Gearing up for The Great Divide 2014

I just returned from southern Colorado scouting the route for next year’s CITR Great Divide bicycle adventure. My intention was to complete this and photograph the route before the fall colors began to occur. Well, I was partially unsuccessful but wow what a beautiful trip! At the higher elevations fall colors are spectacular where as below 10,000 feet, it’s still summer. 

It’s been eleven years since I was there. The serene  beauty and general remoteness were even more inspiring than when I was there in 2002. Memories flooded my mind mile after mile as I made my way to the Colorado-New Mexico border. On that trip in 2002 three of our four children were with our group. So this past week as I journeyed south, the campsites the views and the turns were all triggers recalling some really great memories with family and friends. 

One particular vivid memory was the day my two daughters took a turn by mistake. They were well into the climb up Elwood Pass, entirely off-route when they ran into two friendly backpackers who kindly redirected their adventure pointing them back towards camp. In the mean time at camp it was getting late and I was getting worried. I was unhooking the trailer from the suburban to start the search when I heard them giggling in the trees as they descended the forest service road into camp. 

Seven and one half hours of spin time. Over 5000’ of vertical gain. Not a bad day’s work for two teenagers, for anybody!

We should have the adventure route and details posted here on our website within a few weeks. It will be called The Great Divide Bicycle Adventure, Colorado South. 

I have been asked on several occasions, how physically fit does one  need to be to do this trip. Well, you do need to enjoy bicycling, but because our adventures are fully supported there is always the option to choose which portions to ride. The back country experience by itself is well worth your time and investment. 

 

If you have questions feel free to contact me. I’d love to chat with you about this incredibly beautiful and unique adventure.

Mike

970-567-1787