Colorado High-Country Adventure:
Hut-To-Hut Mountain Biking
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Colorado High-Country Adventure: Hut-To-Hut Mountain Biking |
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Date: (5 days, 4 nights; Tues-Sat) July 12-16 (note: this date only is Mon-Fri); Aug. 10-14; Sept. 7-11 Assembly Point: Aspen (airline and bus service to Aspen) Tour Cost: $925 (includes all lodging, all meals, support van, leaders, tour maps & narratives) The Frying Pan assembles in Aspen and we'll van shuttle to the Frying Pan drainage above Reudi Reservoir early-morning of Day 1. We'll ride along the North Fork of the Frying Pan to the Gates Hut where we'll spend our first two overnights. Day 2 offers some hard choices between several outstanding single-track options radiating from the hut or an excellent hiking opportunity into the adjacent Holy Cross Wilderness. We'll climb moderately from the Gates Hut on Day 3 and arrive at the Estin Hut early enough to hike to Charles Peak that afternoon. A long descent the next morning and we're back to the Frying Pan, but not for long. We'll ride the abandoned grade of the historic Midland Railroad as we climb toward timberline and the Betty Bear Hut, where we'll spend our final evening. A short climb the following morning and we've crested the Continental Divide atop Hagerman Pass (12,000'). For those who may be interested in an intriguing single-track option on this day, we'll ride to the East Portal of the Old Midland Tunnel. We'll then plunge below tree-line to beautiful Turquoise Lake above Leadville and shuttle back to Aspen where our program concludes. Total cycling mileage – 75 (excluding Day 2 options)
Assembly Point: Copper Mountain (airline, rail and bus service to Denver; commercial van shuttle between Denver and Copper Mountain prior to and following tour) Tour Cost: $925 (includes all lodging, all meals, support van, leaders, tour maps & narratives) Colorado is mountains—rugged, snowclad spires soaring well beyond timberline with a regal majesty that adventurers long have found utterly irresistible. Our Heart-of-the-Rockies Hut-to-Hut is a Colorado backcountry adventure crafted for those who seek an ultimate backcountry experience. We'll assemble in the ski resort village of Copper Mountain, roll out of bed on Day 1 and stretch our legs with a warm-up climb to the Continental Divide atop Vail Pass (10,666'). A short climb beyond to Shrine Pass and then we'll descend along Turkey Creek through the magnificent Back Bowls of the Vail Ski area. And, as we well know, every downhill requires a payback, and we'll climb along Wearyman Creek above treeline to Ptarmigan Pass (11,700'). We'll spend our first night in the beautiful Fowler-Hilliard Hut, perched magnificently at timberline. And if you still crave more adventure on this first day, a sunset hike toward Resolution Mountain will ensure the best night's rest of your life. Day 2, we'll descend to Camp Hale, the historic training base of the 10th Mountain Division, and then ride the Colorado Trail to Tennessee Pass, and on to Leadville, where we'll overnight at the Victorian Delaware Hotel. Early the following morning, we'll ride to Turquoise Lake above Leadville and then climb toward the Continental Divide. Following an overnight at the Skinner Hut, just shy of the Divide, we'll crest the Divide at Hagerman Pass (12,000'), descend to the Frying Pan and ride to the Gates Hut, where we'll spend our final overnight. We'll have an opportunity to ride the single-track near the Gates Hut on our final morning before a short climb to Crooked Creek Pass and a long descent to Eagle. We'll shuttle back to Copper Mountain late afternoon where our adventure concludes. Total mileage– 130
Date: (5 days, 4 nights; Tues-Sat) Aug. 3-7; Sept. 14-18 Assembly Point: Aspen (airline and bus service to Aspen) Tour Cost: $925 (includes all lodging, all meals, support van, leaders, tour maps & narratives) Aspen Extreme is a backcountry adventure for the experienced mountain biker who wants to be challenged. It is a program that offers a wealth of single track and technical opportunities that are a mountain biker's fondest fantasy in an alpine setting of unparalleled beauty. Aspen Extreme assembles in Aspen and we'll ride from town on Day 1 into the White River National Forest. We'll climb steadily toward the snowclad peaks of the Elk Range to Margy's Hut for our first overnight. An early-morning single track descent from Margy's marks the beginning of Day 2. We'll continue along the rolling terrain of Burnt Mountain on our way to Gates Hut. Although the mileage between Gates and the Estin Hut, our destination for Day 3, is relatively short, several single track and hiking options are available along the way in beautiful Lime Park and atop Crooked Creek Pass. Another exciting descent launches Day 4 into Yeoman Park followed by a long climb to the base of New York Mountain and the magnificent Polar Star Hut. We'll spend our final evening at Polar Star, with its wood-fired sauna, before descending to Eagle the next day. We'll van shuttle from Eagle back to Aspen where our tour concludes. Total Mileage – 120
Date: (7 days, 6 nights; Sun-Sat) July 25-31 Assembly Point: Aspen (airline and bus service to Aspen; Timberline van transfers to and from transportation facilities prior to and following tour) Tour Cost: $1,295 (includes all lodging, all meals, support van, leaders, tour maps & narratives) Colorado is mountains—towering snowclad peaks that conspire to create an alpine wonderland second to none. Perhaps the most magnificent of Colorado's ranges are the mighty San Juans that dominate the state's southwestern quadrant. But the lure of the San Juans extends beyond their scenic beauty. These mountains also have a story to tell of the past—a fascinating tale of the history of the West and particularly of western settlement. Thousands of hardy men and women migrated to this rugged area, attracted by the promise of riches in gold and silver. Aspen, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride—townsite names that were the boomtown mining camps of the late 19th century. The towns reveal only a portion of the region's past. More of the legacy is to be found among the surrounding hills for it was here that gold and silver were discovered. Tucked away throughout the San Juans, are the remnants of that legacy—the abandoned mines, the miner's camps, the ghost towns. This is the setting for Timberline's San Juans Mountain Biker/Hiker—a high-alpine combination of off-road mountain biking and above-timberline hiking that will elevate the concept of adventure to a new level. Sounds a bit hyperbolic? Well contemplate this plan. We'll still assemble in Aspen, but we're headed up and over those towering peaks on Day 1 that separate Aspen from Crested Butte. And we're doing so on foot as we climb beyond timberline over West Maroon Pass and then descend to Gothic above Crested Butte. We'll settle for this 11-mile trek for Day 1 and van shuttle the remaining distance to Crested Butte and an overnight at the Grand Butte Hotel. Crested Butte is the kind of place you'll want to hang around in as long as possible and we'll do so for another day. The number of exciting off-road day ride options are abundant for this layover day. Day 3, we'll climb from Crested Butte to Ohio Pass (10,022') and then descend along the Gunnison River to Gunnison, where we'll spend the evening. The following morning, we'll ride through Powderhorn in the Gunnison National Forest, climb Slumgullion Pass (11,361') enroute to beautiful Lake City. Spectacular Cinnamon Pass (13,000') highlights a backcountry adventure for Day 4 that you won't soon forget. We'll spend the evening at the historic Wyman Hotel in the 19th century mining camp of Silverton and then climb Ophir Pass enroute to Telluride on Day 6. Telluride, of course, is magic and our new extended format affords the opportunity to enjoy this exciting town. We'll spend our final overnight in the Viking Hotel and then hike above the town the following day prior to our return to Aspen.
Total Cycling Mileage – 208
7975 E. Harvard Suite #J Denver, Co. 80231 Telephone: (800)417-2453; or (303)759-3804 Fax: (303)368-1651 E-Mail: timber@boulder.earthnet.net
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Without
a doubt, one of the great attractions of mountain biking is its promise
of a backcountry, wilderness experience. In no instance is that promise
more completely fulfilled than in the context of a multi-day hut-to-hut
off-road adventure in the heart of Colorado's incomparable high country.
Date: (5 days, 4 nights; Tues-Sat)
July 27-31; Aug. 24-28; Sept. 21-25