Crested Butte Sucks.
Jul 8th 2008martyTrails & travel
Don’t even bother going there. It’s ugly, with crappy trails and boring views.
But if you feel you must make a trip there, try the Deer Creek trail. It was a new one for me; I’ve always bypassed it to ride 401. But that trail is still closed due to snow, so Deer Creek was the option for seeing the valley from above. Outstanding! The wildflowers are pretty awesome, and the weather is balmy perfection. Just be sure to take some bug spray. The mosquitoes are enjoying the place as much as everyone else.
The Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadman’s loop is also not rideable, at last reading. Apparently it’s been pretty torn up by motorcycles while still wet. Bummer. I’m busy planning a return trip to hit that and 401 later this month; hopefully the buff smoothness will be back by then.
We also rode the Dyke Trail, which is pretty great. Lots of fun downhill paired with some steep, tough climbing. (Wait, that describes every trail in Crested Butte.) But I recommend parking at the bottom of the singletrack and getting all the yucky dirt road climbing up Kebler Pass out of the way first. It involves a bit more driving, but I suspect it would be more than worth it.
Strand Hill, Upper/Upper Upper, etc. and Snodgrass are also in good shape. Doctor Park is ready to ride, but word has it that the Spring Creek crossing is burly. Bring a life jacket! Lastly, Teocalli Ridge is still closed. Those of you who really like to suffer will just have to wait.
I’ll post some CB video here soon…stay tuned.
1 Comment »
Eddie C on 01 Aug 2008 at 7:54 am #
Bahh!
Rode Texas Creek/Ridge on 7/9 and had some deadfall but still fun. Rode Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadmans on 7/10 and it was all good with only a few muddy gullied out sections. Had the pleasure of meeting and talking to the USFS trail crew, whom uses dirt bikes to access and maintain the awesome trails out there, on top of Reno Pass, and got the low down from them. Yes, the USFS trail crew uses dirt bikes on these trails and does a great job of maintaining them! Next, on 7/11 I rode up to Schofield Pass and pushed over the numerous snow banks to get above treeline and rail down 401. The best part, which is the south facing downhill of 401, was all dry and beautiful.