Stardate 2017.507

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!
A Snowcatcher Photo


PLAY'N HOOKY
Ride the Rockies is Snowcatcher's gig! She got me into it — I've done 6 now — and it's something you need to check out if you're a cyclist. I think you'll find yourself wanting more. Sadly, orthopedic conditions sidelined Snowcatcher from this year's ride. However, she did SaG (Support and Gear) and escort me around host communities and lodging, which was nice.

Day 4 of the Tour had been a huge day. It tossed me 84 miles of mountain riding over three passes. Much of the route was above 9,000 feet in elevation. Consequently, Coal Bank Pass (10,640 ft), Molas Pass (10,910 ft), and Red Mountain Pass (11,018 ft) took their toll on my aging legs. I just wanted to enjoy the awesome B&B Snowcatcher secured for us in advance. The following pic is looking south from our B&B toward the Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado. As a side note, I grew up about 1.5 hours to the north of here, and the locale made me a tad homesick.



Day 5 was a short "rest ride" along a scary, high-use roadway (State Highway 550). So we played hooky instead and journeyed to one of our favorite areas — the East, Middle, and West Forks of the Cimarron River. Twelve years ago I proposed to Snowcatcher high in the Middle Fork Basin, and as they say, "the rest is history."

Following are more pics from the area. All three basins were still snowed in. They should open up for access in early July. The Cimarron Forks begin high in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Area. This area initially was called the Big Blue Wilderness, which I liked much better. Uncompahgre, loosely translated, means dirty water. Oh well... Enjoy!

The next pic is from Owl Creek Pass (11,120 ft) and the access road to lower West Fork Cimarron.




Precipice Peak (13,144 ft, rank 529) is framed in the background. My marriage proposal occurred on its backside, high up the Middle Fork of the Cimarron.




Snow temporarily marked the end of the West Fork road. There's still jeep road before reaching a trailhead.




The airy summit of Chimney Rock rises to 11,781 feet.




Numerous volcanic rock formations line the West Fork. The volcanism in this area is often beyond spectacular.




A member of the Lily family — Veratrum tenuipetalum
Also known as False Hellebore, Skunk Cabbage, and Corn Lily; it will average 4 feet in height.




The East Fork Cimarron is on the left, and the Middle Fork is on the right.




I love how dandelions enhance high Montane meadows. Do you?




That's it for a while. Thanks for reading.

Adios

Stardate 2016.616

Silverjack and the West Fork of the Cimarron River


Cimarron
Recently, Snowcatcher and I visited one of our favorite places – the headwaters of the Cimarron River. We decided to do some mountain biking in the vicinity of the confluence of the East, Middle and West Forks. Each of these rugged basins provide northerly access into the Uncompahgre Wilderness area. Formerly the Big Blue Wilderness, a title I prefer, this arguably is one of the most scenic regions in the northern San Juan Mountains.



The lesser-visited East Fork of the Cimarron is still wild and woolly. Although the area has been "discovered," the Middle and West Forks still have their own wild mysticism. Each basin projects a unique personality; they project their own siren. Enter the 1990s with self-serve gas stations located in isolated corners of the state. A new era of touring was born. Thank you credit cards and 24-hour access. (We used to have to carry extra petrol when venturing into rural areas).

However, it's still easy to disappear from people and civilization, even though things have changed a bit since John Wayne visited in 1969. Are you a Wayne fan? The original True Grit with John Wayne and Kim Darby was filmed in this area.




Majestic ramparts abound.




If you haven't seen this area cloaked in fall color, you're in for a treat.



Looking up Middle Fork, one is awed by rugged Pinnacle Ridge separating the East and Middle Forks of the Cimarron River. I proposed to Snowcatcher in an Elysian basin far up the Middle Fork as the setting sun was turning surrounding rock and peaks crimson red.




Sheep Mountain rises high above the mouth of the East Fork basin to 13,168 feet.




The short and steep grunt up the Middle Fork to the Wilderness area parking is nothing short of a grind.




There are more blog posts to come, especially with fall only a little more than a month away for these mountains.

Adios