J5Marsupial :: Marsupial Street: June 2017

Having escaped the weekend's rain by heading to the Southwestern part of the state, we came back to tacky and perfect trails on our backyard (literally, the trails start .54 miles from the door) mountain trails. There are tons of trails and you can connect to the Divide Trail and head North to Wyoming, or South to New Mexico.

With the Sun staying around longer during the day, it opens up the post work hours for getting in some extra trail miles during the week. Of course you will spend the first hour and a half climbing 10 or more miles, then the next 20 minutes ripping down bermed, table-topped, doubled, and kickered flow/downhill trails. That is if you don't opt for the gondola ride up (lazy peeps with that suspension stuff) Braaap-titude!

Everything from exposed trail through mountain fields, to exposed rocky ledges, to lush Aspen forests. The mountain has it all and then some with ever changing light and views as you wind your way up and around the mountain peaks. Just watch out for the Moose. They'll getcha.

As the sun set, it was back to the homestead to chill until Alex and Krystal showed up. They performed the mega-drive from San Fran to Steamboat (well technically Sacramento to Steamboat as they "split" the drive into 2 days). At least "Bike Town USA" rewarded their Herculean effort by allowing them to "pahk" the "cah" for the remainder of their stay and offering ample bike-venturing.

In search of dinner post 9PM.

We kicked their visit off right with a bike ride to Freshie's for breakfast. (Winona's is the other spot, but for Veggiefornians, Freshie's is the jam (not jelly)). Followed up with a cruise along the core trail and Yampa river through town and over to a VIP tour at the Moots factory. A return trip with side trail jaunts and Howelsen Hill stops as well as a quick tour of the mountain and Gondola Square.

Everything close seems to close at 9PM on Tuesdays.

Then back to the condo for a bit. Krystal opted to nap and explore on foot with her camera, hunting flowers and rocks. While Alex and I suited up and headed out for a late afternoon spin. The monsoon season is here for a bit, meaning the occasional afternoon pop-up storm can happen. We were about 15 miles into our gravel and two-track ride when the storm started to hit us. When it rains here, the temps drop and drop fast. We paused to put on our windbreakers and continued onwards. Ripping down singletrack along Mad Creek.

Beer and Pizza it is.

The original plan would have taken us right out of Mad Creek towards North Routt and over to Fly Gulch and the airport loop; all gravel and dirt roads. The storm however, had other plans. As the thunder, rain, sleet, and wind were continuing North, we turned left and made an alternate plan. Back up the two-track to the hot springs trail, up over the Strawberry Park climb, then back into town and home. 29.9 miles and about a bagillion feet of climbing all above 6800 feet for sea-level Alex. He'll thank me around mile 126 of Kanza.

Awaiting Pizza outside the local market.

It's one of my favorite loops ( airport gravel, up Mad House, down Mad Creek (or Red Dirt when not storming), up Hot Springs, up Lower Bear and back down to town via road and urban trails), especially fun on a cross bike. It showcases the myriad options of terrain and views Steamboat offers, all easily accessible from town. We didn't have the time or cash for a pit stop in Strawberry Park (the top of the hot spring trail) to enjoy a dip, but the relax time hanging out, chatting, and listening to music while watching the sunset from the German beer hall patio was worth skipping the dip. Recovery beer > sulfur water this time around.

Core trail photo-op.

Core trail photo-op-op.

Jazz hands along the Yampa.

Thanks for making the drive and letting me show you around this special little town. Best of luck to you both at Kanza. Keep you wits and finish before dark. You've got this.