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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
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