Well, this couple of flatlanders rolled into Durango about mid afternoon on the first day and didn’t waste anytime hitting the trail. We gathered our things, left the hotel behind, and set off on our trusty steeds for what would be four days of mountain bike nirvana! After a quick stop at a local bike shop-Mountain Bike Specialists-located in historic downtown Durango, we decided it was time to hit the Telegraph Trail System. We had just a couple of hours of daylight left, so we made the best of it by climbing our way to one of the higher points of the trail system. While making our way to the top we managed to deviate from the main trail and did a couple of different loops, one of which was the Old Car Loop. The name comes from a 1950 Ford that was abandoned in the area quite some time ago, and so this particular stretch of trail goes right by it. As you will see, we managed to get a nice “road trip” pic of it. I really couldn’t tell you if it is actually a ’50 Ford, I’m just going by what some guy said after I showed him the picture. He named it within a second, without hesitation. Anyway, we soon realized that we were quickly running out of daylight and began our descent back into town. What an incredible first day, I thought to myself. “If this trail is any indication of what is yet to be discovered, I can’t wait for the next three days!” Interestingly enough, Marcel kept repeating; “It only gets better!” And he wasn’t kidding either.

Very clear trail markers/signs on the Telegraph Trail System...

Charles climbing up Telegraph...

The 1950 Ford on the Old Car Loop. All that's missing is the Yakima rack...

Day 2 - Colorado Trail near Durango - 33 miles

Just like day one, there was no need to drive to the trailhead; it was just three miles from the hotel. Once we hit single track we found ourselves making a gradual ascent while paralleling a creek with flowing water that was clear as glass. The trail took us to a bridge that crossed the creek and once on the other side we made our way up a series of switchbacks that would eventually bring us to an incredible view of the valley and the trail that hugged the creek. Taking in a few moments of rest coupled with absolute amazement, neither one of us said much, we just looked out over the valley and took the opportunity to really appreciate what we were capable of doing. I can honestly say that we felt as if we were just a handful of people that have opportunities like this. This is the reward for maintaining a fun, active, healthy life style. We do like beer though…
Once satisfied with taking in as much of the view as we could, we decided it was time to continue on, and it just got better! We could have easily done an out and back but decided to do Hoffein’s Connect, which is a loop off of the Colorado Trail. Hoffein’s started with a long ascent. Climb, climb, climb, was pretty much the standard for the entire four days. But, that was okay, because once we connected with the Colorado trail and got to our turn-around spot (14 miles out) we new exactly what came next. A fly by the seat of your pants, balls to the wall, pucker factor like no other screaming downhill! Total exposure to one side, one slip up and you instantly become nothing but a side of beef baby! Man I couldn’t get enough of it! Rocks, roots, and water bars; we were launching off everything! The best part of the ride came when we descended down the switchbacks we had climbed up on earlier in the day. Trees here, rocks there, hands and wrists are seizing up, heart rate going through the roof! We just kept getting faster and bolder as we descended to the bottom. Could it get any better than this? Absolutely, positively YES!

Colorado Trail Sign...

Crossing Junction Creek...

On Hoffeins Connect...

Colorado Trail... (pic by Charles)

Big Boulder Field...

Day 3 - Fruita - 24 miles

Oddly enough, Fruita wasn’t our first choice for our third day of riding. We were going to ride more of the Colorado trail, only this time our ride would have started at somewhere around 10,000 ft. This was all fine and dandy, but the dark thunderous clouds rolling in our directions had us quickly changing our minds. Neither one of us particularly enjoyed the thought of becoming lightning rods, especially when we noticed the charred remains of a tree just a few yards from where we were standing. We got about a mile in, took some pics and then decided to make our way North-West to Fruita. It’s rare when bad weather actually makes one’s day better. I’m so thankful we ended up in the desert. Fruita ROCKS!
Simply put, this place is a playground! Desert riding at it’s finest! We began our ride with yet another gradual ascent up a section of trail called Prime Cut, which then led us to Joe’s Ridge. Before we embarked on Joe’s Ridge Marcel assured me that the trail did nothing crazy when cresting portions of the ridge. The trail just continues down the other side - which you can’t see... No jumps, no sharp turns or anything too technical; just smooth transitions when descending on the other side of the ridge. “No problem!” I said. He forgot to mention that it feels exactly like you’re on an old wooden roller coaster and when you crest the hills you feel as if you are about to ride off the edge of the world! I thought I was going to launch into the wild blue yonder! What a rush!
After completing our first loop we took a short rest and quickly ventured back out for another loop. Again we climbed Prime Cut only this time, instead of Joe’s Ridge, we decided on riding Chutes and Ladders. C & L began with short but steep climbs with just as many short rocky technical descents; much different from Joe’s Ridge. JR required very little work unlike C & L, which never gave us a rest. We would work hard to get to the top of each climb and then work just as hard to get down. But, we would soon be rewarded with a screaming downhill that was riddled with woopty-do after woopty-do. Damn near cased the front wheel on one of them! Faster and faster we went, knifing through the desert like a couple of heat seekers. The flow of this stretch of hard pack was like no other, very little if any braking was needed and we were the only riders on it! Couldn’t have gotten any better! Or could it?
It’s getting later in the afternoon and we thought we had enough but, our addiction got the better of us. We were single-track junkies, and not only did we have to have more but; we wanted more! But, what should we ride next? Do Joe’s Ridge again? Or we can do Chutes and Ladders one more time? What to do? What to do?
“How about Prime Cut down?” Marcel said. “What the hell!” I replied. A few swigs of Gatorade and a couple of GU’s and we were on our way. Only this time we took the gravel road to the top of Prime Cut (a one mile climb) and rode in from there. It started with a few ups and downs but shortly after that this stretch of single-track heaven became insanely fun! Mingled in with the insanity was the fact that we were well aware that we are now riding against the direction of travel. Oh well, we’ll just have to keep a sharp eye out. As technical as Prime Cut was we still managed upwards 25 mph and that was on our second run. It’s like that potato chip commercial; you just can’t eat one! Only for us, we had to ride PC down again! I couldn’t believe the speed we were carrying while encountering everything a trail could offer! Rocks, roots, drops, short risers, woopty-do’s etc, you name, and we rode it! Unbelievable, and to top it all off, again we had the trail all to ourselves! What a way to end a day of riding! Only if we had gotten there earlier in the day; maybe next time.

The Colorado Trail at 10,000ft. The views are terrible :-)

Dark skies and storms moving in... (pic by Charles)

Little Molas Lake...

Near Silverton...

click on the panorama pic to see the full size version...

Chutes & Ladders... (pic by Charles)

Nice Sky...

Charles on Chutes & Ladders...

Day 4 - Hermosa Creek Trail - 30 miles

What a way to end end incredible trip. Initially we had some concerns about the weather but those concerns soon dissipated as the sun began to shine through the clouds. We were going to ride again today!
We reserved a shuttle to take us to the trailhead but we were going to ride back into to town, 30 miles, point to point. For about the first 8 miles we found ourselves paralleling Hermosa Creek. We were riding in pace with the rippling water. Not to fast, not to slow and not much was said either. Marcel and I were taking advantage of the sights and sounds of the Hermosa Creek Trail, just enjoying our last miles of the trip. Soon the trail would lead us away from the creek and into the forest. With that, came the climbs and descents. These two flatlanders even had the pleasure of impressing a few locals. Their group consisted of 6 or 7 riders and as a matter of fact they started about 10 minutes ahead of us, and we would end up stopping a couple of times in the first few miles to take a couple of pictures. Anyway we caught up to them eventually and passed them on a climb. Shortly after making the pass, we decided it was time for lunch and stopped at an overlook. Well here came the locals and they decided to stop as well. After a few hellos they asked us where we were from. “Oklahoma City.” You would have needed a forklift to pick their jaws up off the ground. They were speechless. Yeah, they were impressed and we felt good about it. So good in fact, that they got a head start on us again as we were still eating our lunch; thus we caught up to and dropped them for a second time. This was a good ride! From then on Marcel and I were in a groove and nothing was going to get us out of it. We would climb and descend the ridgeline for the rest of way. One particular climb just didn’t want to end but we refused to dismount. The climb became steeper and steeper with some slippery roots and rocks thrown in but we stayed in our saddles and made it to the top. When we thought we had enough in four days, something told us it will only get better, and that’s all the incentive we needed to keep going. Durango Colorado. Four days, 4 different rides and 107 miles; what could be better! I’m ready to make a return trip!

21 miles of great trail...

Taking a break and enjoying the views...

Fall colors...

THE END...