Let’s get the small bikes out next weekend for the annual assault on Kingston Peak and beyond.
Where / When: 8:30am meet, 9am KSU from the WestMag staging area. You’re welcome to ride up to the staging area and meet us there.
Route: WestMag, Mammoth, Elk Park, Kingston Peak. Return via Miners Gulch, Mosquito Creek back to Elk Park. From there we can either take Moon Gulch to Rollinsville, or can go up towards Rollins Pass, pick up Jenny Creek and go down that, then Rollinsville.
Pizza at Toss, then return to the trucks via WestMag.
There will be post-ride Dales in the fridge of Clifford, the Big Red Van.
Who: NOT a big bike friendly route. This will be a challenging ride for Intermediate riders on small bikes, but a great opportunity to explore some of the harder riding above Boulder.
Getting to Kingston Peak, or rather to the approach to the “launch pad,” a relatively flat area before you start the true climb: I’d characterize this as a jeep road – wide-ish, with several line choices around boulders, washouts, etc. Generally, if you keep your momentum up, there’s usually a choice of lines to use.
Kingston Peak: this is a loose, long, rocky climb. Not crazy steep and there are no ledges or steps, but you just need to stay on it and keep your momentum. If you get stopped, you’ll have to put in some work to get rolling again.
Miners Gulch, Mosquito Creek: these are big boulder descents. I’ve found that you can get down anything, as gravity is undefeated . But if you didn’t want to do this, you can skip it, go back the way we came and meet us back at Elk Park.
Moon Gulch: similar to WestMag, I’d say. Not an issue on a small bike.
Gents, so sorry for the late notice but something has come up and I won’t be able to make this ride. However, you have the tracks (see first post) if you’d like to carry on with me. Thanks!
I did some of Rich’s route solo on the Tuareg this morning. Doable on a medium bike, on stock STRs. Would not have been great on those tires if it were muddy or the sand deeper in any sections, but it was perfect today. Well, not the best braking traction on loose, steep downhills but stock STRs felt safe enough.
Rode from Erie up Flagstaff over 68j to Magnolia Rd, West Mag to the route, past a couple locked gates…105/1051, stuff I have not seen before, West on E Portal, up Rollins Pass Rd. to Forrest Lakes Trailhead and then turned around and went back towards Rollinsville. North on 119 to CR120 Switzerland Trl, 4 Mile Canyon across Poorman, to Sunshine Cnyn into Boulder and back to Erie on Valmont. Great ride!
. But if you didn’t want to do this, you can skip it, go back the way we came and meet us back at Elk Park.
