“We
got 4:11 Positrac outback, 750 double pumper, Edelbrock intake, bored over 30,
11 to 1 pop up pistons, turbo-jet 390 power.”
What do you call a ride that has got everything? David Wooderson calls it a Chevelle, I call
it Centennial Cone. The sweet mounds
down in JeffCo have got the good stuff and last weekend I thought I’d give the
16 mile loop a try and what I found was pure Colorado mountain biking.
Before
you go make sure to check your calendar because mountain bikes are only allowed
on even numbered days on the
weekends, during the week it’s a free for all.
So
I began at the Mayhem Gulch trailhead off the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic
Hwy) or Hwy 6 out of Golden Colorado.
The climbing starts immediately at a moderate grade. The trail is super smooth with very few
obstacles and the climb is continuous through the first 2 miles. The trail splits at the 1.51 mile mark; to
the left is the Juniper trail and Mayhem Gulch continues to the right, which
is the route I took this day.
Continue
climbing for ¾ miles to the first downhill section at mile mark 2.22. For the next half mile you will need a hammer
and chisel to wipe the smile off your face.
At 2.31 miles you reach a second split this time with the Travois trail;
go right. The trail narrows a bit and in
some areas the steep drop-offs coupled with loose tread make this section a
thrilling yet precarious part of the ride – off to the right you’ll have
fantastic views of Clear Creek. At 2.77
miles the next climb begins. You’ll
reach another short downhill section at 3.68 miles so catch your breath because
another climb awaits at 4.16 miles. This
climb is relatively short and feels tough
after all the climbing you’ve done so far.
At
4.59 miles at an elevation of 7800 feet “you stand at the threshold to the
magical world of sensual delights that most men dare not dream of.” Hold on over the next 1.85 miles for one of
the most enjoyable things you’ll ever do on a mountain bike. The trail will traverse through dense forest
on clear tacky single-track with some challenging switchbacks. You can catch some insane speeds through this
section but be extremely careful because trees and rock line the trail all the
way to Elk Creek. The shade is a bonus
since most of the trail to this point has been under full exposure. At the 6.44 mile mark you reach the bottom
and you’re now standing on a well-constructed pedestrian bridge over Elk Creek
– stop and enjoy a few moments because your longest climb comes next.
For
the next 2.28 miles you’ll climb through tranquil forest on smooth
single-track. This climb is at a lower
grade than the climbs before but fatigue will not make it seem so. The final quarter mile of this climb gets
steep and very technical, only the studliest rider will make it on two
wheels. You’ll reach another peak at
8.80 miles followed by 0.85 miles of downhill bliss. You’ll see a bit more rocks here but nothing
larger than softball size. At 9.43 miles
you reach another trail split, this time with the Sunset Trail – go right to
continue on the Travois trail.
The
trail starts to open up around here exchanging pine trees for wild flowers and
open meadows. You meet back up with the
Sunset trail at about the 10 mile mark.
At 10.64 miles you’ll come to a small trailhead parking area and also
the end of single-track for the time being.
There’s a lot of sun on this leg of the ride so hopefully you lathered
up with some SPF.
The
wide double-track Dirt road winds through open fields and private ranch lands
so be respectful and close all the gates behind you. It seems like a lot of climbing at first but
hang in there because the end is near.
You finally reach the highest point (7958 feet in elevation) of the ride
at 12.22 miles and it is literally all downhill from here. You’ll catch the Juniper trail at another
trailhead at around the 13.72 mile mark.
Enjoy all your hard work; barring any mishaps you’ve all but finished
this epic ride. You’ll come across the
split with Mayhem Gulch at 14.84 miles for the final slide home. The tread gets loose so watch your speed and
slow down around every blind corner because chances are there is someone coming
up.
I’m
not kidding when I say this was the best trail I’ve ever ridden, and that says
a lot given the extensive trail systems in and around Boulder County. This trail has everything and I believe
anyone can do it although a beginner or someone from lower elevation may not be
able to finish it their first time out.
If I were to make a suggestion, for the part-time enthusiast or visitor
ride up 4.59 miles and stop just before the descent and turn around. The climb out from Elk Creek is a bear and
will be a bit much for someone who’s not used to this kind of a workout.
You
can find the trail profile at Centennial Cone and try clicking on the
player tab for a larger view and to watch the route play out. Thanks for clicking in and I hope to see you on the trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment