All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

thats kind of my thoughts as well. maybe im overly confident, but ive done quite a few all day rides in some back country stuff. anything in the states i dont think i would need a guide since theres always someone else out there incase shit does hit the fan. and bribing someone with a 6er for a shuttle is always the move. why pay 2-3k on a guided trip? especially if you have all the camping stuff already. just my thoughts.

costa rica or those nepal trips BKXC does, anything in another country would be intimidating.

 

I always look at guided trips like this as cool but overkill. I have even seen some companies that will provide your support along the Colorado trail, etc. No matter the option, guided or supported, they seem really expensive. There has to be a market for this or else it wouldn't exist but I'm not sure what their targeted demographic is? Probably yuppies who don't have the means or desire to take on a weeklong trip and plan everything that goes into it. When you break down the cost it doesn't look so bad but they are a little scant on detail for the cost and duration, but I only looked at Moab as a quick reference.

As a former ocean kayak guide, I'll give you some unsolicited advice for this statement "i dont think i would need a guide since theres always someone else out there incase shit does hit the fan." Judging on your other statement about taking backcountry trips in the past you probably know these basics. You should plan any trips into the backcountry as if you are the only person(s) that will be out there and that your life depends on your ability to self rescue, because it does. I'm not saying get all crazy or anything but a decent first aid kit plus the knowledge on how to use the items in it, essential tools and replacement parts (derailleur hanger, chain links, etc), a reliable communication device, clothes appropriate for the weather and your trip plans with a friend or family member in case you do not return on time. I apologize, in advance, if you already know this stuff but I wanted to help in case you did not.

 

not telling anyone where you’re at or going

 

Haha

 

thats a good point. i guess what i meant with that statement is getting lost on the trail (not going off trail like that dude in a walk in the woods) and not a catastrophic injury or mechanical failure.

i guess ive gotten comfortable with the population of colorado growing crazily. any 14er or well known trail is most likely to have someone else out there, regardless of weather, in my experience. or maybe im just not going to the right areas.

maybe ive gotten used to taking the necessary precautions so i dont really think about them (having the right gear, bringing awareness to where i am and how long i plan on being out, having an idea of the forecast, probably some other stuff).

as far as the colorado trail though, i can see both sides to that. it's a total sense of accomplishment to do the trail self-supported, whether thats on foot or bike, but wow its so much easier and (i think) more enjoyable if you're not lugging all your camping gear with you.

side note, always have a plan b/escape plan wherever you go

 

A little late to the game here...

Northstar (Lake Tahoe area) is the best park I've visited. It has such a variety of stuff and is really spread out. I had a blast there on a Wednesday afternoon. No lines, hardly any people.

Deer Valley (Utah) is fun but they do minimal trail maintenance. That place is destroyed 2 weeks after opening day. I feel like it gets to the point of dangerous/unsafe when every landing on a blue jump line has a giant crater in the landing.

Jackson Hole: It's a tiny park but the bang for yer buck is there! Every trail is well planned, built and maintained. It's super fun and not to be skipped on the "Friday Night Twilights."

Grand Targhee: They've built some new flow trails, but the majority is old-school steep & chunky.

Big Sky: Rough. Will beat you up and spit you out. Fun, but plan on some bone-shaking and dress accordingly.

I also had a 10-day vacation booked last July for Squamish, Whistler & Bellingham. Bummed it was cancelled but maybe this year??? I'll make it to Washington regardless.

 

I agree, it is astonishing sometimes to be out in the middle of nowhere and run into 30 people over the course of a couple of hours in the wilderness around Colorado. I would gladly pay for a supported trip on the Colorado Trail....I keep haggling my wife to be my unpaid sherpa but she's not caving to my pressure. I'd be down to some segments this summer if you are ever looking for a comrade on that kinda stuff. She would support if I could somehow make it fun for her. I was thinking of doing one leg where I "camp" at Mount Princeton hot springs so her and the kids have something to do instead of sitting at some trail head waiting on me.

 

man is northstar that good? its a bit a ways for me but maybe i need to make it out there...

jackson hole sounds tight. some friends in wydaho say all the riding around there is awesome. didnt realize there was a sick park too. that could be a reasonable trip from colorado.

id be stoked to hear about a washington trip if you make it

 

100% down for some segmenting. We could even do shuttles or something.

it was tricky getting my gf to SAG for me last summer, but it all worked out with her parents staying in breck one weekend. ive been doing trainer rides so the CT isn't as miserable this year

 

Teton Pass area is terrible. Tell everyone you meet.

 

Trainer rides?? Oh, you will probably leave me in the dust.

 

It's pretty much done now. Scares the hell outta me though. Can't say I have the stones to ride it. Falling left has dire consequences. 4-15 foot fall with big sharp rocks at the bottom.

Speaking of trail building, "Brass Monkey" at EaMo is now listed on Trailforks too. Ridden counterclockwise with Creed as a combo is so good! It has a couple really good drops on it. And built so you can go off them at warp speed.

 

after last summers attempt of denver to leadville, i need some base line training.

a goal for this summer is to ride denver to bv. still debating if hitching a ride around the lost creek is the way to go or go crazy and cycle the detour at night.

that first day with segments 1, 2 and 3 sucked. could barely stand at the end of 3. 2 was hard, but manageable. kenosha to breck is surprisingly enjoyable and fuckin rowdy down georgia pass (they should call it detroit pass cuz that shit is rock city). breck to copper up fucking sucks. im gonna be pissed doing that regardless. up copper isnt too bad, then is pretty flowy and pedaly to leadville.

its been awhile since i did leadville to bv, but i dont remember it being too bad. just a bit of climbing around mt antero (summiting that last summer on a different trip was rad).

now i have a fresh idea of what to expect. the second half of the trail is pretty much the same as the first, just a longer detour on some gravel roads. hopefully vaccines are easy to get and im going full gas on riding late summer.

 

Is this a new trail? Name?

How's the snow coverage out there right now? Last I heard, everything has a layer of snow and it wouldn't be ideal for trying new "gnarly" stuff.

 

The new trail isn't listed nor has an official name. It's in Beta at best, and the second drop needs some work to not body someone. We have a name for it, but not gonna make it past the Strava filter. It's named after a Sublime Song though. The hill its on is entirely bare of snow and bone dry. Poke around the rocky top of "Golden Eagle Bypass" and you'll find it.

Brass Monkey was totally dry, and dusty even on the fast sections.

EaMo was in really good riding shape. Rocky Balboa and that hill had some snow accumulation but was packed and crispy. Creed and that area was dusty in places. I'd say 90+% rideable overall. We did just shy of 9 miles and I was on my Sentinel no issues.

 

oooooh. I didn't even realize there was space over around where "Golden eagle bypass" is. cool! I'll poke around a bit. maybe walk it. Or we can go and you can show us.

I have yet to ride creed. maybe a good activity for before the storm comes through.

 

The north half of Creed is amazeballs. South half is good two. Its two sides of the same coin. Gnar vs flowy+drops

 

Adjusting NX already makes me want another AXS kit.

 

Second from last gift she will ever get from me. She gets her last gift October 1st.

 

That sounds like a rad time! My buddy did the whole trail and some of his riding partners showed up not really prepared for the long days in the saddle and they had similar experience as you. I wouldn't even know where to begin to train for doing a couple of segments on the CT.