Colorado Trail: Part I

My Colorado Trail (CT) pre-trip planning was brief, much like any other weekend jaunt through the woods. While some people may spend months planning for a short vacation; I feel perfectly comfortable finding an interesting spot on the map and quickly packing gear into the car. My CT preparation was simply a week cycling to work (it’s hard cycling during the hot humid Michigan summer), baking a fresh batch of granola bars and tossing gear into the car. Yes, I packed for one of the penultimate bikepacking trails in about an hour.

Two days later I was in Denver, having made the long drive. After one relaxing day to acclimatize to the altitude, I laid in bed trying to sleep. Realizing that it has been six years since my last extended bike tour and this would be my first bikepacking trip longer than four days I was a lit anxious. Ok, I was freaking out a bit. I would definitely be relying heavily upon experience and muscle memory to get me through the next challenging two weeks. The two Colorado Trail bike route stats giving me worry were 540 miles with 72,500 feet of ascending. According to Bikepacking.com “The Colorado Trail is one of the longest, more arduous, yet most rewarding bikepacking routes in the US”.  So yeah, I was a little worried about my short training rides.

In the morning, a bit short of sleep I packed up the bike. Yes! all my gear plus food fit on the bike so I was off to a good start! After buying new brake pads I boarded the light rail to Littleton, a few miles Southwest of Denver. Still thirteen miles from the Waterton Trailhead, I enjoyed the relativity flat bike trails that served as an amazing warm-up to the Trail. Around 2 pm I reached the trailhead and was mystified to find the gate locked. The posted sign said the Trail was closed due to a nearby wildfire; definitely not how I imaged starting my CT adventure! I hadn’t planned on this so I did some quick thinking of a plan B. Unfortunately, I hadn’t download the surrounding area on my Gaia GPS app so I couldn’t find a reroute. There was state park a few miles away, but being Labor Day weekend, all the campsites would certainly be booked. After riding a few miles up a steep hill I was relieved to find a public library. On the computer I worked out a reroute for the first section of Trail around the wildfire… hopefully.

Backtracking on my route, I took a left turn and began the long grade into the mountains along West Deer Creek Canyon Road. The smooth pavement made the climb easier, but my plus size bike tires meant road cyclists passed me quickly. The afternoon heat was in the 90s, but I had nowhere to go, but up. It was a tough initiation day! Hours later I dropped down into Conifer and filled my water bottles at the gas station. I cycled a few hundred yards on Hwy 285, cruising past cars stuck in Labor Day weekend traffic. Even though it was amusing to pass cars, I was even happier to turn off the highway onto quieter backroads along the Platte River. Having spent the last few hours slugging uphill in the heat, the gradual descent along the Platte River in the cool evening was a pleasant change. I reached the junction with the CT and made my first trailside camp. It was a grueling day, yet there will be more ahead. I cooked dinner and enjoyed being within the wonderful embrace of the Colorado Rockies again!