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April 22, 2022
Goose Creek Road (Matukat Road, Forest Service Road 211)
So today, I decided to go for a little ride which I've done before. It looks like I rode this same route almost exactly a year ago.
http://www.peeniewallie.com/2021/04/nfsr-211---matu.html
Planned Route:
Basically, the planned route is to leave Conifer/Aspen Park on US Highway 285 South down to Bailey, Colorado. From there, take Park County Road 68, a dirt road that goes south east down towards Wellington Lake.
At Windy Peak Outdoor Lab, the road crosses into Jefferson County and changes from Park County Road 68 to Jefferson County Road 105 (another dirt road). At Wellington Lake, for whatever reason, the road changes to Jefferson County Road 560 (also known as Stoney Pass Road). Eventually, this road intersects with Forest Service Road 211 (Matukat Road aka also known as Goose Creek Road), and I turn right on Goose Creek Road, heading roughly south and west. Eventually, Forest Service Road 211 (Matukat Road aka Goose Creek Road)) T's off into Park County Road 77 (Tarryall Creek Road).
Then, I will ride north into Jefferson, then north-east on US Hwy 285 back to Conifer/Aspen Park.
My planned route looked basically like this.
That was the plan, anyway. It's a route I've done before, and so I was comfortable heading down this path, even as as massive cloud front was clearly approaching from the west.
The Ride:
There's a front moving in as I head southwest towards my planned route. Strong winds from the west, and lots of ominous clouds hanging over the mountains to the west. It's times like this that I wonder why I don't bother to check the forecast of the areas I'll be riding through, before I leave the house. But this is where we are.
It was a beautiful ride, and I, once I left hard-top, I talked to other people I that met on the dirt roads along the way, and they assured me there was no snow on the road, which was probably my greatest concern. It was windy, and it was clear that a front was moving in from the west. But I figured that, as long as it wasn't snowing, I'd be OK.
At some point along this route, I happened upon a scene I was not expecting. Basically, a black Ford Windstar minivan had managed, somehow, to leave the dirt road and was precariously balanced on the side of the mountain. A total stranger happened by in a maroon Ford truck and stopped to assist the minivan. As I pulled up, they were attempting to get the minivan back onto the mountain road. I gave some suggestions as to how to rig the tow strap to the minivan, and how to position the truck, so that both vehicles didn't go tumbling down the face of the mountain.
Fortunately, the driver of the truck was able to pull the minivan back onto the road and I assume that everyone made it home safely.
I continued along along Forest Service Road 211 (Stoney Pass Road) until it T'd off into Park County Road 77 (Tarryall Creek Road), where I turned north, heading towards Jefferson. 2 fire department vehicles with their red lights rolling came by me heading north towards Jefferson. At some point, they turned around and headed back south, for whatever reason. As I continued north towards Jefferson, I passed 4 more additional fire department vehicles heading south with their red lights rolling.
I always forget how nice this part of the ride is on Park County Road 77 (Tarryall Creek Road). But I didn't really have any time to stop and shoot photos, as I was on a deadline to get home and feed the pets.
Fortunately, to the best of my knowledge, everyone made it hope safely.
2:26 pm - Left the house. Trip Meter: 0.0.
3:14 pm - Wellington Lake. Trip Meter: 34.0.
3:48 pm - Goose Creek Road. Trip Meter 44.3.
4:05 pm - Keep right on Goose Creek Road (Forest Service Road 211).
4:33 pm - Helped get mini-van back onto the road. Trip Meter: 53.0
4:50 pm - Reached the summit of the mountain road. 60.2.
5:01 pm - Hit hardtop at Matukat Rd/ Park County Road 77.
5:40 pm - Town of Jefferson. 99.0
Here's a post from when I followed the same route last year.
Update: Looks like Cody did the same route on the same day on his motorcycle. Crazy coincidence.
Posted by Rob Kiser on April 22, 2022 at 8:44 PM
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