, down to finish up on the  Adam's gulch road out to town and back to the condo.

June 30, 2012 - Painted rental house

OK.  We know that first picture of the new rental house in Riverbend, in North Bend was pretty scary.  Hopefully this picture looks a little better.  We finally put a coat of paint on the front door.  Wish the new roof was on, but the roofer is real busy (June was extremely rainy), so we will get a new roof in August.   Also need to get a backhoe in to lower the soil level on the right side of the house (out of picture) and then paint another coat of grey on that side.  Still need to work on the house on July 2 & 3rd, before we head out for the month of July to Sun Valley, Crested Butte, Durango and the Colorado Trail.

We had the "perfect storm" with regard to our rentals.  We were originally going to work on the Riverbend house in June and August, two months, as July took us out of town.  Then we had renters for end of July, which meant the house had to be ready before we left town.  Then the renters in the Shoreline rental gave notice for June 30th.  So, we had two houses to show, prepare and have ready before July.  We are ready for vacation.