Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
I will be leading our seventh annual Father's Day trail ride Sunday June 18th. The trail is moderate to difficult. It used to do-able in a stocker with a good driver, but in recent years has become more difficult for a stocker, so 33s and a rear locker are recommended. With a small group, this is a half day trail. This run has become very popular and will probably take longer. As always, the amount of time will depend on our group size, trail traffic and (hopefully not) breakage or mechanical issues. Tools and spares are recommended. We will be in cell phone coverage most of the way, and within hiking distance of civilization.
We will meet at the McDonalds at the El Rancho (Evergreen Parkway) exit of I-70 at 8:00AM and depart at 8:30 AM. We used to start later, but an earlier start may help us avoid too much trail traffic. The trailhead is off the Downieville exit of I-70. We will start on CB channel 4, but if we get stepped on by too many others we will switch to channel 5.
The trail starts near Downieville, and ends up either at I-70 in Georgetown or on CO-103 near Chicago Creek, depending on the route out we choose to take. The trail gets progressively more difficult as we go up until we reach the rock garden. The "big obstacle" is the rock garden near the top. There is sort of a winding bypass, but it too is difficult, and has become more so in recent years. There are several interesting obstacles before that, including a steep shelf that might remind you of Moab, some whoop dee doos right after that, a hill where we had a rollover last year but has a bypass, another dirt hill with no bypass, a difficult rocky hill after a sharp left with no bypass, and then the rock garden. After the rock garden the trail is still difficult until we reach the meadow at the top. After the meadow, it is an easy Subaru-grade drive out on dirt forest roads to either I-70 or CO-103.
Traffic back to Denver has been an issue the last several years, with stop and go on I-70. Last year we discovered how to take the frontage roads all the way from Georgetown to Idaho Springs, where the traffic generally thins out. We will play it by ear (or eyes) and see what route we take home. If we drop down into Georgetown, you can see whether I-70 is clogged with traffic from the switchbacks high above.
There were links to reports from previous runs from the old forum, I'll see what I can do to provide some visuals of what to expect. Bring lunch, water (lots), your father, kids, your camera and permagrin. This is always a fun trail and good time.
We will meet at the McDonalds at the El Rancho (Evergreen Parkway) exit of I-70 at 8:00AM and depart at 8:30 AM. We used to start later, but an earlier start may help us avoid too much trail traffic. The trailhead is off the Downieville exit of I-70. We will start on CB channel 4, but if we get stepped on by too many others we will switch to channel 5.
The trail starts near Downieville, and ends up either at I-70 in Georgetown or on CO-103 near Chicago Creek, depending on the route out we choose to take. The trail gets progressively more difficult as we go up until we reach the rock garden. The "big obstacle" is the rock garden near the top. There is sort of a winding bypass, but it too is difficult, and has become more so in recent years. There are several interesting obstacles before that, including a steep shelf that might remind you of Moab, some whoop dee doos right after that, a hill where we had a rollover last year but has a bypass, another dirt hill with no bypass, a difficult rocky hill after a sharp left with no bypass, and then the rock garden. After the rock garden the trail is still difficult until we reach the meadow at the top. After the meadow, it is an easy Subaru-grade drive out on dirt forest roads to either I-70 or CO-103.
Traffic back to Denver has been an issue the last several years, with stop and go on I-70. Last year we discovered how to take the frontage roads all the way from Georgetown to Idaho Springs, where the traffic generally thins out. We will play it by ear (or eyes) and see what route we take home. If we drop down into Georgetown, you can see whether I-70 is clogged with traffic from the switchbacks high above.
There were links to reports from previous runs from the old forum, I'll see what I can do to provide some visuals of what to expect. Bring lunch, water (lots), your father, kids, your camera and permagrin. This is always a fun trail and good time.
so I'm sure we'll have plenty planned.... maybe next year?
