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By Steve Outing on 8/28/2006  I snapped this image on the Monarch Crest Trail (near Salida, Colorado) during the 2006 "Crest Crank" benefit ride. This is the portion of the trail that rides on or near the crest of the Continental Divide, between 11,000' and 12,000'. It's one of the most spectacular trails you'll ever ride. Our time above timberline was inside a cloud, but it started to clear out a few miles in, as you can see in this photo, with some sun peaking through. |
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In the clouds - Monarch Crest Trail |
Galleries: Trails & travel, Featured photos
walker says:
 Yeah buddy! How was the ride? Was it the best ever??? Details my friend, details! Walker T Off the road, on the mind... |
Steve Outing says:
 Pretty damn good, but not best ever. (Best ever was 2 weeks ago in Crested Butte on Doctors Park/Gunnison Spur.) This was second time I'd done the Monarch Crest, both times as part of the Crest Crank benefit ride. Last year we had clear weather and unbelievable views from the top of the Continental Divide, but I was gasping for air on the climbs -- apparently not enough high altitude training. This year the Divide portion of the ride was inside a cloud, but it was still pretty amazing -- and I had a much easier time handling climbing at high altitude. This year we found a better way down after the ride along the top of the Divide: the Starvation Creek trail. It's kind of hard to find and pretty rugged. A Salida local took pity on we city boys and showed us the entrance. A super cool and fun downhill. I felt bad for the ride organizers. Crest Crank benefits the local domestic abuse prevention organization in Salida. But this year there was a century road ride in Salida on the same day! So Crest Crank only got about 30-odd riders. Oh, and I won a raffle prize: a Jug Liquors t-shirt! Umm, not really my style. Anyone want it?! |
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