Carbondale to Cressted Butte

So after spending some time in the Fort, I got a ride back to Carbondale. I was worried that I was going to miss the CB season by riding all the way back. As I found out that wasn't even close to the case.

I started climbing gradually up CO-133 and was able to bike next to the Crystal River for all of the way. The Narrows looked fun and had I known that they were class V at that level ~1200cfs, I probably would have made a pit stop and done some solo boating (don't tell mom. Got up and took a peak at the Meatgrinder, it looks like a pretty technical rapid but definitely do-able (coming back down when the river was at 800cfs, it looked even better).

Hogies and Grinders

I eventually got to Marble split and started to head up McClure Pass. All I can say is that it was the hardest three miles of biking I have done. It is so steep (8% most of the time) and gains roughly 2000ft. I will admitt that I had to get off of my bike a few times and walk a little bit to give my legs a break. It isn't any easier to walk a loaded rig. At some points I wasn't even going fast enough for my bike computer to pick up my speed.

Not that long or high, but burly nonetheless

I finally got to the top and got a pretty sweet coast down towards Paonia. I was heading towards Paonia State Park and Reservoir. I rode along Muddy Creek which lives up to its name and there was a quick fun looking class IV section in there. The entire reservoir was super muddy brown (I use this in the sense that it was the color brown, not some gnarly way to describe kayaking creek runs) because of the inflow of Muddy Creek.

Paonia Resevoir looking green

Once I got to the end of the resavoir I saw a nice outflow sluice that looks like some good stunt boating. I am down if anyone ever wants to run it. From there I headed onto CR 12 which is not paved for those of you who might want to take this route.

Looking across the resevoir

It was getting late and I was tire but I finally made it to Erickson Springs campground and had a sweet little site right next to Anthracite Creek. Anthracite has some of the coolest looking water, it is almost gray and see-through clear but yet it is not. I would call it somewhat opaque. Erickson Springs is a starting point to hike into some of the Anthracite wilderness runs in case anyone was wondering.

The next moring I started my climb of Kebler pass which pretty much begins where I camp and ends a few miles away fromCrested Butte. Needless to say it was a long haul on my Surly Long Haul Trucker. It was about thirty miles of climbing, but it was some of the most beatiful passing through a huge aspen grove. The real downside was I was misinformed by numerous people that Kebler is paved. The only paved part is the bridge that goes over the Ruby? section of Antracite, log still in the rapid. But I would recommend this climb just for its peacefulness and beauty.

It was a long one

About two I arrived in the quaint little softball playing town of Crested Butte. I am going to move there and get on a team, ASAP. I am a wicked switch hitter even though I throw like a two year old.

I put on about 70 miles for this leg.

I apologize, I though I had some pics of Anthracite Creek and of Kebler Pass, but I guess I forgot to take them.