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August 31, 2022

Phantom Canyon

So today, I figured I'd get up and go for a ride down through Phantom Canyon. It's the last day of August, and I figure I need to be riding to take advantage of the nice weather (not snowing).

So basically, my ride was to head down Foxton Road, then down through Deckers and Woodland Park. West on U.S. Hwy 24 to Ute Pass (9,163') at Divide, Colorado.

South out of Divide on Colorado State Highway 67 about 15 miles to the summit of Tenderfoot Pass (10,200'), then down into Cripple Creek.

Then down through the gaming towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. Then, down the Phantom Canyon. I like this place because they preserved the old tunnels between Victor and Canon City.

Last time I tried to make it down this way, I blew my front tire and Robert had to come down and rescue me. But this time, I didn't have any issues.

I went through Canon City and found the place I used to hang out (Rumors). The building is still there, but it's still closed. They never reopened it, apparently.

So then, I figured I'd take the back way home. So I went west out of Cañon City on US Highway 50, then turned north onto Colorado State Highway 9 to High Park Road (County Road 11) then north to Florissant. Then west on US Highway 24 to Lake George. Just past Lake George, I turned north on Tarryall Road (County Road 77) up to Jefferson, Colorado. Then home from Jefferson on US Highway 285.

Here's a map that shows basically where I rode today.

Here's what I captured in my phone:

11:20 a.m. Leaving house. 78F. 0.0 miles.
1:20 p.m. Tenderfoot Pass (10,200' above sea level). 76F. 82 miles.
1:50 p.m. Victor, Colorado. 76F. 90 miles.
2:45 p.m. 1st Railroad Tunnel. 87F. 110 miles.
2:58 p.m. 2nd Railroad Tunnel. 91F. 113 miles.
3:06 p.m. Hard top. 91F. 116 miles.
3:50 p.m. Canon City. 95F. Refuel. 134 miles.
4:52 p.m. Florrisant. 79F. 180 miles.
5:50 p.m. Jefferson. 68F. 230 miles.
6:13 p.m. Bailey. 253 miles.
6:37 p.m. Home. 73F. 275 miles.

So, it looks like I rode 275 miles in about 7 1/2 hours.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 31, 2022 at 7:22 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 28, 2022

Reddit


Reddit_bloze_k0x

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 28, 2022 at 9:47 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 10, 2022

Jones Pass - 8/10/2022

Today (8/10/22), I made it across Jones Pass (12,454' ) for the first time this year. Looks like the last time I tried was 7/31/22. There is still some snow up there, but it's not blocking the pass. So, I went down on the other side (west side of the continental divide), and it was much rougher than I remember. We've recently had a lot of rain, and it looks like the west side is washed out pretty bad. I made it down and then back up, but I don't think I'd try it again alone. It was pretty rough climbing back up from the west side.

8/10/22
4:00 pm - 0.0 83°F - Leave house.
4:45 pm - 37 miles. 37 miles & 45 mins to Jones Pass exit off of US Hwy 40 77°F.
5:04 pm - 39 miles. 2 miles & 2 mins to trailhead. 77°F. (17 mins talking to people at mine).
5:29 pm - 43 miles. 4 miles & 25 mins to Jones Pass summit. 65°F.
5:43 pm - 46 miles. 3 miles & 14 mins to bottom of Jones Pass on the west side. 72°F.
5:55 pm - 48.7 miles 2.7 miles & 12 mins back on summit (headed down east side).
6:04 pm - 50.1 miles 1.4 miles & 9 minutes back down to treeline. 64°F.
6:15 pm - 52 miles 4 miles & 20 mins from summit to trailhead. 64°F.
6:18 pm - 54.3 miles 65f US hwy 40

So, it looks like it takes about 25 minutes to climb 4 miles from the trailhead to the summit, and the temp drops about 12 degrees F over that distance. Then it takes about 20 mins to descend 4 miles back down to the trailhead.

I didn't really track my time on getting back to the house because they were having a summer concert in Evergreen so I stopped to check that out on the way back.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 10, 2022 at 8:26 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 6, 2022

Webster Pass

Today, I rode over Webster Pass from the south side. This is the first time I've been over Webster Pass from the south side in a while. (I did find a video where I crossed over Webster Pass from the south side on the 2017 Africa Twin in 2018).

I rode on a Saturday because I figured there'd be more people out riding today and if I dropped the AT, I'd have someone to help me pick it up. I did run into a lot of other people riding today, mostly in Jeeps. One guy lost control of his dirt bike and went off trail. We were able to winch him back onto the road with a little bit of work.

The south side was rougher than I remember. I made it no problem, but it was busy and rough so that by the time I got to the switchbacks, I climbed up the switchbacks no problem. Then, down on the north side and I still had to do the water crossing. I made it across without any difficulty. Got my boots wet but made it across OK. Then I crossed Loveland Pass and headed down the hill on I-70.

Got some rain at Idaho Springs. Stopped at the gas station to get out of the rain, then finished the ride home (stopping at McDonald's in Evergreen).

I left at about 2:00 pm and got home at about 7:00 pm. So I rode about 5 hours today.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 6, 2022 at 7:17 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 5, 2022

Hot Springs in Idaho Springs

https://www.uncovercolorado.com/hot-springs/indian-hot-springs/

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 5, 2022 at 3:23 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Minneapolis, MN

If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis, you should go eat out at Lord Fletcher's on Lake Minnetonka. Lake Minnetonka is a huge lake just outside of Minneapolis and they also rent jet skis on the lake as well.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 5, 2022 at 2:49 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 2, 2022

Pass Bagger - Aug 2, 2022

Today, it wasn't raining for reasons not entirely clear to me. So after the goat walk, I decided to try to go for a little ride. This time, the plan was US Hwy 285 to Buena Vista, get some photos in the Midland tunnels there, then, time permitting, summit Independence Pass from the east, then come back down by Twin Lakes, north on US Hwy 24 through Leadville, to Fremont Pass, then down to I-70, east on I-70 through the Johnson Tunnel (1979) Elevation 11,158 feet, then I-70 east to Floyd Hill, and home via Evergreen and Marshdale.

Mountain Passes in order I crossed them today:

This is pretty much the route that I took today.

Aug 2, 2022
2:50 pm depart on trip. 0 miles. 79F°.
3:40 pm Kenosha Pass. 40 miles. 75° F.
3:56 pm.Red Hill Pass. 56 miles. 70° F.
4:32 pm Trout Creek Pass. 90 miles. 74° F.
4:40 pm Buena Vista. 104 miles. 82° F.
5:15 pm Turn off of US Hwy 24 onto Colorado State Highway 82. 124 miles. 77° F.
5:45 pm Summit the continental divide at Independence Pass. 147 miles. 59° F.
6:05 pm Leaving summit of the continental divide at Independence Pass. 147 miles. 59° F.
8:37 pm Arrive home. 277.5 miles. 70° F.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 2, 2022 at 9:17 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink