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June 30, 2023
Lamartine Road
So, I've been riding some up above Idaho Springs. I used to ride up here, back in the day. But it's been a long time. So, I'm have to sort of re-explore and re-discover my old riding paths. One thing I remember quite well and have been wanting to re-discover is a large gravel pit/quarry up above Idaho Springs. But, it's sort of tough because, yeah I remember riding up here many years ago...I went up around Idaho Springs somewhere and used to come down, switch-backing down Saxon Mountain, into Georgetown, but what was a on? Honda ATV (4 wheeler)? Honda XR650R? Chevy Tahoe?
And some of the roads are rough and I've turned back from them in the Jeep, as they looked too rough.
So, this evening, I figured I'd go back up there and see if I could make it up to the old quarry in the Jeep Wrangler TJ. The place I turned back at last time was a sort of steep/rocky part of the road under a powerline, I think. But I was on the Africa Twin. And I'd like to try to make it to the quarry/gravel pit in the Jeep, as the Jeep is more forgiving. And, if I can make it to the quarry, I might be able to come back via the Lamartine Road. I've turned back from both of these roads on the Africa Twin. But with the Jeep, I think I may be OK.
So I follow the directions to the Phoenix Mine, which are something like this...
From Idaho Springs, take Trail Creek Road (Clear Creek County Road 136) up to the Phoenix mine. Now, about 1/2 way up to the Phoenix, there is an abandoned open mine on the south side of the road. Obviously, I would never go into an open mine, as I watched too many Lassie episodes to try something foolish like that. But I've heard that it's possible to go into the mine for a distance of about 100 yards.
So, I go past the Phoenix Mine. Normally, I would sit and feed the chipmunks and ground squirrels at the mine, but I'm running late today. The mine closes at 5:00 p.m and it's about 7:00 p.m. by the time I get there. So, I keep going past the Phoenix Mine, and then I turn left on South Spring Gulch Road (Clear Creek County Road 130). This road is a fairly easy road, with some new development on it (houses where there didn't used to be houses).
I follow this road until it T's off beneath a power line at Lamartine Road (Clear Creek County Road 22). Here, I turn right, so I'm going west on Lamartine Road. I go about 1.3 miles west, and I'm at the Ben Harrison Mine, an old quarry I remember quite well. Like, I couldn't tell you the last time I came up here. Might have been 20 years ago, but it's been a while. So, I snap some photos at the Ben Harrison Mine/gravel pit/quarry, and now I decide to keep going west since I'm on Lamartine Road, and I know where Lamartine Road comes out...it dead ends into Ute Creek Road.
100 yards west of the Ben Harrison Mine, I suddenly recognize where I am. I mean....I know where I am....I remember this open mine/quarry, but now I recognize the intersection 100 yards west of the gravel pit. Oddly, it's the intersection of Lamartine Road and Lamartine Road. But I recall this part because, if I wanted to do Saxon Mountain and ride down into Georgetown, I would go straight at the intersection. But I turn left, heading down towards Ute Creek. This part of the road was rough and not very forgiving. But, once it T'd off into Ute Creek Road, then it was a fairly smooth ride down to Colorado State Highway 103, and home via Idaho Springs.
My route looked something like this:
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 30, 2023 at 9:51 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 29, 2023
Cottonwood Pass
It appears that there is more than one Cottonwood Pass in Colorado.
One of them (12,126 ft) sits on the continental divide in the Sawatch Range between Taylor Park Reservoir and Buena Vista.
But there is another Cottonwood Pass in Eagle County, Colorado.
And a third Cottonwood Pass just outside of Sulphur Springs, CO.
Cottonwood Pass disambiguation.
https://www.aspentrailfinder.com/cottonwood-pass-road/
Cottonwood Pass Road (CR 10A) is an intermediate/moderate road you can run and road bike. There are no signs that mark the peak of Cottonwood Pass (8,290 ft) along the road. This is a 15 mile county road that connects Carbondale to Gypsum, CO.
This looks like it would get all of the Cottonwood Passes in one trip.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 29, 2023 at 11:15 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 27, 2023
Mailbox Size
I measured my mailbox to see what the overall dimensions were. My measurements were: 11" wide x 14 3/4" tall x 24" deep.
This Amazon mailbox looks like it has roughly the same dimentions: 11.69in. W x 14.98in. H x 24.82in. L - Extra Large Mailbox. $75.49 on Amazon.
This Walmart mailbox Architectural Mailboxes Stanley Extra Large, Steel, Post Mount Mailbox, Black, ST200BAM looks like it's approximately the same dimensions. 11.69" wide x 14.98" high x 24.82" deep. Cost = $45.97.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 27, 2023 at 9:33 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 23, 2023
Jones Pass, Berthoud Pass
So today (Friday June 23rd), we had nice weather, so I figured I'd go for a little ride. I went up and hit Jones Pass...not thinking I could make the pass, as I'm certain it's still snowed in, but just wanting to check it out. Got up to treeline, at which point, the road was still snowed in. There were a lot of people camping out along the way, but when I got to the snowed in section at treeline, I turned back. Then, I went up to Berthoud Pass. Made it to Berthoud Pass 11,990 ft. Then, turned around and headed back. Jonathan (my neighbor) said he was having a little get-together, so I turned back and stopped at the Taco Bell in Dumont. Then home for a visit with Jonathan and Stephen on the deck.
My ride looked something like this.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 23, 2023 at 11:48 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 22, 2023
The Deluge Continues
Last night (the first day of Summer 6/21), we got flooded again. Water was pouring out of the gutters on the back of the house. We got another inch of rain last night. Ridiculous.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 22, 2023 at 1:44 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 21, 2023
Pass Bagger
So today, the weather was nice and I figured I'd go for a little ride. My ride went something like this:
3:00 p.m. Miles = 0.0. Temp = 73F. Left parking lot at King Soopers in Aspen Park.
3:42 p.m. Miles = 34.4. Temp = 68F. Kenosha Pass.
5:06 p.m. Miles = 50.1. Temp = 65F. Georgia Pass. (Snowed in 1/10 of a mile below Georgia Pass summit on Park County Road 54).
6:10 p.m. Miles = 78. Temp = 65F. Boreas Pass. (Continued on into Breckenridge).
6:53 p.m. Miles = 98. Temp = 66F. Hoosier Pass.
7:06 p.m. Miles = 110. Temp = 67F. Fairplay.
7:11 p.m. Miles = 115. Temp = 66F. Red Hill Pass.
7:27 p.m. Miles = 132. Temp = 63F. Kenosha Pass.
8:10 p.m. Miles = 172. Temp = 62F. Home.
Kenosha Pass, Georgia Pass (turned back - still snowed in), Boreas Pass, Hoosier Pass, Red Hill Pass, Kenosha Pass, Home.
I got within about 1/10 of a mile from the summit of Georgia Pass, but the road was snowed in just below the summit. Some idiot got his jeep high-centered on a patch of snow very near the summit. I tried to get some other vehicles to pull him out, but he was really in no position to be off-roading. Did not have a shovel or a tow-strap. Like...how stupid can you be?
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 21, 2023 at 10:44 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 19, 2023
Renaming Squaw Pass
There's been an impetus to rename Squaw Pass fairly recently. But the problem is that once you start renaming, there's really no end to it. Once you decide to start renaming, then you have to rename the following:
- Squaw Pass
- Old Squaw Pass
- Squaw Mountain
- Squaw Mountain Trail
- Mount Evans
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 18, 2023
Today's Ride (6/18/23)
So, today, I figured I'd go ride up in the hills around Idaho Springs again.
So, I headed down to Evergreen and then towards Idaho Springs on I-70 West. Ate lunch at Carl's Jr., per usual. Then, I went up Little Bear Creek Road out of Idaho Springs. It's basically a dirt road and there are roughly 12 switchbacks as you climb up the mountain on a dirt road, but it's fairly well maintained.
At the top, you run into Colorado State Highway 103. Here, I turned west and rode up Squaw Pass to the gate to Mt. Evans. I asked the guy at the booth why they were closed yesterday when I went by at 6:30 p.m. Apparently, they got a lot more snow and now they have to plow the roads up to the summit again. Right now, you can only go up 5 miles from the booth, then turn around and come back.
I pointed out that we didn't have to pay, because the Mount Evans Scenic Byway is formed by Colorado State Highway 103 and Colorado State Highway 5. He didn't like that, and he got visibly upset, but I don't care. It's true. And no, they can't charge you to drive on a road we've already paid for.
So, in any event, I left him alone. No point in riding 5 miles up towards the summit only to be turned back. Then I headed down Colorado State Highway 103 going roughly north towards Idaho Springs.
I turned off somewhere...I believe it was at Hefferman Gulch and went up just a short distance, there are some campgrounds there, then it dead-ends at some hiking trails.
Then continued north of 103 and turned off at Cascade Creek. I'd forgotten about this road because, a short way in is a shooting range. I went a short distance past the shooting range and turned back because the road was too steep and muddy, I think.
Then, I headed home to put the cats up. I don't want them outside at night. I'm scared they won't come home.
My ride looked something like this.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 18, 2023 at 9:20 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 17, 2023
The Rains of June
It's been raining every day in June for as far back as I can remember. But for whatever reason, today, the sky was broken and this bright sunny thing appeared in the sky.
I went out and checked on the water gauge in the front yard. The clear plastic bin had 3 1/2" of rainwater. But, I emptied it tonight and set it back down to reset the rain gauge. For some reason, the forecast only shows rain for 2 out of the next 8 days. What the heck?
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 17, 2023 at 11:09 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
Today's Ride (6/17/23)
So today, for some reason, the rain stopped. It was unexpected, as it's rained every day for as long as I can remember. But for some reason, it stopped. So, I turned the cats loose, and went for a little ride. I've been riding up in the Phoenix Mine / Lamartine area. I used to ride up in this area, but it's been a long time.
Then, I went up to the West Chicago Creek campground. But access to the lake seems to have been cut off.
I was surprised that, when I got up to the Mount Evans entrance, they had closed the entrance. I got there probably about 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
So, I just came down Squaw Pass into Evergreen and came back on 74.
I will point out here that, if we're going to rename Squaw Pass, we also have to rename Old Squaw Pass, and then there is Squaw Mountain. And then, next is Mount Evans, obviously.
When I got home at about 8:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m., all I could find was Pearl. So, I locked her in the master bedroom, and left the outside cat-door open so Prince Tubby could come inside and scratch on the bedroom door to be let in to the master bedroom.
I don't like the idea of the cats out there wandering around in the dark. But, Prince Tubby will claw at the front door to be let out. So, I figure they like going out and exploring.
So, at about 10:30 p.m., Prince Tubby scratched at the bedroom door to be let in. He wasn't even wet. My guess is he was in the barn.
Here's a map of what my ride looked like today.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 17, 2023 at 10:14 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 15, 2023
Today's Ride (6/15/23)
So today, there was a brief period where the monsoons paused, so I decided to go for another motorcycle ride.
My goal is, essentially, to go up Trail Creek Road, by the Phoenix Mine, and then cut south, and come back down Spring Gulch into Idaho Springs.
Part of the road is fairly steep and rocky, but it wasn't as wet/muddy as I was afraid it might be due to our recent monsoons. It has rained pretty much every day for as far back as I can remember. Turkey Creek is flooded badly.
My route today was something like this, I think.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 15, 2023 at 9:29 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
Yesterday's Ride
So, yesterday 6/14/2023, I rode the Africa Twin up to the Sinclair on the Central City Parkway, just east of Idaho Springs. I always stop here about this time of year to check on my peaches. Guy sells them out of a truck in their parking lot. So, I stopped, and checked out his peaches, but they're not great. The Palisade Peaches don't come until July. Then, go to get back on my bike and it won't start. Won't turn over. The lights come on, but it won't start. So, I'm pretty much screwed. I called Uber or Lyft to give me a ride home, got the Tahoe and the M101-A1 3/4 ton US Army trailer from Vietnam, motorcycle ramps, and head back to the Sinclair to recover the bike.
It's kind of tough because the trailer has a very high bed, about 3' off the ground, so the ramps are steep, and it's not easy to roll a non-running motorcycle up into the bed. So, when I get there, the bike is still there, I put the ramps on the trailer bed, and there's a family here getting peaches with about 3 boys and a dad. I ask them to help me, and all 4 or 5 of us rolled the bike into the trailer no problem.
Then, I went to the peach man and paid for their peaches in cash (about $40). So, now I've just got to get home with the trailer with no brake lights, expired license plate, etc. I make it back to Evergreen, and stop into B&B Cycles. I LOVE this family-owned business. Best service I've ever had in my 40 years of riding motorcycles.
Matt comes out, climbs up in the trailer, and when it won't turn over, he immediately figures out that it's the battery, checks the cables, and one of them is loose. So, he tightens the battery cable, and the bike fires right up.
I head home, and then when I get home, I get Mark to help me unload it. We put the ramps out and roll it out of the trailer, no problem. Put the trailer up in the cul-de-sac and the Africa Twin in the garage for the night.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 15, 2023 at 9:17 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 11, 2023
Springtime in the Rockies
Today, we got another gully-washer of rain and hail. The creeks are erasing the shoulders of the roads. It hailed on us hard again today. Forecast just calls for more of the same for the foreseeable future.
Margie and I went to Sonic, and then went and checked on the baby elk at Evergreen Lake. There are a few babies out on the islands, and we got to see them, but then it started pouring on us again, so we'll have to go back another day (should the monsoons ever cease).
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 11, 2023 at 9:23 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
Lamartine
At some point, I want to go do some exploring on some of the dirt roads that I used to ride above Idaho Springs, and south of I-70. This includes places like Lamartine, Ute Creek, Cascade Creek, West Chicago Creek, etc.
It's been a long time since I've ridden up there, but I recall that there's a large gravel pit, and several abandoned mining operations up there. So, weather permitting (if it ever stops raining), I think I'll go up there and try to kick around and rediscover some of my old stomping grounds.
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 11, 2023 at 12:10 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 9, 2023
Mt Evans - Friday 6/9/2023
Today is Friday, June 9th, 2023.
Guanella Pass opened for Memorial Day weekend this year on Friday May 26th, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
I summited Guanella Pass on the Africa Twin the next day on Saturday May 27th at 6:35 p.m. from South to North.
When I got home, the neighbors were having a little get-together, so I went down there and had a few drinks with them, smoked a cigar, then came home and crashed.
When I woke up the next morning (Sunday May 28th), I couldn't really see out of my right eye. And I didn't really know why my right eye wasn't working. I did notice that, if I took off my glasses, I could see basically the same out of each eye (very blurry, unfocused). But if I put my glasses back on, I could see fine out of my left eye. But my right eye couldn't really focus onto anything. I was essentially blind in my right eye. Just blurry vision and occasional tears in my right eye.
Continue reading "Mt Evans - Friday 6/9/2023"
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 9, 2023 at 9:19 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 6, 2023
Military whistleblower goes public with claims US has secret UFO retrieval program
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 6, 2023 at 10:49 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink
June 4, 2023
The Rains of June
So, the rain continues. The grass is greener than I've ever seen it. I checked today 6/4/23 (after the rains this afternoon subsided) and we've gotten 1 1/2" of rain over the last couple of days. Forecast calls for rain every day for the foreseeable future (at least the next 8 days).
Posted by Rob Kiser on June 4, 2023 at 9:54 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink