Stardate 2016.523

A Little Midday Ride In The Heat

I managed to get out for a midday ride recently. The day heated up early, but I was able to beat the afternoon showers.

The slack water behind a small roller dam along the South Platte River looked rather refreshing. However, swimming isn't allowed along this reach of river because anyone who goes over the dam gets sucked under, especially when the head gets beaned on the way down. I can't help but think what Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn would do with this cool, clear water before the dam existed. Doesn't really take a lot of thought, does it? Following are some pics.




I often have music on the brain while riding; so how about a little "name that band"...

"Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city

All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head..."

Hint: The Lovin'...




At low elevations, we're heading into our dry season. Up in the clouds, alpine flowers are just beginning.




Zues appears to have found me. Yes, I'm a lightning magnet.




Getting a bit angry, are we? You need to watch that cloud anger.




This one continued to darken and chased me out of the canyon. We did have some nice afternoon rain.




That's it for now.

Adios

Stardate 2015.677

Say It Aint So...

Waterton Canyon is one of my favorite rides. It's a quick and easy warm-up prior to tackling the short and sweet Roxborough Loop, Trail 800 (Indian Creek Trail) or Segment 1 of the Colorado Trail. Recently, Waterton Canyon was closed due to bears piling on grub while an ever-growing Paparazzi crept to within 10 or 15 feet of the dinner table. Yes, I've taken pictures of the bears over the last several weeks. However, I didn't hang out with the bears sunrise to sunset, as some outdoor photographers appeared to be doing. I'm more of a ride, stop, snap a shot or two, ride-on kind of photographer.



I hope I'm not coming off as being too judgmental. Bears are reclusive, and it's not often you get to see them. However, 50 feet of buffer, including a fast-flowing river, became 10 feet of buffer, next to the side of the trail. After one jogger was bluff charged (supposedly warned about being between mom and cubs), and later a bicyclist was chased, Denver Water shut down the canyon. In my opinion, this is a good move by Denver Water. Currently, there are two sows with two cubs each. I'm sure a boar or two frequent the area as well. Right now their appetites are voracious! According to the fish squeezers (state wildlife officials), bears need up to 20,000 calories per day. They will eat up to 20 hours per day.



Sadly, snow permitting, I probably won't be able to ride the canyon again until sometime in November when the bears shack-up for the winter. Moreover, the bighorn sheep will start their rut in about October, which is fun to spectate. In short, Waterton Canyon is a veritable game preserve, and I already miss it. Other residents I've encountered include mountain lion, deer, elk, coyote, fox, rattlesnake, bull snake, garter snake, yada, yada, yada. Nonetheless, the boys are back in town. I took these shots several days before Waterton's closure while riding through the Strontia Springs Reservoir caretakers compound. Enjoy the sheep pics.






For now...

Adios

Stardate 2015.282

Ridge Rolling

Trail 800 is a large loop that can begin and end at various locations. My beginning and end is the Strontia Springs Reservoir dam at the head of Waterton Canyon. A handful of trails, such as the Colorado Trail, spur off of Trail 800. The Roxborough Loop Trail I often post about is actually a connector trail between east and west legs of Trail 800, the result being a shorter northern loop.

Today's ride was a Trail 800 out and back along the ridge separating Bear Creek and Stevens Gulch. While descending from the ridge, I reconnected with the Roxborough Loop and followed it back around as normal. The ride was good. (When aren't they?) However, it was quite windy. For any Dieter and Wolfgang followers, I had no idea where they were today.



When I have my summer heart, legs and lungs, I can pull most of the climbs. Since the above pic exists, I obviously don't have them yet.



The trail meanders across the top of the ridge. It's a fairly smooth trail, with occasional rock to keep you alert.



Wind blow down is common along this trail. If it's windy out, the potential for falling trees occupies a portion of your mind. Above is the lower- to mid-bole section of a Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) that took up residence on the trail.



In the above pic, I'm looking north from the ridge. Strontia Springs Reservoir lies directly below the pointy summit at the top center of the photo.



The trail has steep, loose, off-camber in places. However, most of the trail is quite smooth.



Until we meet again...

Adios

Stardate 2015.244

Bring'n on Spring

I took the Black Pearl out for a roll in the forest several days ago. I rode up to where the Colorado Trail splits from Trail 800, after a mile or so of sharing real estate.



I had the place to myself. The trail intersection is a popular place for Colorado Trail hikers to camp as well. Moreover, there are enough messy campers that bears maintain an interest in the area. Most backpackers are good about keeping a tidy camp.



Remnant patches of snow are about gone, except for the deeper drifts.



The bighorn sheep were out and about enjoying the sun. Denver Water's Strontia Springs Dam caretaker's house had some nice green grass scattered throughout the grounds. The sheep took advantage of it. This time of year, the rams are fairly docile as they slowly work their way to higher elevations for the summer. Many of the ewes and smaller rams will summer in the canyon. I was about 15 feet from him when I snapped this shot. He was so groggy he could hardly hold his head up.

They're a bit more excitable in the fall months during the rut; I give them much wider berth during that time. In fact, during the rut, I would have kept on riding. This guy, when standing, is probably 3.5- to 4-feet at the shoulder, and built like a rock.



Rant alert: The above mud puddle is about 3-feet in diameter. These tend to grow when riders ride around their edges. If you need some mud, head through the center. As for myself, I would portage this.



This snow drift has receded a bit since last week. The 3 to 4 inches of snow we received several days ago lasted about a day.



zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...


Dieter and Wolfgang enjoy a bit of spring training on whatever they can find. Climbing and training on ram horns is not for the faint of heart.



Happy Trails!

Adios