Stardate 2015.499

Day Four RtR

Crested Butte

The ride to Crested Butte on Day Four was a nice contrast to the wet of the previous day. Originally, there were two options for this day. One option was the normal highway ride from Gunnison to Crested Butte. The second option was the Dirty 30. The Dirty 30 would travel up scenic Ohio Creek, climb and cross Ohio Pass, which is still a dirt road, then drop to Kebler Pass, before the final drop into Crested Butte. Ohio Pass is beautiful, however the powers that be nixed the optional route due to lingering snow and soggy conditions resulting from heavy spring rains.

The day turned out to be a rest day. I think I rolled into Crested Butte around 9 in the morning. Snowcatcher and I spent the day lounging around. Crested Butte proper is a historic mining town. There also exists a ski village a mile or so above old town at the ski area.



The southern terminus of the Elk Mountain Range is shown above. Teocalli Mountain touches the sky at 13,208 feet (state rank # 478) while 14,265 foot Castle Peak (state rank # 12) rises even higher behind Teocalli. I've summited Castle Peak several times, and it's a very scenic hike.



On the east side of town, Mount Crested Butte rises to 12,162 feet.



The little town's population just grew by 3,000.



Guess who?



Rising in the background is the Ruby Range. It's a sub-range of the Elk Range. The West Elk Range rises southwest of the Ruby Range.



'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe...



I took this shot because I want the old red Ford F250 sitting on the grass. The mountains rising in the background aren’t half-bad either.

Our next stop will take us 12,000 feet into the sky.

Adios

Stardate 2015.142

Ride The Rockies Dirty 30

Day 4 of this year's Ride the Rockies has an option. In addition to the normal State Highway route between Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado, riders will have the option of riding over Ohio Pass (10,033 ft), dropping to Kebler Pass (9,980 ft), then further dropping to historic Crested Butte.



The Ohio Pass option — "Dirty Thirty" as it's called — should be a jewel. The route up Ohio Creek begins about 3 miles north of Gunnison. The ride up the creek is a very scenic roll through numerous working ranches. Better yet, the Castles will be in view a good portion of the way.



About 18 miles up Ohio Creek, give or take, the asphalt gives way to dirt and gravel. During the fall, this region can be immersed in colored foliage. Ohio Pass is still several miles ahead. The rocky grade increases significantly as the route begins its climb over the eastern shoulder of the Anthracite Range.



I've spent a fair amount of time on Ohio Pass and Cottonwood Pass, the other dirt leg of this year's ride. Cottonwood has the elevation, but Ohio is more narrow and rocky. More than a few wheel rims will come off of Ohio Pass with war wounds.




From the summit of Ohio Pass, it's a short, easy, dirt descent to Kebler Pass. West of Kebler Pass, the road remains dirt. However, the tour will descend the east side of Kebler on relatively new asphalt.




The Kebler descent will deposit riders in the heart of Crested Butte.

Adios